Rapper's Delight: Beastie Boys Kick It Old School With 'Hot Sauce Committee Part Two'

posted in: Features • Urban

Let’s take a minute and remember where the kings of mischief came from. Originally a hardcore punk band, the Beastie Boys didn’t transform into a rap trio until the mid-80s. By the time Licensed to Ill dropped in ’86, they were parodying frat boys, jocks, b-boys and just generally upsetting parents everywhere. Or, as MCA puts it, “being bad news is what we’re all about.” Well not a whole lot as has changed with their most recent release Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, which, of course, is great news.

That’s not to say that the Beastie Boys are trapped in the past; they certainly have no illusions about their age. It’s just refreshing to see that they’re not trying to tamper with their sound or style for the sake of sounding “new.” They’re not rapping about family, Adam Yauch’s throat cancer or current events either. The Beastie Boys are just as funky, fun, boastful and immature as ever. Ad Rock, in “Nonstop Disco Powerpack,” claims: “now get your ass on the floor, I got total control / I flow like the water out your toilet bowls.”

One noticeable difference in this album is the production value. It’s somehow grittier than before, but also flashier. Not in an obnoxious way at all, though, if anything it compliments their style and jacks up the energy level. “Lee Majors Come Again,” “Make Some Noise,”  and “Crazy Ass Shit” are some of their more danceable tracks, but they still steer clear of anything resembling pop. As for the two guest rappers on the album, we have to say that they fit in surprisingly well. Nas and Santigold aren’t exactly the first artists that spring to mind when you think “Beastie Boys,” are they? Well “Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win (featuring Santigold)” is a catchy reggae jam outside of their typical realm, but works well with the album. “Too Many Rappers,” with Nas, actually has one of the dirtiest beats we’ve heard from the group in a while. Nas blends right in with the crew and doesn’t miss a beat. As usual, the trio calls in outside help sparingly but with great success. Notice the absence of newer rappers such as Lupe Fiasco or Kid Cudi.

If you like the Beastie Boys’ older albums, you’ll definitely enjoy this one. It’s probably their best release since Ill Communication and it’s good to see MCA back on the mic. We’ve posted some of our favorite tracks below for your listening pleasure: