Beastie Boys

Beastie Boys

Company type	Group/band
Industry	Music
Founded	1981 in New York City, United States
Founder	Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz, Adam "MCA" Yauch, Michael "Mike D" Diamond
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Products	Music albums, singles, live performances
Number of employees	3 (members)

The Beastie Boys were a pioneering American hip-hop ensemble that originated in New York City in 1981. The group consisted of Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (vocals, guitar), Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass), and Michael "Mike D" Diamond (vocals, drums). Initially emerging from the experimental hardcore punk outfit known as the Young Aborigines, the lineup became stable after several personnel shifts, with Yauch taking over bass duties from Jeremy Shatan and Horovitz replacing John Berry on guitar.

After gaining regional attention with their 1983 comedic hip hop single "Cooky Puss", the group fully embraced hip hop, launching their debut album, Licensed to Ill (1986). This release made history as the first rap album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Their sophomore effort, Paul's Boutique (1989), crafted alongside the Dust Brothers, initially did not achieve commercial success but was later praised for its innovative use of samples. The band continued their mainstream presence with albums such as Check Your Head (1992), Ill Communication (1994), Hello Nasty (1998), To the 5 Boroughs (2004), The Mix-Up (2007), and Hot Sauce Committee Part Two (2011).

With over 20 million records sold in the United States and seven platinum-certified albums between 1986 and 2004, the Beastie Boys stand as the top-selling rap group since sales tracking began by Billboard in 1991. Their contributions were recognized with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Following Yauch’s passing due to cancer that same year, the group disbanded. The surviving members have since curated retrospective works including a book, documentary, and a comprehensive compilation album.

1981–1983: Formation and early years

Prior to establishing the Beastie Boys, Michael Diamond was involved with bands such as the Walden Jazz Band and BAN. The Young Aborigines formed in 1979; by 1981, when bassist Jeremy Shatan departed for the summer, remaining members Diamond, John Berry, and Kate Schellenbach began performing under the name Beastie Boys alongside Adam Yauch. The name Beastie Boys was proposed by Berry and later retrofitted into an acronym meaning "Boys Entering Anarchistic States Towards Inner Excellence," a backronym created after choosing the title.

The band opened for groups including Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys, Misfits, and Reagan Youth at iconic venues like CBGB and Max's Kansas City—appearing at Max’s final show. In November 1982, they recorded their debut 7-inch EP titled Polly Wog Stew, an early representation of New York hardcore punk.

Their first film appearance occurred on November 13, 1982, in Philip Pucci’s short concert film Beastie. This footage was captured at Bard College using multiple handheld audience cameras alongside a master sync sound camera. Adam Horovitz served as lead vocalist for the opening act. A segment from Beastie was later licensed for use in the "Egg Raid on Mojo" portion of the "Skills to Pay the Bills" home video, which subsequently received RIAA Gold status. After Berry's departure in 1982, Horovitz joined as his replacement.

In 1983, they recorded and performed their inaugural hip hop track "Cooky Puss," which featured a prank call to a Carvel Ice Cream store. This song appeared on their first EP of the same name and highlighted their early fusion of underground rap with sampling techniques. It gained popularity within New York’s underground club scene. When their track "Beastie Revolution" was used without authorization in a British Airways advertisement, they pursued legal action resulting in $40,000 in royalties.

1984–1987: Def Jam Era and Licensed to Ill

Following the initial buzz generated by "Cooky Puss," the group incorporated rap elements into their live shows and brought on DJ Rick Rubin, then a student at New York University, who quickly assumed the role of their producer. Rubin, alongside Russell Simmons, co-founded Def Jam Recordings and signed the band as they transitioned more firmly into hip hop. In 1984, drummer Schellenbach was replaced by Diamond; Ad-Rock later expressed remorse about this change, linking it to a shift in the band's image.

The 1984 single "Rock Hard" was Def Jam’s second release produced by Rubin. In 1985, the ensemble toured as a supporting act for Madonna during her Virgin Tour and also opened for Public Image Ltd. They led concerts featuring Fishbone and Murphy's Law with DJ Hurricane and participated in the Raising Hell tour alongside Run-DMC, Whodini, LL Cool J, and Timex Social Club. This exposure propelled "Hold It Now, Hit It" onto Billboard’s R&B and dance charts. Later that year, they released the double A-side 12", "Paul Revere/The New Style."

Their debut album, Licensed to Ill, was recorded and launched on November 15, 1986. Garnering favorable critiques from Rolling Stone, it became one of the decade’s top-selling rap records and Def Jam's quickest-selling debut, moving over nine million units. It was the first rap album to claim the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart, maintaining that position for five weeks and reaching number two on the Top R&B albums chart. The track "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" achieved their highest U.S. chart position at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, despite domestic sales exceeding 26 million copies. Its music video, directed by Ric Menello and Adam Dubin, became a fixture on MTV. Additionally, "No Sleep till Brooklyn" climbed to number 14 on the UK Singles Chart.

In 1987, the band embarked on an international tour supporting Licensed to Ill. The tour encountered legal challenges and several arrests amid allegations of inciting audience disturbances, culminating in a riot at Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre on May 30, where Adam Horovitz was detained and charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm.

1988–1989: Transition to Capitol Records and Paul's Boutique

In 1988, the Beastie Boys appeared in Tougher Than Leather, a film directed by Rubin designed to showcase Run-D.M.C. and Def Jam Recordings artists. After Def Jam ceased compensating them for their contributions, the Beastie Boys departed from the label and signed with Capitol Records.

Their sophomore album, Paul's Boutique, released on July 25, 1989, was produced by the Dust Brothers and is distinguished by its innovative sampling techniques and experimental approach to hip hop. Although it peaked at number 14 on U.S. charts and did not achieve sales comparable to Licensed to Ill, it later received significant critical praise. Rolling Stone placed it at number 156 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, while it ranked 48th on the Apple Music 100 Best Albums list.

1990–1997: Check Your Head and Ill Communication

Check Your Head, recorded at the band's own G-Son studio located in Atwater Village, California and issued through their Grand Royal label, represented a stylistic evolution with the group performing instruments inspired by Dutch ensemble Urban Dance Squad. The lineup featured Mike D on drums, Yauch on bass, Horovitz on guitar, and Mark Ramos Nishita (known as "Keyboard Money Mark") on keyboards. Producer Mario Caldato, Jr., who had collaborated with them since Paul's Boutique, served as the album’s engineer. Released in 1992, the album achieved double Platinum certification in the United States and reached number 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. The track "So What'cha Want" climbed to number 93 on the Hot 100 and also appeared on Rap and Modern Rock charts, while "Pass the Mic" attained number 38 on the Hot Dance Music chart. This record incorporated experimental funk and jazz elements, showcased in songs like "Lighten Up" and "Something's Got to Give", while "Time for Livin'" revisited their hardcore punk origins. This blend anticipated the emergence of the nu metal genre in the late 1990s.

The Beastie Boys broadened their entrepreneurial reach by signing a variety of artists—including Luscious Jackson, Sean Lennon, and Australian musician Ben Lee—to their Grand Royal imprint, which they retained ownership of until 2001. Grand Royal’s inaugural independent release was Luscious Jackson’s In Search of Manny in 1993. That same year, they contributed "It's the New Style" (featuring DJ Hurricane) to the AIDS benefit compilation No Alternative.

Between 1993 and 1997, they also published Grand Royal Magazine, which featured prominent cover stories such as Bruce Lee and interviews with personalities like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Q-Tip. The magazine is credited with popularizing the term "mullet," later documented by the Oxford English Dictionary, linked to their 1994 track "Mullet Head".

The 1994 release of Ill Communication debuted atop the Billboard 200 and peaked at number two on the R&B/hip hop albums chart. Its single "Sabotage", accompanied by a Spike Jonze-directed music video, became a staple on modern rock radio. That year also saw the arrival of Some Old Bullshit, which reached number 46 on the Independent Albums chart.

In 1994, the band headlined Lollapalooza alongside the Smashing Pumpkins, performed benefit shows for the Milarepa Fund, and allocated royalties from "Shambala" and "Bodhisattva Vow" to support Tibetan human rights efforts. In 1996, Yauch organized the Tibetan Freedom Concert at Golden Gate Park, drawing an audience exceeding 100,000—a significant philanthropic milestone.

By 1995, their commercial strength was evident as tickets for arena tours sold out within half an hour at venues such as Madison Square Garden and Chicago’s Rosemont Horizon. For each ticket sold, one dollar was donated to local charities through Milarepa. The band embarked on tours across South America and Southeast Asia for the first time. That year they released Aglio e Olio, a brief eight-track EP rooted in punk lasting just over eleven minutes. In 1996, Grand Royal released The In Sound from Way Out!, a collection of jazz and funk instrumentals paying tribute to electronic music pioneers Perrey and Kingsley.

During this period, a notable legal dispute arose when the Beastie Boys sampled six seconds from James Newton’s "Choir" in their song "Pass the Mic" without securing a license for the composition. Newton filed a copyright infringement suit; however, courts determined that the sampled portion lacked sufficient originality to require licensing.

1998–2001: Hello Nasty

Work on Hello Nasty commenced at G-Son Studios in Los Angeles in 1995, with production continuing in New York City after Yauch's move there in 1996. This album represented a notable evolution in their sound, highlighted by the inclusion of Mix Master Mike, and featured dynamic beats, rap samples, and innovative audio elements. Upon its release on July 14, 1998, Hello Nasty sold 681,000 units during its first week in the United States and debuted at number one across several countries including the US, UK, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden. It attained the second position in both Canada and Japan and secured top ten placements in Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium, Finland, France, and Israel.

In 1999, the Beastie Boys earned two Grammy Awards for this album: Best Alternative Music Album for Hello Nasty and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Intergalactic," making them the first group to win accolades in both rap and alternative categories simultaneously. At the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, they were honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for their impact on music videos and later won Best Hip Hop Video for "Intergalactic" at the 1999 ceremony. Their appearances at these events included politically charged speeches addressing topics such as the stereotyping of Muslims following the 1998 embassy bombings and concerns about concert security after Woodstock 99.

The Beastie Boys embarked on an arena tour in 1998. Through collaboration with Ian C. Rogers, they were pioneers in offering live performance downloads to fans; although Capitol Records briefly removed these from its website, they were among the earliest bands to provide MP3 downloads directly from their site. This innovation attracted considerable media attention including coverage by The Wall Street Journal.

In 1999, they released The Sounds of Science, a double-CD compilation that reached number 19 on the Billboard 200 and number 14 on the R&B/Hip Hop chart. The single "Alive" achieved a peak position of number 11 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart.

A planned co-headlining Rhyme and Reason Tour with Rage Against the Machine and Busta Rhymes was canceled in 2000 after Mike D sustained a serious shoulder injury requiring surgery and recovery. By the time he recuperated, Rage Against the Machine had disbanded (later reuniting seven years afterward).

In 2000, Mike D released a private album under the alias Country Mike titled Country Mike's Greatest Hits. Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz’s side project BS 2000 followed with Simply Mortified in 2001. In October of that year, shortly after the September 11 attacks, the Beastie Boys organized and headlined the New Yorkers Against Violence Concert held at the Hammerstein Ballroom.

2002–2008: To the 5 Boroughs and The Mix-Up

In 2002, Adam Yauch initiated development of Oscilloscope Laboratories, a studio facility located in downtown Manhattan, New York City. It was here that the band began work on their next album. They released a protest track titled "In a World Gone Mad" opposing the Iraq War of 2003 as a complimentary download across various platforms. The Beastie Boys performed at both the 19th and 20th Tibetan Freedom Concerts held in Tokyo and Taipei—their debut performance in Taiwan—and also headlined the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Their single "Ch-Check It Out" made its debut on television via an episode of The O.C. in April 2004.

Released globally on June 15, 2004, To the 5 Boroughs was their first album produced entirely by themselves. It secured number one on the Billboard albums chart, reached number two in both the UK and Australia, and climbed to number three in Germany. The lead single "Ch-Check It Out" topped charts in Canada as well as on US Modern Rock Tracks.

The album became subject to controversy due to allegations that it installed spyware when inserted into computers. The band refuted these claims emphatically, stating that no copy protection software was included on US or UK versions. European editions contained standard Macrovision CDS-200 copy protection technology which does not install spyware.

By mid-2006, announcements were made indicating that new material was being written for another self-produced album.

In April 2007, Diamond disclosed to NME that their forthcoming release would be titled The Mix-Up. While initially uncertain if it would contain vocals, Capitol Records confirmed it as an entirely instrumental project set for release on June 26, 2007. An official mailing list communication corroborated this information.

Instead of embarking on a traditional tour, they opted for a brief series of festival appearances including performances at Sónar (Spain), Roskilde Festival (Denmark), Hurricane Festival/Southside Festival (Germany), Bestival (Isle of Wight), Electric Picnic (Ireland), and Open'er Festival (Poland). They also played at the UK segment of Live Earth on July 7, 2007 at Wembley Stadium featuring hits such as "Sabotage."

Partnering with environmental organization Reverb, their summer tour emphasized ecological sustainability efforts. In March 2008, they headlined South Florida’s Langerado Music Festival. The band received a Grammy Award for The Mix-Up under Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards held in 2008.

2009–2012: Hot Sauce Committee

In February 2009, Yauch characterized their forthcoming album as an unusual artistic shift, blending live instrumentation with samples from rare records. The working title was Tadlock's Glasses, named after a bus driver associated with Elvis Presley’s backup vocalists.

During a May 25, 2009 interview on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the album was officially revealed as Hot Sauce Committee, scheduled for release on September 15. The tracklist was distributed through their mailing list on June 23. Notably, the album included a collaboration with Santigold on the track "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win".

In June, the band debuted the new single "Too Many Rappers" alongside Nas at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. This marked their final live performance as a trio. A UK tour was arranged to promote the album.

An interview with Drowned in Sound confirmed that Part 2 of the album was finished. Mike D hinted at unconventional release methods, such as staggered vinyl editions or digital formats.

On July 20, Yauch announced via YouTube and their mailing list that the album’s release would be postponed and tour dates canceled due to his cancer diagnosis. Consequently, the group withdrew from both the Osheaga Festival in Montreal and the All Points West Festival in Jersey City.

In October 2010, fans were informed through emails that Hot Sauce Committee Part 1 would face an indefinite delay, while Part 2 was still planned for spring 2011. A subsequent message clarified that Part 2 would incorporate tracks originally intended for Part 1 after extensive reordering.

The album officially launched on April 27, 2011 in Japan; followed by Europe on April 29; and the US on May 3. The third single, "Make Some Noise", was released for digital download on April 11 and as a limited edition 7-inch vinyl featuring a Passion Pit remix for Record Store Day. The song had leaked online on April 6 and was shared through their blog.

On April 22, the band promoted a live streaming event from Madison Square Garden, which took place the next day and included a beatbox performance.

In December 2011, the Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Chuck D and LL Cool J presenting on April 14, 2012. Due to illness-related hospitalization, Yauch could not attend; instead, Black Thought, Travie from Gym Class Heroes, and Kid Rock performed a medley while Diamond and Horovitz accepted the honor on his behalf and read a letter from him.

2012–present: Deaths of Yauch and Berry, and disbandment

Adam Yauch passed away from cancer on May 4, 2012, at age 47. Mike D disclosed that new music had been recorded by Beastie Boys in late 2011 but did not confirm its future release. He suggested that following Yauch’s death, the group would likely cease activity under the Beastie Boys name but remained open to collaborating with Ad-Rock. By June 2014, Mike D confirmed that no further music would be produced under this moniker.

John Berry, the founding guitarist, died on May 19, 2016 at age 52 after battling frontotemporal dementia for several years. Berry is credited with naming the band and contributed guitar work on their debut EP. The group’s initial performance took place at his loft.

Yauch’s will expressly forbids licensing Beastie Boys music for commercial advertising. In June 2014, the band prevailed in a $1.7 million lawsuit against Monster Energy for unauthorized use of their songs in an advertisement; they were also awarded $668,000 to cover legal expenses.

In October 2018, Mike D and Ad-Rock published Beastie Boys Book, a memoir chronicling the band’s history. This work served as the basis for Beastie Boys Story, a documentary directed by Spike Jonze that premiered on Apple TV+ in April 2020. The memoir and film were supplemented by the compilation album Beastie Boys Music, released in October 2020.

Activism

In 1994, Yauch teamed up with activist Erin Potts to create the Tibetan Freedom Concert aimed at highlighting China's human rights abuses in Tibet; this initiative was sparked by Yauch's conversations with Tibetan refugees in Nepal. These concerts evolved into an annual international series, showcasing performances by artists such as Live, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe from R.E.M., Rage Against the Machine, the Smashing Pumpkins, and U2.

Musical style and influences

Initially rooted in hardcore punk, the Beastie Boys transitioned toward hip hop and rap rock with their first album, Licensed to Ill. Their sound is an eclectic mix incorporating hip hop, punk, funk, electro, jazz, and Latin elements. Often classified as alternative hip hop and punk rap, they played a pioneering role in rap-rock with hits like "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)" and "No Sleep Till Brooklyn."

Legacy, influence and cultural impact

Following the launch of their debut album Licensed to Ill, Mike D popularized wearing a prominent Volkswagen logo necklace, which quickly became a worldwide trend among fans. A 1987 concert in Columbus sparked controversy that resulted in a local ordinance targeting lewd behavior.

The Beastie Boys have left a lasting mark on both hip hop and rock genres, influencing acts such as Eminem, Rage Against the Machine, Hed PE, Limp Bizkit, Sublime, and Blur. Music critics Andrew Flory and John Covach have credited them as pivotal figures in introducing rap music to broader English-speaking audiences.

Since 1986, they have secured four Billboard number-one albums: Licensed to Ill, Ill Communication, Hello Nasty, and To the 5 Boroughs. Their track "Sabotage" was placed at number 475 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2005, the band was ranked 77th on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists, while VH1 positioned them at 89th. They received a nomination for the 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and were inducted in 2012.

Notable admirers include UFC president Dana White, who owns signed Beastie Boys memorabilia and has praised Adam Yauch’s influence. Actor Seth Rogen appeared in their "Make Some Noise" video, openly expressing his fandom. Ben Stiller cast member Horovitz in his film While We're Young and acknowledged his respect for the group. Eminem credited the Beastie Boys with inspiring his career in rap and honored them through his Kamikaze album artwork and "Berzerk" music video. Creator Mike Judge named "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" among his favorites; the band also made appearances on his show Beavis and Butt-Head. Kid Rock penned a tribute to Yauch recalling early performances that shaped his musical path.

In 2020, Spin magazine ranked the Beastie Boys as the 12th most influential artist over the past 35 years.

Tributes

In 2022, the New York City Council approved renaming the intersection of Ludlow and Rivington streets in Manhattan’s Lower East Side—famously featured on the cover of Paul's Boutique—to "Beastie Boys Square." This decision followed a grassroots effort initiated by historian LeRoy McCarthy in 2013. Although initially declined in 2014, the renaming was finally passed on July 14, 2022, with an official dedication held on September 9, 2023, aligning with hip hop’s 50th anniversary celebration.

Legal matters

In 2003, the Beastie Boys played a pivotal role in the influential sampling lawsuit Newton v. Diamond. A federal court determined they were not responsible for copyright infringement regarding their use of a six-second flute passage from James Newton's "Choir" in the track "Pass the Mic." Although the group had secured permission for the sound recording itself, they had not obtained rights to the underlying composition. The ruling concluded that the brief three-note excerpt was too minimal to constitute a violation of copyright.

Band members

Core members

• Mike D – lead vocals (1981–2012), drums (1981–1984, 1991–2012)
• Kate Schellenbach – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1981–1984)
• John Berry – guitar (1981–1982; deceased 2016)
• MCA – vocals (1981–2012; until his passing), bass guitar (1981–1984, 1991–2012)
• Ad-Rock – vocals (1982–2012), guitar (1982–1984, 1991–2012)

Supporting touring musicians

• DJ Double R (Rick Rubin) – DJ (1984–1985)
• Sam Sever – DJ (1986)
• Doctor Dré – DJ (1986)
• DJ Hurricane – DJ and backing vocals (1986–1997)
• Eric Bobo – percussion and drums (1992–1996)
• Money Mark (Mark Ramos-Nishita) – keyboards and vocals (1992–2012)
• Amery "AWOL" Smith – drums, backing vocals, percussion (1992–1998)
• Alfredo Ortiz – drums and percussion (1996–2012)
• Mix Master Mike – DJ and backing vocals (1998–2012)

Timeline

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Timeline of Touring Personnel

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Discography

Studio Albums

• Licensed to Ill (1986)
• Paul's Boutique (1989)
• Check Your Head (1992)
• Ill Communication (1994)
• Hello Nasty (1998)
• To the 5 Boroughs (2004)
• The Mix-Up (2007)
• Hot Sauce Committee Part Two (2011)

Tours

• The Virgin Tour (1985) (opening for Madonna)
• Raising Hell Tour (1986) (supporting Run-D.M.C.)
• Licensed to Ill Tour (1987) (alongside Public Enemy)
• Together Forever Tour (1987) (co-headlining with Run-D.M.C.)
• Check Your Head Tour (1992) (featuring Cypress Hill, Rollins Band, Firehose, and Basehead)
• Lollapalooza Festival (1994)
• Ill Communication Tour (1994–1995)
• In the Round Tour (1998–1999) (with A Tribe Called Quest and Money Mark)
• To the 5 Boroughs Tour (2004)
• The Mix-Up Tour (2007–2008)

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

|- |1992 |Check Your Head |Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | |- |1995 |"Sabotage" |Best Hard Rock Performance | |- |rowspan="2"|1999 |"Intergalactic" |Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | |- |Hello Nasty |Best Alternative Music Album | |- |2001 |"Alive" |Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | |- |rowspan="2"|2005 |"Ch-Check It Out" |Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | |- |To The 5 Boroughs |Best Rap Album | |- |rowspan="2"|2008 |"Off the Grid" |Best Pop Instrumental Performance | |- |The Mix-Up |Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | |- |2010 |"Too Many Rappers" (featuring Nas) |Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | |}

MTV Video Music Awards

|- |rowspan="5"|1994 |rowspan="5"|"Sabotage" |Video of the Year | |- |Best Group Video | |- |Breakthrough Video | |- |Best Direction (Director: Spike Jonze) | |- |Viewer's Choice | |- |1998 |Beastie Boys |Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award | |- |1999 |"Intergalactic" |Best Hip-Hop Video | |- |"Sabotage" |Best Video (That Should Have Won a Moonman) |

|- rowspan="2"|2011 MTV Video Music Awards |rowspan="2"|"Make Some Noise" |Video of the Year | |- |Best Direction (Director: Adam Yauch) | |}

MTV Europe Music Awards

|- 1994 |Beastie Boys |MTV Europe Music Award for Best Group | |- rowspan="4"|1998 |"Intergalactic" |MTV Europe Music Award for Best Video | |- "Hello Nasty" |MTV Europe Music Award for Best Album | |- rowspan="2"|Beastie Boys |Best Group | |- MTV Europe Music Award for Best Hip-Hop | |- 1999 |Beastie Boys |Best Hip-Hop | |- rowspan="2"|2004 |rowspan="2"|Beastie Boys |Best Group | |- Best Hip-Hop | |- 2011 |"Make Some Noise" |Best Video | |}

MTV Video Music Awards Japan

|- 2005 |"Ch-Check It Out" |MTV Video Music Award Japan for Best Hip-Hop Video | |- 2009 |Beastie Boys |MTV Street Icon Award | |}

Filmography

• Beastie (1982)
• Krush Groove (1985)
• Tougher Than Leather (1988)
• Appearance in the Futurama episode "Hell Is Other Robots" (1999)
• Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That! (2006)
• Fight for Your Right Revisited (2011)
• Beastie Boys Story (2020)

External links

• Beastie Boys Lyrics Annotated – detailed explanations of cultural and historical contexts behind lyrics and samples.