An Open Letter to NYC

Everyone wants to talk shit about this record. They have their reasons. It's been six years since the Beastie Boys released a record of new material. When I heard they had a new album coming out, even I said that they have to do something big if they want to stay relevant, hip, and not get laughed at. At first listen, it's decent, but after listening to "To the Five Boroughs" several times in it's entirety, I have to say I think they've done what I said they had to do. This isn't the best B-Boys album ever. But, it may be their most interesting album since "Paul's Boutique."

When Def Jam records released "Licensed to Ill" in 1986, hip hop critics had a lot to say about it. All negative. They accused the Boys of pirating rap culture and mocking it. I think in their eyes, their joking attitude was just in line with that of De La Soul or the rest of the Native Tongues crew. However, unlike their influences, there was no politics. They were three white kids from wealthy Jewish families. Their lyrics were about what they knew. Black politics weren't all that relevant to them. So they went the other direction. The New York City rap scene in 1986 was busy: EPMD, Gang Starr, Boogie Down Productions, Run DMC, the entire Native Tongues crew, Afrika Bambaataa. There was a lot going on. But, "Licensed to Ill" sounded like none of that. Even the music was nothing like what was going on with the rest of New York hip hop.

Now, in 2004, the Beastie Boys have come full circle. The jokes are light, but they've gone political. I've read a few other reviews in other publications, and it sounds like some people are upset that they've chosen to inject politics into their music. How could you not look around and want to talk about it? No one complained when Adam Yauch (MCA) started rallying to free Tibet. That situation is all politics, but I think the majority of Beastie Boys fans have no idea why Tibet is under the tyrannical rule of China, and don't care. These people hear about Dubya every day on the news, and don't want to hear about him from their favorite rap group. Fuck them. This shit is relevant. Using music as a political platform is rooted deep in the origins of hip hop. Especially New York in the '80s. This record is about them paying tribute to the city that made them. The music, the lyrics, the references are all New York.

This brings me to another point, the music. I've also read some reviews where people are complaining about the music. They're upset because the Boys aren't playing real instruments this time around. They're upset because DJ Hurricane isn't involved, and Mario Caldato Jr.? They've moved on, people. Deal with it. This record's beats are all about Mix Master Mike, who comes to us from Invisbl Skratch Picklz, who practically invented the word 'turntablism'. Oh, wait, no, they were the first ones to say it and define it at the same time. This is a man who knows his shit. He's possibly the only DJ who could sample "Sonic Reducer" from the Dead Boys ('70s punk band from Cleveland who re-located to NYC and made it their home) and make it the basis for a hip hop track (An Open Letter to NYC)that doesn't actually sound like any kind of punk/rap hybrid. Most of the samples on "To the 5 Boroughs" are used sparingly, most are fairly obscure, or at least they're tweaked so much that you can't tell where they're from. Either way, this doesn't sound like a sample-heavy record. Nothing like "Paul's Boutique," which was almost entirely samples.

This may not be the best album from the Beastie Boys, but it is damned impressive. In an attempt to pay tribute to the city that made them, they've made a record that sounds like NYC in 1986. They chose innovation over the status quo in 1986, and now in 2004, they acknowledge the influence of that 1986 hip hop mindset. Buy this record. Seriously. Unless you're really closed-minded and can't accept change, then don't bother.