The fantastic hip hop band was formed in New York City in 1979. The group comprised Michael "Mike D" Diamond (vocals, drums), Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass) and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (vocals, guitar).

 

The BEASTIE BOYS were formed as a four-piece hardcore punk band, the YOUNG ABORIGINES (pictured below), in 1981 by Mike D (vocals), MCA (bass), John Berry (guitar) and Kate Schellenbach (drums). They appeared on the compilation cassette New York Thrash, contributing two songs from their first EP, Polly Wog Stew, in 1982.

 

Berry left shortly thereafter and was replaced by Horovitz. After achieving local success with the 1983 experimental hip hop single 'Cooky Puss', the BEASTIE BOYS made a full transition to hip hop, and Schellenbach left the group. They toured with Madonna in 1985 and a year later released their debut album Licensed to Ill. 

It was followed by Paul's Boutique, Check Your Head, Ill Communication and Hello Nasty, and Hot Sauce Committee Part Two.

 

The BEASTIE BOYS have sold 26 million records in the United States and 50 million records worldwide, making them the biggest-selling rap group since Billboard began recording sales in 1991. With seven platinum-selling albums from 1986 to 2004, the BEASTIE BOYS were one of the longest-lived hip hop acts worldwide. In 2012, they became the third rap group to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

In the same year, MCA died of cancer. Mike D and Ad-Rock confirmed in 2014 they would not continue as the BEASTIE BOYS.

 

 

- 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)