Episode 11: Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill (ALBUMREVIEW.NET)

Produced by Rick Rubin, 1986’s Licensed to Ill was the Beastie Boys’ debut album. During a time when artists such as Lionel Richie, Whitney Houston, Robert Palmer, Billy Ocean and Madonna ruled the pop music charts, the Beastie Boys were a unique group of young men from New York City that originally formed in 1978. By the time they released their debut album, there were very few bands in popular music that were considered part of the Rap-Rock/Alternative Hip Hop/Jazz Funk multi-genre. Originally a hard-core punk band, the Beasties made their change to more of a rap/rock focus in 1985. They did not experience commercial success until the release of “ill”.