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• Beastie Boys

Genre: Hip-Hop

Last Played: 11-20-2009 10:24 pm

The Beastie Boys (Mike D, MCA, Adrock, and Mix Master Mike all from wealthy middle-class Jewish families in New York) were the first successful white rap group and one of the few acts from the early days of hip-hop that still enjoy major success. Their rock and punk-influenced rap has had a significant impact on artists in several genres, and they were one of the first rap groups to gain a substantial following with alternative rock fans. On Licensed to Ill, the exaggerated b-boy and frat-boy parodies gained them little critical attention, along with the much more ambitious Paul's Boutique, which some consider a precursor of sorts to the brand of pop that would become popular in the 90s. They were finally able to gain large mainstream success with 1992's Check Your Head.