Capitol

The members of the Beastie Boys are responsible for many unforgettable – and regrettable – pop-culture fads. Whether it’s inadvertently pioneering the cringe-worthy rap-rock movement that dominated the mainstream musical landscape for most of the ‘90s, giving scrawny white boys everywhere the confidence to rap or bringing the angst of the urban skate ethos to the masses, the band members have proven themselves as sonic mavericks and cultural arbiters who lead and never follow. Providing the soundtrack for almost three generations of youthful rebellion, this veteran hip-hop trio proves that it can still churn out the ill beats and conjure the palpable sonic chemistry on the Beastie’s stellar new album Hot Sauce Committee Part Two. From the moment the raucous opener “Make Some Noise” hits the speakers with thundering beats, vibrating bass, a duck-like horn sample and the Beasties verbally tempting the listener to tear the proverbial shit up, you can tell that the group gleefully dipped into the Licensed to Ill playbook with great results. On the frantic mic measuring contest “Too Many Rappers,” featuring a cameo from Nas, the Beasties prove that it can still call out wack MCs with eloquent rhymes, while the heavy metal bombast of “Say It” brings the group to its punk rock roots.