Beastie Boys
Album: To The 5 Boroughs
Song: Ch-Check It Out
Reviewed by: Krystal Burns
The Band
Yes, they are still around. These native New York man-boys have been quiet for six years! And just when everyone had almost forgot about them, they bust out a totally fresh, new album. The Beastie Boys have produced six studio albums in all including Hello Nasty (’98), the famous Paul’s Boutique (’89), and their first, Licensed to Ill (’86). The group currently consists of Michael Diamond (Mike D), Adam Horovitz (Adrock), and Adam Yauch (MCA). DJ Michael Schwartz (Mix Master Mike) also supports the group (apparently your name has to be Michael or Adam to be part of the group). Former band member John Berry came up with the band’s name, which stands for Boys Entering Anarchistic State Towards Internal Excellence. So there you have it, Beastie Boys.
The Music
To the 5 Boroughs was released June 15, 2004. It was put together in the group’s very own New York City studio, Oscilloscope Laboratories. It’s the first completely hip-hop, programmed piece the Beastie Boys have done. The album as a whole is a tribute to New York City, their home sweet home. The lyrics are complicated and bizarre, and comical and dark. But they don’t try to be mysterious about it—one of their websites actually provides a breakdown of the name-dropping and pop culture references for those who just don’t get it. Other songs on the album include “Triple Trouble” and “Time to Build.”
The Song
“Ch-Check It Out” is the first single and rightfully so. It serves as a reminder or re-introduction to the old fans, “…grab your backstreet friend and get loud/ Blowin’ doors of the hinges, I’ll grab you with the pincers/ And no, I didn’t retire, I’ll snatch you up with the needle-nose pliers.” Then later, “Light rays blazin’, you’re out of phase and my crew’s amazin’/ We’re working on a record yo so just be patient”.
They go on to introduce themselves to younger ears that aren’t as familiar with them. “So believe what I say I’m no better than you, except when I rap so I guess it ain’t true/ Like that ya’ll and you just don’t stop guaranteed to make your body rock.” Adrock sings, “Now I go by the name of the King Adrock… I bring the [beep] that’s beyond bizarre, like Miss Piggy ‘Who, Moi?’/ I’m the one with the clientele…”
The song is amazing in the sense that it ricochets from one cultural icon to another while maintaining rhyme and flow. Reference is made to “Star Trek”, Nick at Nite, Miss Piggy, the Jim Carrey movie Cable Guy, and many more celebrities and TV shows your parents probably watched growing up such as the actors Darren Stephens (“Bewitched”) and Lorne Greene (best known for “Bonanza”).
The not-so-amazing aspect of the song is that, while it is funny, the humor is often at the expense of others. Beastie Boys get their laughs by making derogatory comments. Here are some examples: “So believe what I say I’m no better than you, except when I rap so I guess it ain’t true”; “ In the whip I’m gonna cruise right past ya”; “You look upset, yo calm down, you look like Cable Guy dunked off of your crow/ I flow like smoke out a chimney, you never been me/ You wanna rap but what you’re makin’ ain’t hip-hop B.” Other songs are even more explicit—it seems no one is good enough for them. It comes across like these guys are either incredibly arrogant, or in creditably insecure so they have to insult other to feel better.
>Either way, they’re attitude is wrong. God says all people we’re created in his image (Genesis 1:27). That’s why the second most important commandment in the whole Bible is to love each other. Mark 12:30 reads, “ ‘Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” That why the Bible also tells us that if anyone claims to love God, but hates another person is a liar (1 John 4:19). It great to laugh and joke around, but not when it has the potential to hurt or offend others, no matter who they are.
So What Do You Think?
1. What does anarchistic mean?
2. These “boys” are pushing 40 plus, and many of their references
to pop culture seem dated. Are they too old for the scene?
3. Why do you think people love to make fun of each other?
4. Sometimes we make fun of our friends when we’re joking around
with them. Is that okay? Why or why not?
5. What should your response be when you hear your peers making fun of
someone?