Guest Blogger: Ryan H2

The Beastie Boys defined a generation of “lost cause” souls. People wrote of this punk group of scruffy guys since the beginning. The Beastie Boys weren’t properly recognized until they decided to transform into a punk/rap group. Under this new genre, the Boys controlled the radio waves with hits like “Fight for Your Right,” “Intergalactic,” and “Beastie Boys.” However, their most famous song by far is “Sabotage.” Nominated for four MTV music awards in 1994 and a Grammy in 1995, this song has a rebellious feel that takes control of your body. After listening to this song, you feel powerful and ready to take on any opposition. Sabotage has unforgettable instrumentals that are perfect for any rock song. However, the lyrics are what set this song apart. The Beastie Boys break off of the pure rock feel with a mixture of rock and rap vocals. The song is all about the title, Sabotage. The members sing about a sabotage plan that they know about. They can’t stand it and wish to stand up to sabotage but can be shut down at any moment, the reduction of the common voice. This song sounds rather intense but the music video is the total opposite. The Beastie Boys make fun of old time cop shows, showing that the Beastie Boys know how to have fun. As recognition of this, the Rolling Stone named “Sabotage” the 475th Greatest Songs of All Time.
The Beastie Boys have a unique feel that screams rebellion and the need to have some good old fun. This group is about having fun and being wacky. They have songs that appeal to lovers of rock, punk, hip hop, and almost any other genre of music. If I have failed to persuade you thus far, there are a couple bands that are quite similar to the Beastie Boys. The best example is Rage Against the Machine. Both band perfectly execute the mixture of rock instrumetals and rap lyrics.
I recently went out to the store and bought the Beastie Boys Anthology CD and let me just say that it was the best choice that I have made. Each song has a unique feel that is simply magnificent. I agree with the belief of almost every major music reviewer ever. Rolling Stone ranked the Beastie Boys 77th on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and VH1 ranked them 89th on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. The Beastie Boys rightfully deserve their place in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.