Crossover appeal

Favorite B-boys by far.

I hear or read where so many people say that they feel there are too many directions on this album, but honestly, that's why I like it. B-boys used to be a bunch of skate-punks back in the day so i'm glad they stuck w/ some of the heaviness like in Check Your head, and I also love that they shifted gears w/ the hip-hop getting a bit more serious.

The Album is almost layed out like how I would make a Mix-tape or comp for a friend. Having different types of songs next to each other as opposed to hears the Hardcore section, now heres the instrumentals, now here are the Hip-hop cuts.

The first 7 tracks are sheer genius.



Some of my favorites would have to be 'B-boys making w/ the freak-freak,''Root Down,''Sabotage(of course, it's a great song damnit),''Get it together(awesome awesome track w/ q-tip and the Biz),''Flute Loop(Nice short and powerful),''Do it(love the growls),' and 'Shambala/Bodhisatva Vow(these two really take the cake for me, can't get enough of the Funky/soul guitar,drum and bass in shambala that mixes in w/ the chanting thats in both tracks).'



Anyway, I think its the multiple styles that helped to win over alot of the B-boys current fanbase. Still the oldschool NYHC sensibilities, mixed with the jazzy snippets(Yauch using an Upright bass on alot of the tracks is sheer genius, amazing), and their new approach at rap/hip-hop. The common sense to keep these styles seperate also helps, as oppose to trying to make individul songs with elements from all of these help. This album definitly helped to broaden my musical soundscapes. I could listen to more hip-hop after this and more metered, instrumentation as well. Thank you B-boys for opening my eyes.

Moving in several directions at once

This one can't really seem to decide if it wants to be 70s pimp movie music (most of the instrumentals), hardcore ("Tough Guy","Heart Attack Man"), old school party rap ("B-boys makin' with the Freak Freak") or some sort of groundbreaking conscious rap ("Bodhisattva Vow",""The Update").



Best tracks here are mostly the singles: "Sure Shot", "Root Down". and "Sabotage". Of the instrumentals, "Eugene's Lament", a highly dissonant trainwreck with atonal violin screeching, is the most interesting although not necessarily one I'd like to hear often. "Transitions" is the most listenable sounding like some lost score track to a blaxploitation flick.



Worst here are usually the instrumentals..most simply aren't that interesting, as well as the preachy tree hugger/one world rant "The Update".

The is the Beasties best album, for sure!

All I can say is that this is my favorite Beasties album. My fav. song is "Get it Together" Kewl! This is a really swinging hip-hop, rapping treat CD. I would give this album a 5, but there are not enough songs on the album I like, to support it.