Continuing my look at the albums of 1986…
It would be malpractice to write about the music of 1986 and not mention the Beastie Boys’ debut release Licensed to Ill. This is one of the best-selling rap albums of all time and one of the most successful debuts. It was the first rap album to top the Billboard 200 and the second to go Platinum.
It is also critically acclaimed, praised for its punk rock sensibility, its creative use of classic rock samples, and the chemistry of its three leads.
This album gave the Beasties their only top ten hit on the Hot 100 in ‘(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!).’ That song was intended as a parody of a hedonistic lifestyle but it was celebrated as an unironic embrace of drunken foolishness.
To be fair, it’s easy to experience this whole album as a straight-faced clownfest, a symphony of dude-bro buffoonery. It is that. But it’s also subversively funny, with moments of sly wit that suggest it’s actually comic performance art.
Add in a tasty selection of guitar samples from legends like Led Zeppelin and AC/DC and you’ve got a highly listenable album that works on multiple levels.
The Beastie Boys’ music got more interesting on subsequent albums, but they never came close to matching the success of this one.
No sleep ’til
Brooklyn
[Verse 1: Ad-Rock, Mike D & MCA]
Foot on the pedal, never ever false metal
Engine runnin’ hotter than a boiling kettle
My job ain’t a job, it’s a damn good time
City to city, I’m a-runnin’ my rhymes
On location, tourin’ around the nation
Beastie Boys always on vacation
Itchy trigger finger, but a stable turntable
I do what I do best because I’m illin’ and able
Ain’t no fakin’, your money I’m takin’
Goin’ coast to coast to watch all the girlies shakin’
While you’re at the job workin’ nine-to-five
The Beastie Boys at the Garden cold kickin’ it live
[Chorus]
No sleep ’til
[Post-Chorus]
Another plane, another train, another bottle in the brain
Another girl, another fight, another drive all night
[Verse 2: Mike D, MCA & Ad-Rock]
Our manager’s crazy, he always smokes dust
He’s got his own room at the back of the bus
Tour around the world, you rock around the clock
Plane to hotel, girls on the jock
We’re trashin’ hotels like it’s goin’ out of style
Gettin’ paid along the way ’cause it’s worth your while
Four on the floor, Ad-Rock’s out the door
MCA’s in the back ’cause he’s skeezin’ with a whore
We got a safe in the trunk with money in a stack
With dice in the front and Brooklyn’s in the back
White boys got more rhymes
[Chorus]
No sleep ’til
No sleep ’til Brooklyn
No sleep ’til Brooklyn
[Bridge]
Ain’t seen the light since we started this band
So, MCA, get on the mic, my man
[Verse 3]
Born and bred in Brooklyn, USA
They call me Adam Yauch, but I’m MCA
Like a lemon to a lime, a lime to a lemon
I sip the def ale with all the fly women
Limos, arenas, and TV shows
Autographed pictures and classy hoes
Step off, Holmes, get out of my way
Taxin’ little girlies from here to LA
Wakin’ up before I get to sleep
‘Cause I’ll be rockin’ this party eight days a week
[Chorus]
No sleep ’til
No sleep ’til Brooklyn
No sleep ’til Brooklyn
No (No) sleep (Sleep) ’til Brooklyn (Brooklyn)
No (No) sleep (Sleep) ’til Brooklyn (Yeah)
[Outro]
No (No) sleep (Sleep) ’til Brooklyn (Brooklyn)
No (No) sleep (Sleep) ’til Brooklyn (Brooklyn)
No (No) sleep (Sleep) ’til Brooklyn (Brooklyn)
No (No) sleep (Sleep) ’til Brooklyn (Brooklyn)
No (No) sleep (Sleep) ’til Brooklyn (Brooklyn)
No (No) sleep (Sleep) ’til Brooklyn (Brooklyn)
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m not sure I’ve ever heard this entire album. I suppose I should, but it’s really not the type of music I was ever into.
Definitely not for me 🤷♀️