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Beastie Boys Book

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Description

Formed as a New York City hardcore band in 1981, Beastie Boys struck an unlikely path to global hip hop superstardom. Here is their story, told for the first time in the words of the band. Adam "AD-ROCK" Horovitz and Michael "Mike D" Diamond offer revealing and very funny accounts of their transition from teenage punks to budding rappers; their early collaboration with Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin; the almost impossible-to-fathom overnight success of their debut studio album Licensed to Ill ; that album's messy fallout; their break with Def Jam, move to Los Angeles, and rebirth as musicians and social activists, with the genre-defying masterpiece Paul's Boutique. For more than twenty years, this band has had a wide-ranging and lasting influence on popular culture. With a style as distinctive and eclectic as a Beastie Boys album, Beastie Boys Book upends the typical music memoir. Alongside the band narrative you will find rare photos, original illustrations, a cookbook by chef Roy Choi, a graphic novel, a map of Beastie Boys' New York, mixtape playlists, pieces by guest contributors, and many more surprises. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Faber Social; First Edition (January 1, 2018)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 592 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 057130804X


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 40


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.45 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.77 x 1.77 x 9.69 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #3,306,490 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #8,522 in Music History & Criticism (Books)


#8,522 in Music History & Criticism (Books):


Customer Reviews: 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 5,165 ratings


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Top Amazon Reviews


  • I went from liking the Beastie Boys to becoming a super fan!
When this book came out I already knew that I was going to own it. I am a huge fan of music biographies and I am willing to read just about any of them. I knew this book in particular was going to be special as I wasn't the biggest fan of the Beastie Boys, I respected them as a truly creative force that stood out among the hip hop groups of the early 1980's. I originally picked this up on Audible while I was travelling for work but I went ahead and bought the book as well. Let me say that the audio format is really cool. They have a slew of musicians, actors, friends and the surviving members of the group reading this book. Like their music the book took it's self serious while maintaining the sense of humor that the Beastie Boys were known to have. As biographies go this is just one of the best. It starts at their childhood and takes you on the journey of their ups and downs as musicians. What comes out of this book is an honest reflection of their careers, mistake and creative process. You get stories of them being forced into the party band persona when they were young and their disdain of having that image. How they broke free from that and started to reform their image to become the pioneers of hip hop, social justice and equality. Learning their start as a band to their love of music and their time in the studio had me in awe of the Beastie Boys. My respect for their craft tripled and after I finished the book I sat down with their albums that I blew off years ago and listened with a new found appreciation. This is a great read for the casual to the hardcore fan. It's thoughtful, funny and just an all around engaging read. I see myself revisiting this book later on down the road. This is a great way to close out the career of the Hip-Hop legends! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2019 by Caligula Strange

  • The best printed book in my library
I started this book with the Kindle version lent by my local library. After 1/4 of it I realized I was missing much of the content found in illustration and pictures. I was thrilled to see the Hardbound price 1/2 of its original and I ordered a copy. It showed up the next day with one corner a little bent but nothing compared to many shipments. This book is one of the finest printed and presented material I have seen in decades. I have a large library and few of my books are to this standard. The binding, choice of paper and format is remarkable. It is as creative as the other parts of this Genre and authors. The content is like no other music related books I own. This is encyclopedic in the way it provides insight into the period and career of the creators. It has everything from Maps, a cookbook, and memory of arcane musical techniques and instruments. The passage about limited storage of samplers was like a TARDIS (time travel). Thank you Beasties, I recommend this book to anyone regardless of your interests or tastes. It is the bargain of the year and instant joy. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2022 by rob

  • I grew up with these guys. They were with me the whole way... or I was with them?
This book was not short. However, it felt short. Sorta like when I saw Pulp Fiction... it was so fascinating, it flew by. I felt the love, the real love of these dudes and I feel like they did right by Adam Yauch to the very end! Every time, in the book, he’s remembered for some fantastic thing he did, I teared up. I had to break out my albums and find the little things the guys mentioned that he added, to make the songs even more amazing... and my hair stood up every time. What a champ! A f——ing champ! They painted a great picture of their endeavors and made me jealous that I wasn’t part of their world (beyond a listener and witness to their art). I could relate to so much of their youth, although I’m from Los Angeles... still... cassette tapes! Haha! Such an important part of my childhood. My heart goes out to Adam and Mike. And though the chapter of their lives that involves losing Adam Yauch must’ve been utterly devastating, I suspect that more than feeling their loss, they must’ve felt so fortunate to have been alive all at the same time! And I certainly feel lucky to have been here on the planet at the same time! This book was SO awesome! A must for anybody. Especially Beastie Boys fans! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2019 by Benjamin Chadwick

  • Fun to read
We’re fans and are enjoying reading all the various stories. It’s been eye opening, humorous and emotional…really enjoying this book.
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2024 by Thejaxfrog

  • A behind the scenes journey with the groundbreaking, one of a kind, genres defining band.
"Beastie Boys Book" is a captivating journey through the iconic band's legacy, told with an irresistible blend of humor, nostalgia, and raw honesty. Packed with rare photos, personal anecdotes, and exclusive interviews, this book offers fans an intimate look into the evolution of the Beastie Boys—from their humble beginnings in New York City to their groundbreaking influence on music and culture. With its eclectic mix of storytelling and visual imagery, "Beastie Boys Book" is a must-have for both die-hard fans and newcomers alike, celebrating the band's indelible mark on the world of music and beyond. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2024 by Josh

  • Cool Book
Awesome book about a truly fascinating group.
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2024 by Ward Anderson

  • Fascinating from beginning to end
This is one of the best music bios to come out in recent years. It not only details the history of the Beastie Boys, but also reflects the age of New York hardcore, the early days of hip-hop, the business of the labels in the '80s and explains a creative age in the music industry we're likely never to see again. The stories shared in the book are entertaining, funny, interesting, and sometimes heartbreaking. The way they describe MCA as a friend, collaborator, and as a person is remarkable. The Beastie Boys started out parodying the people they despised and admit they became part of that scene and worked to evolve as people and musicians, and this book is a fantastic retrospective of their time together. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2020 by Brian Blueskye

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