Hip-hop is a genre that many people can’t take seriously. While there is a lot of great music within the genre, the artists that get the most exposure constantly take away credibility and respect for the genre as a whole. The sheer repetition of some of the music is enough to make you rip out your car radio and throw it out the window; the lyrics and rhymes are all too often shockingly bad, and, in the words of Marge Simpson “Hip-hop encourages punching, boastfulness and rudeness to hoes.” In other words there is plenty to put people off the genre. On the other hand, there is plenty within the genre to entice listeners. The simplicity of the music doesn’t require much effort or attention to listen to and the choruses, and the occasional line or hook is memorable. So, wouldn’t it be great if there was a hip-hop artist that had all the good qualities of the genre without the negative aspects? Wouldn’t it be great for a hip-hop artist to make solid music with the occasional genius line over the top? Actually, there are three (okay, four). They are MCA, Mike D, Ad-Rock and Mixmaster Mike.
Everyone has heard a Beastie Boys song at some point –Sure Shot, Intergalactic, Sabotage, Fight For Your Right, Body Movin’- the list goes on. Anyone who has heard any of these singles should know what to expect from the group – yappy vocals, pop-culture references, crude humour and several fantastic lines. That is pretty much what you get here. However, ‘To The 5 Boroughs’ is different to their other albums as it is more freestyle and a rawer brand of hip-hop. There is very little accompaniment to the vocals throughout the experiment, usually just a turntable and a mixer operated by Mixmaster Mike. This isn’t always the case, with the obvious exception being
‘Triple Trouble’ which uses cowbells and other metallic percussion. This makes it a very lively and upbeat song. Random samples are interspersed throughout the album adding a bit of comedy and flavour; without them the album would be just rapping over a beat the whole way through. Not there’s anything wrong with that.
The Beastie Boys could have made an album made up of just rapping with a back-beat and it wouldn’t have been bad. This is because after nearly twenty years in the rap game they have become expert at writing great lines that are often intelligent and/or funny. To The 5 Boroughs has many examples of this, in particular the line “So pack up your bag and your mic and don’t wait, E.T. phone home now get the *** out my face.” in
‘3 The Hard Way’. Notable mentions also go out to
‘Right Right Now Now’ with the standout line “I went to get a loan and they asked my race – I wrote down human inside that space.” It is one of the more intelligent and conscientious songs on the album, yet it doesn’t have the same impact as the best song on the album, bar none,
‘An Open Letter To NYC’. It is different to the rest of the album as it is more instrumentally driven, with a tension-building intro riff that is mimicked on the bass throughout the song. The lyrics pay homage to their hometown, particularly the unity displayed after 9/11. The chorus is catchy, without ever being annoying; the rhymes are creative and clever and it is a unique song for the Beasties.
This is not always the case as there are far too many cases of poor, unmemorable lines throughout the album. When the vocals are the focal point of the music, this is a fundamental problem and it makes songs such as
‘Crawlspace’ and
‘Oh Word?’ passing without leaving much impact. Their rapping style is very ‘yappy’ and fast. While this pace is certainly impressive and often works stunningly well, a lot of the time it renders the actual lyrics largely inaudible. As well as meaning that the listener may miss out on some good lines, it also makes the songs drag on, especially for those not used to listening to rap music.
The Beastie Boys are legends, and deservedly so. They have made a huge contribution to the hip-hop world throughout their career and have earned the respect from millions, including those with preferences vastly different to rap and hip-hop. They have made themselves their own little niche within the music world, and created their own individual style of rap that although far from perfect on this album, is still pulled off well. They offer an alternative to other gun-toting, bitch-slapping rappers and by releasing a string of successful singles including the fun, catchy
‘Ch-Check It Out’ they have stayed in the game and public consciousness. While ‘To The 5 Boroughs’ as a whole isn’t great, it has moments of excellence that make it a worthy addition to any fans’ collection, but probably isn’t the best place to start for someone new to the band.
