Paul’s Boutique

The Beastie Boys absolutely had to make the follow up as, if not better, than the full length debut classic. More rested on their shoulders than just having a hit; the album needed to be successful sure but the fate of an entire genre could be determined by this release.

The recording buying public loved 1986’s “License To ill” along with mainstream critics and hip hop heads. However some dismissed it as “frat” hip hop. The band agreed with the latter to an extent. Moving labels would mean a fresh start. Nothing was more dreaded to be than labeled as “one hit wonders.” In early 1988, having left the safety and security of Rick Rubin’s Def Jam label and newly signed with Capital Records, the group set up shop in Los Angeles.

During early brainstorm sessions it was agreed that they didn’t want make the same record again. They sought to create an LP that allowed their influences to show through rather than chase charts success. Being introduced to early sampling masters, The Dust Brothers who initially agreed to provide backing tracks and a few instrumentals. Were eventually persuaded by Beastie Boys to use them as the basis of their entire album.

However, this proved to be costly; gone were the renegade days of using unauthorized samples. Capital Records of course, made sure everything was by the book. Making a fourth of the albums budget allocated to purchasing the rights to use the samples. This is, believed it or not drastically lower than what it would cost to do the same today.

The majority of the tracks were recorded in producer Matt Dike’s living room in Los Angeles. With “Hello Brooklyn” and “A Year and a Day” from the “B-Boy Bouillabaisse” recorded in Adams Yauch’s apartment. The album was mixed by Dust Brothers at Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles.

Upon its release on July 25, 1989 the record was not an immediate success. People expected “License To ill” part 2. The album was heavy on samples of funk and soul with no Kerry King. The album peaked at 14 on the Billboard 200. However it did go Gold by that September. The record is now widely considered a masterpiece of the genre and is generally met with high praise. Making Rolling Stones top 500 albums of all time list at 125. The album now sits at double platinum status.

The title came about a nonexistent store. For the albums cover the group hung a sign over an existing clothing store called “Lee’s Sportswear” in Manhattan. On September 9, 2023 the intersection of Ludlow and Rivington streets on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where the album photo was taken, is now
officially renamed “Beastie Boys Square.”

DJ Madness