Beastie I be.

Licensed to Ill was one of the first records I bought when I was able (on cassette!). I remember how all the kids were obsessed with memorizing the lyrics to Paul Revere. I think I still know them 25 years later.

The cool and surprising thing was how the Beastie Boys stayed so good and relevant throughout the rest of my life until now. I really felt like we grew up together, from kids on a playground to adults with our heads perked up into the wider world. Hot Sauce Committee was one of my favorite records just LAST YEAR. And it was still so much fun even while things in the world and with them personally haven’t been great. That’s been a big lesson I’ve learned from the Beastie Boys: even when things are bad, it’s still possible (hell, encouraged) to be joyful and make some noise.

Their music brought me/us so much unmitigated joy. I can’t think of a better word or another group that did the same so well, so authentically, for so long. It’s going to be a poorer world without Nathanial Hörnblowér and Adam Yauch, but mostly without MCA & his band. #RIPMCA