Single Review: Beastie Boys – Make Some Noise

I don’t really like rap and hip hop, but I make an exception for Beastie Boys. Eminem wouldn’t have a career if it wasn’t for these three MCs from New York. There’s no denying the infectious grooves and hilarity of their early gems ‘(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (to Party)’ and ‘No Sleep Till Brooklyn’. There must be something wrong with you if your body doesn’t move when those songs come on the radio. All of a sudden, it didn’t matter where you’d grown up: it was equally okay for a posh kid in the suburbs and his urban counterpart to like hip hop. And I have some great memories of hanging around in a mate’s bedroom and trying to work out all the lyrics to ‘Intergalactic’ from their 1998 album ‘Hello Nasty’. (I still maintain “I like my sugar with coffee and cream” has to be one of the wittiest lyrics written, ever.)
In 2009, the world collectively held its breath when Adam “MCA” Yauch was diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, Yauch underwent successful treatment that year. And so in 2011, we’re happy to announce their eighth album ‘Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2’ comes a-knocking next month. I will admit it’s kind of scary to contemplate that the Beasties have been around for as long as I’ve been alive. But in longevity they have the benefit of lots of famous fans, as evidenced by the new video for the first single from the album, ‘Make Some Noise’, that started circulating around the web yesterday.
To me, there are two things that a hip hop song must have to be successful: a wicked groove (preferably one that makes you want to “raise the roof” with your arms) and memorable, funny lyrics. The Beasties appear not to have missed a beat. Even if you took the words away, the track would still be seriously good, high-hats and cowbells banging around what sounds like old skool keyboard notes.
Then you stop to listen to the lyrics. “Leggo my Eggo while I flex my ego”? I don’t know if the UK has Eggo waffles in the freezer section of your Tesco’s, but I suppose it’s more immediately funny if you’re American.
My impression?
So crunk.
8/10
‘Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2’, the new album from the Beastie Boys, will drop on 2 May on EMI.
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