“Ill Communication” by the Beastie Boys, originally released on May 31, 1994, is more than just the tune that propelled the trio back to the top of the Billboard 200.
This fourth album by Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Adam “Adrock” Horovitz, and Adam “MCA” Yauch immediately became a multi-platinum success that permeated pop culture.
Rolling Stone labeled “Ill Communication” the “soundtrack for summer” in 1994, citing the hit tune “Sabotage” and its classic Spike Jonze/Nathanial Hornblower-directed video. Other outstanding tracks on the album included “Sure Shot,” “Root Down,” and “Get It Together” with Q-Tip, which contributed to the album’s success. According to a Vibe cover story, the Beastie Boys are “perhaps the most consistently innovative musicians to emerge out of hip hop,” a claim that the album continues to substantiate.
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“Ill Communication” offers a range of genres and styles, from household hits to instrumental compositions like “Sabrosa” and “Ricky’s Theme,” hardcore punk songs like “Tough Guy” and “Heart Attack Man,” and unique pieces like “Bodhisattva Vow” and “Shambala.” The album’s effect extends beyond generations, ensuring its position and importance across time.
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To mark the 30th anniversary of “Ill Communication,” Grand Royal, Capitol Records, and UMe will issue two limited edition editions on July 26:
– A 3LP Deluxe Edition, re-releasing a 2009 rarity. This edition includes lenticular cover art, a third LP with 12 bonus tracks, and a rigid slipcase, all of which are produced on 180g vinyl.
– A limited edition cassette of the original record, released for the first time in decades.Celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Ill Communication” by reliving the Beastie Boys’ revolutionary album.
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