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Shabbat Shalom, From the Beastie Boys

On the 30th anniversary of Licensed to Ill, here’s a video of Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Rock freestylin’ for MTV on the Lower East Side. Get your weekend started right.

by
Jonathan Zalman
March 31, 2017
(Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)Licensed to Ill
The Beastie Boys backstage at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards at the Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California, June 5, 2004. (Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)(Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)Licensed to Ill
(Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)Licensed to Ill
The Beastie Boys backstage at the 2004 MTV Movie Awards at the Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California, June 5, 2004. (Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)(Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)Licensed to Ill

As the Sabbath nears, and your weekend is just hours away, consider this tidbit spotted by the good folks at The Bowery Boogie and The New York Daily News: Licensed to Ill became first rap album to reach of the top of the Billboard charts 30 years ago this month (March 7, to be exact). The Rick Rubin-produced album, which features guitar-laden bangers like “No Sleep Till Brooklyn,” and “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party),” and my personal favorite, “Brass Monkey,” should make for a nice weekend soundtrack.

Here’s a video of the trio freestylin’ on Orchard Street on the Lower East side in a 1986 promo for MTV. Enjoy.

Jonathan Zalman is a writer and teacher based in Brooklyn.