I have been a Beastie Boys fan since back in the day when Licensed to Ill came out. This was about the time that I became conscience of music and started to develop some taste. I remember that Graham and I used to run around the ranch blasting Beastie Boys and Run DMC going crazy for it. That was back in 1986 - I was 10. Odd thing is that now - 18 years later - I am still running around going crazy for the Beastie Boys.

My love of Madonna has faded - as her talent has dwindled, but the Beastie Boys have remained as fresh as they were from day one. Their latest release is no different. The lyrics are probably going to be considered controversial and anti-American. “We got a President we didn’t elect.” But only stupid right-wing Bush loving bastards will point a finger in this direction. And props to the BBoys for being able to appeal to a younger audience than yours truly.

Don’t get me wrong, the whole album isn’t motivated by their political causes. There are the typical humorous lyrics and phat beats that we have all become accustomed to.

To the 5 Boroughs - Beastie Boys track listing and choice lyrics

Ch-Check It Out
Now, i go by the name of the king adrock
I don’t wear a cup nor a jock
I bring the shit that’s beyond bizarre
Like miss piggy
Who moi?

Right Right Now Now
I went to get a loan and they asked my race
I wrote down human inside the space
It’s a disgrace how they try to debase
It ain’t the bank’s damn business how my lineage trace

3 The Hard Way
Your rhyme technique, it is antique
To all my heads Qu’est-ce-que tu fabriques?
Que cosa fai? Come sta e?
Ho fato molte telefonate

It Takes Time to Build
So step up to the window and place your bets
Is the US gonna keep breaking necks
Maybe it’s time that we impeach Tex
And the military muscle that he wants to flex
By the time Bush is done what will be left
Selling votes like E-pills at the discotheque
Environmental destruction and the national dept
But plenty of dollars left in the fat war chest
What the real deal why you can’t connect
Why you hating people that you never met
Didn’t your mama teach you to show some respect?
Why not open your mind for a sec?

It takes a second to wreck it
It takes time to build
You gots to chill

Rhyme the Rhyme Well
Now my name is Adrock I’ve got a story to tell
When I rock the crowd the crowd we all yell
And when I get the feeling I feel the feel swell
And when I start to rhyme well I rhyme the rhyme well

Triple Trouble
Cause I’m a specializer, rhyme reviser
Ain’t selling out to advertisers
What you get is what you see
And you won’t see me out there advertising
See I like to party not drink Bacardi

Hey F*?# You
I read about you up on page 6
They was trashin’ your ass it’s sad you’re getting dissed
Now talk about your face now don’t get pissed
But I suggest you see a dermatologist

Oh Word?
That’s It That’s All
All Lifestyles
Shazam!

An Open Letter to NYC
Dear New York I know a lot has changed
2 towers down but you’re still in the game
Home to many rejecting know one
Accepting peoples of all places, wherever they’re from

Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten
From the Battery to the top of Manhattan
Asian, Middle-Eastern and Latin
Black, White, New York you make it happen

Crawlspace
No I’m not Herman Munster or Dr. Spock
I go by the name of the King Adrock
So here’s a match my ass and your face
Listen when I tell you dog;
I’m in your crawl space

The Brouhaha
Just back from Japan and ooh I’m laggin’
Goin’ rao rao with the dungeon dragon
You can dance if you want to leave your friends behind
But if they don’t dance and then they won’t dance they can kiss my fuckin’ ass

We Got the
Who got the chance to make things right?
Why the politicians always want to fight?
The Christian coalition and the right wing ooooh!
Let me tell you what you can do
Step outside the cone of silence
Too much hatred and violence
It’s time to rewind
We need a military decline
Got the power of the mind focused
Government like a locust
Are we gone or just going?
Time to act on what we be knowinh y’all

Buy the album