The sound of “Paul's Boutique” is
one of the most fascinating hip-hop albums to come out of the late
80's. '89 to be exact. For my money it ranks up there with genre
changing albums like “Straight Outta Compton” and “It Takes a
Nation of Millions.” Obviously these three albums come from very
different circumstances, people, and areas. Well, both “Paul's
Boutique” and “Straight Outta Compton” hail from California.
I know; the Beasties are from New York,
but they hooked up with the Dust Brothers in LA. Where they wrote
and recorded it.
There is something different going on
in the album. It is the precursor to all the sampling you hear in
music today. It doesn't matter if it is the Verve with “Bitter
Sweet Symphony” or Moby with “Natural Blue's.” It seems to
really come from “Paul's Boutique.” Innovated in the use of
samples; pulling in elements from music as diverse as punk, funk,
jazz, The Beatles, and more that I am forgetting. I am sure that I
will want to admin this later when I go in and dig through the songs
again.
It is no secret that “Paul's
Boutique” is my favorite album in The Beastie Boys catalog. It is
an album you can listen to over and over again. Hearing something
different in it each time you listen. It is as exciting and fresh as
it was back in '89.
I come back to this album because like
many because we recently learned that MCA passed away.
To many people of my generation, it
seems like we grew up with them. Hearing “License to Ill” while
in grade school, “Ill Communication” in high school, and “Hello
Nasty” while in college. The music ended up being a part of the
soundtrack for us growing up. Even if you weren't an active listener,
you know who the Beasties are and ten to one you probably danced to a
few of their tracks at house parties, keggers, and out at the club.
Unless you are like me and can't dance to save your life, then you
just played the wall bobbing your head to groove coming from the DJ's
sound system.
I never knew the man, I won't even
pretend that I did. I know that he along with Mike D and Ad-Rock put
out some great music that made it alright for white boys like myself
to get into hip-hop. Get our feet wet and ready to explore another
side of music that might have never been available in a small midwest
town where the nearest record store was roughly 30 minutes away.
Fast forward to this very moment where
I am spinning some of the 12 inches on the turntable, the same vinyl
that I have taken out to DJ. Listening to remixes, extended cuts, and
a few fun things for the fans. Just like me typing this, it is some
way to pay tribute to a man that has given all of us some of the
coolest music. Music that, even if the hardcore hip-hop guys don't
want to admit, has pushed the art form to another level (and possibly
being the antithesis for the advent of rap-rock... Do we really want
to admit to that.)
I made a statement about a month ago
saying that I was very fortunate to have seen A Tribe Called Quest
open up for The Beastie Boys. I can now add on to the fact that my
fortune is amplified that I was able to see The Beastie Boys kicking
it on stage.
The side of the record is over, I think
that I am going to just let is spin for a bit. A moment of silence,
if you will.
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