Beastie Boys

An American hip-hop group formed in New York City in 1979, initially starting as the hardcore punk band The Young Aborigines. The original lineup included Michael "Mike D" Diamond (drums), Jeremy Shatan (bass guitar), John Berry (guitar), and Kate Schellenbach (percussion). After Shatan's departure in 1981, he was replaced by Adam "MCA" Yauch, and shortly thereafter, John Berry was replaced by Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz. The group shifted towards hip-hop following the success of their 1983 single "Cooky Puss," leading to Schellenbach's exit. In 1986, they released their debut album "Licensed to Ill," which became the first rap album to top the Billboard 200 and was certified Diamond for over 10 million copies sold in the U.S. Their second album, "Paul's Boutique" (1989), initially a commercial disappointment, was later hailed by critics for its innovative sampling techniques. In the 1990s, the band continued to experiment with genres, releasing "Check Your Head" (1992) and "Ill Communication" (1994), the latter featuring the hit "Sabotage" with its iconic Spike Jonze-directed video. The 1998 album "Hello Nasty" won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. Their final studio album, "Hot Sauce Committee Part Two," was released in 2011. The group disbanded following Adam Yauch's death from cancer in 2012. Throughout their career, Beastie Boys sold over 20 million albums in the U.S. and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.