Artist: Beastie Boys
Album: Licensed to Ill (30th Anniversary Edition)
Original Release: November 15, 1986
Anniversary Reissue: November 2016 (Def Jam / UMe)
Genre: Hip-Hop / Rap / Golden Age / Rock Fusion
Label: Def Jam Recordings / Universal Music Enterprises
Format: 180g Vinyl LP / Special Edition Reissue
Description
The album that changed hip-hop forever — Licensed to Ill was the first rap record to hit #1 on the Billboard 200, and it remains one of the most influential debuts in music history. This 30th Anniversary Edition brings back the classic in fully remastered form, pressed on heavyweight 180-gram vinyl, and housed in a faithfully reproduced gatefold sleeve featuring the iconic airplane crash artwork by David Gambale (aka World B. Omes).
Originally released in 1986, Licensed to Ill captures the Beastie Boys’ explosive fusion of punk rock attitude, raw hip-hop energy, and streetwise humor. With production by Rick Rubin, the record defined the early Def Jam sound — booming beats, guitar samples, and unforgettable hooks.
Every track bursts with youthful chaos and charisma, from “Rhymin & Stealin” and “Paul Revere” to timeless anthems like “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)” and “No Sleep Till Brooklyn.” This reissue keeps the grit, the fun, and the defiance perfectly intact — a fitting tribute to the Beasties’ boundary-breaking legacy.