“33% God” is one of many songs crafted after the completion of Paul’s Boutique when Capitol Records asked the group to organize the creation of remixes and b-sides. Instead of bringing in outside producers and remixers, they chose to create the material themselves.

The track was originally only included on the Japanese edition of the album and as a b-side to the “Hey Ladies”/“Shake Your Rump” single (aka Love American Style), but was added years later to many of the album reissues.

“33% God” uses the same basic instrumental as “Shake Your Rump”. Its title comes from when the Beasties met producer Quincy Jones and asked him how he’d made so many great albums, to which Jones reportedly responded:

It was 33% talent, 33% luck and 33% God.