What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

The Beastie Boys are quoting themselves: the line comes from “The New Style” off the Beastie’s 1986 album, Licensed To Ill.

In 1996, the Pharcyde used that Beastie sample as the hook for their song “Drop” .
Mike D and Adrock made cameos in their video.

More recently, Juvenile used it in his single, “Drop that Azz,” and the Ying Yang Twins used it for “Drop“—both of which are kind of scary, really…

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

Mario Caldato, Jr. is a Brazilian record producer and studio engineer best known for his work with Beastie Boys. In reference to keeping it clean, this could mean any one (or a combo) of the following:

  1. Studio: Mario keeps his studio tidy, because he doesn’t fuck around.

  2. Mix: Mario’s edits & transitions are seamless. And in the studio, most engineers prefer to delay “printing” (i.e., recording) effects directly to the track. Keeping the cut “clean” gives the producer the opportunity to tweak the sound before finalizing the track.

  3. In the audio commentary for Paul’s Boutique, MCA tells a story about the song, “A Year and a Day.” Yauch used a jet pilot’s helmet he bought from an army surplus store and rigged a mic headset to record the vocals. Apparently, Mario encouraged Adam to use a standard mic in lieu of the helmet mic, suggesting they apply distortion later. Still, Mario preferred to limit the distortion, reverb, echo and other effects that muddied the vocals, while the bboys often insisted on dampened vocal clarity.

  4. Signal: Producers like Mario are vigilant re: maintaining a low or “clean” SNR.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

One of the sole female acts to record on Eazy-E’s Ruthless Records, JJ Fad was an old-school girl group, similar to Salt-N-Pepa. “Supersonic” was produced by Dr. Dre.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

Paying homage to one of Nas' most famous lines, MCA’s afraid to sleep because death might come for him, so he just rocks the mic all night long. It was also the title of a track on the B-Boys' instrumental, The Mix-Up. The lyric cast an ominous shadow in light of MCA’s cancer diagnosis and subsequent passing on 5/4/12…
#Death is the cousin of Sleep

source: youremyonlychoice

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

What do you get when you mix three pioneering MCs from Brooklyn/Manhattan with a legendary MC from Queensbridge?

A pretty ballin' track, evidently…

Nas joins the Beastie Boys in pondering one of life’s greatest mysteries…

Why are there so few MCs, and so many rappers?

This is the “Too Many Rappers” (Single Version) dropped via 12” US Promo on 7.21.2009 — NOT to be confused with the “Too Many Rappers (New Reactionaries Version)“, included on the HSCP2 LP. The album’s release was delayed until 4.27.2011 due to MCA’s diagnosis of salivary cancer. “Too Many Rappers” broke the Billboard 100, peaking at #93, and was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 52nd Grammy Awards. (Not that we give a f*ck about charts or grammies, but still…)

Samples include:

  • “Stone Love Lady” performed by Rail, used under special license from Octavious Records

  • “Journeys, Oscillations and Other Dreams” performed by Irv Greenwood, used courtesy of Blue Note Records

It was first performed in concert, on 6.12.2009 at Bonaroo — Great Stage Park, Manchester, TN, US and for almost five years remained a live-only song performed just once.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH08ylBq-EI

Finally, the Roman Coppola-directed video was released on 1.11.2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llCvXypv-kU&list=UUErKs1Xtk-cUXDeZKdPHM9w

The song also lives on in remixes.
http://soundcloud.com/hypetrak-1/beastie-boys-featuring-nas-too

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

John Gotti, 10.27.1940—6.10.2002, was an American mobster. In 1986, Gotti assassinated Paul Castellano, then the Boss of New York City’s Gambino crime family. Gotti succeeded Castellano as Boss, and in so doing, he rose to fame. During this period, the Gambinos were considered the most powerful American mafia family, drawing $500 million in annual income. However, the unsanctioned hit created years of hostility amongst the Gambinos and the other New York crime syndicates.

The Gotti name and reputation have been glorified to represent one of the most brazen leaders of organized crime, e.g., Irv Gotti, Yo Gotti, Rick ‘Teflon Don’ Ross, etc., ad infinitum.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

Yes, he does (usually). Mario Andretti was one of the most successful automobile racing drivers ever. Between 1959 & his final retirement in 2000, the Italian-American kicked ass on multiple racing circuits — Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR.

Artist: TomButchy Pantsdown for MCA Day

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

A quote from the hymn “Amazing Grace”, written by English poet and clergyman John Newton in 1779. Hear the Queen of Gospel, Mahalia Jackson, sing it here

source: Antony Kiston via causeyoucantyouwontandyoudontstop

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

To “peak” is to experience the most intense effects of a drug. For example, with LSD, many users describe the process as a “trip,” and the portion of the trip which produces the most visceral impact is described as the “peak.” LSD’s peak onset occurs within 20-60 minutes, and may persist for 3-6 hours.

As illustrated in the diagram below, peak MDMA onset can span 20-90 minutes, and plateaus after 2-3 hours.

diagrams from erowid

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

The type of song Genius was invented for — a pop culture reference-heavy number from (arguably) the group’s best album that ranks among their greatest songs…

“Shadrach” is Track 13 on Paul’s Boutique, released 7.25.1989 on Capitol Records. Beastie Boys & Dust Brothers share writing and production credits. Engineered by Mario Caldato, Jr. and assisted by Allen Abrahamson, “Shadrach” was recorded at Mario G’s and mixed at Record Plant. It was released as the second and final single from the album, but did not chart.

Samples include:

Shadrach“ was performed in 30 known concerts…

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.