[See below for update]
Ad-Rock, Mike D and the late MCA were inducted into Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, only the third Hip Hop group ever to be given the honor (after Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and Run-DMC).
According to museum curator Meredith Rutledge-Borger, they had so much memorabilia left over from the induction, the Rock Hall decided to create an exhibit out of the remaining items. Over the weekend, the third floor transformed into a host of artifacts, mementos, and other items from the Def Jam graduates, including hand-written “Brass Monkey” lyrics, Mike D’s Volkswagen medallion, Beastie Boy action figures, and the outfits from their “Intergalactic” music video.
The Beastie Boys’ induction came just weeks before MCA (Adam Yauch) passed away from cancer at the age of 47. It was a devastating end to the trio’s lengthy career, which began in 1986 with the release of License To Ill. The Hip Hop world wasn’t ready for three white Brooklyn boys to make such a lasting impact on the culture, but with the help of producer Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons and Def Jam, that’s exactly what they did.
From 1989’s groundbreaking Paul’s Boutique to 1992’s Check Your Head, The Beastie Boys’ unique brand of Hip Hop captured the spirit of what Hip Hop was all about at the time—fun. It also solidified the fact they weren’t just a gimmick; The Beastie Boys were there to stay. After Check Your Head, it was clear they were also serious musicians, having played all of the instruments on the album for the first time since their early EPs.
Former DJs, DJ Hurricane and Mix Master Mike, could not be reached for comment, however, it’s safe to say they are feeling a sense of pride for their comrades. Visit www.rockhall.com for more information on 2016 class of inductees and the exhibit itself.
[Saturday, Jan. 30 at 8:15 p.m. DJ Hurricane finally chimed in saying, “I never thought about staying power when I first joined in 1986. To me, it was about doing what you love and having fun doing it. To see the end result is the Hall of Fame makes it all worth it. I’m glad to be part of something I helped grow from one single to a career.”]