Growing up the Beastie Boys to me were “that all white dude rap group that did the weird videos”. I remember thinking that ‘Intergalactic’ sounded really cool (still does) and that I’d never heard a hip-hop track like it before. I was more into Run DMC though thanks to the 1997 Jason Nevins remix of ‘It’s Like That’ which I had on cassette. I was OBSESSED with the music video too, I don’t think I’d seen breakdancing before, not like that anyway. I was aware of the Beastie Boys to an extent but never really had that WOW moment like i’d had with Run DMC and their breakdancing posse.
As I’ve grown up (I’m 30 this year) I’ve a new found appreciation for Ad-Rock, MCA and Mike D and while visiting New York earlier this year I listened to loads of Beastie Boys, naturally. I remember seeing the ‘Beastie Boys Book’ in Rough Trade NYC and thinking “I want that” but alas it’s massive and had already ran out of space in my suitcase. Recently I’ve been watching and absolutely loving the Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls docuseries ‘The Last Dance’ on Netflix so when I saw that Apple TV+ were streaming ‘Beastie Boys Story’ I was immediately all in for more 90’s nostalgia feels.
My housemates had watched the documentary the week before and pre-warned me of the on stage element saying that they found it distracting and the jokes not very funny. I went in with an open mind anyway and you know what I didn’t mind the on stage element. Nearly every documentary follows the format of Michael Jordan sat in a chair talking to the camera so them being on stage presenting the film felt like a refreshing take. Jokes wise, they were fine too. It’s Mike D and Ad-Rock staying true to form and goofing around while an unseen Spike Jonze (who directed it) cuts in time to time to get involved with the gag. In amongst all the clowning though there is genuine heartfelt moments like when Adam “Ad-Rock” Horowitz talks of the passing of Adam “MCA” Yauch to cancer in 2012. You can see Horowitz welling up about the last ever gig they did together and you can’t help but get caught up in it.
8 out of 10 documentary with 10 out of 10 anecdotes. Top tip: if you’re not keen on having Apple TV+ (nothing decent on there anyway) but, like me, really want to see the doc. They do a free 7 day trial so sign up. Watch it. Cancel subscription straight after. Cheers.