History Music / LicensedToIll

* RefrainFromAssuming: "Licensed To Ill" was not named after [[Film/LicenceToKill the James Bond film of the same name]], because that one came out in 1989, three years after the release of this album.

* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness: The rock-oriented songs (i.e. "Fight For Your Right", "Rhymin' and Stealin'", "No Sleep Till Brooklyn", "She's Crafty") sit at a 5, while the lighter, funkier songs (i.e. "Hold It Now, Hit It", "Brass Monkey", "Slow Ride") sit in the 3-4 range.

The album was listed at #219 in ''Magazine/RollingStone''[='=]s [[Music/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]], and was recognized by the same magazine as being the single greatest debut album of all time.

* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: "Time To Get Ill""
--> ''I'm cool, calm, collected - from class I was ejected''

** "Rhymin' and Stealin'" has a sample lifted from "When The Levee Breaks" from Music/LedZeppelin's ''Music/LedZeppelinIV'' (1971), "Sweet Leaf" from Music/BlackSabbath's "Master of Reality" (1971) and "I Fought The Law" by Music/TheClash from their EP "The Cost Of Living" (1979).

''Licensed to Ill'' is the debut album record by HipHop artists The Music/BeastieBoys. It was released through Creator/ColumbiaRecords (via the Def Jam label) on November 15, 1986.

''Licensed to Ill'' is the debut album record by HipHop artists The Music/BeastieBoys. It was released through Creator/Columbia Records (via the Def Jam label) on November 15, 1986.

''Licensed to Ill'' is the debut album record by HipHop artists The Music/BeastieBoys. It was released through Creator/DefJamRecords on November 15, 1986.

''Licensed to Ill'' is the debut album by The Music/BeastieBoys, released in 1986. At the time, it surprised many listeners by being the first HipHop record to break to the mainstream and even get into the ''Billboard'' charts. Another album from that same year which showed the commercial viability of hip-hop acts was ''Music/RaisingHell'' (1986) by Music/RunDMC, which also became an overnight sensation.

[[caption-width-right:350: ''Your mum busted in and said: "What's that noise?!" Aw, Mum, you're just jealous: it's the BEASTIE BOYS!'']]

''Licensed to Ill'' is the debut album by The Music/BeastieBoys, released in 1986. At the time it surprised many listeners by being the first HipHop record to break to the mainstream and even get into the ''Billboard'' charts. Another album from that same year which showed the commercial viability of hiphop acts was ''Music/RaisingHell'' (1986) by Music/RunDMC, which also became an over-nite sensation. But ''Licensed to Ill'' was especially notable because all members were [[TokenWhite white middle-class]] boys of Jewish descent, who nevertheless managed to overcome prejudices and got acclaim and respect from within the Hip-Hop community itself. Much had to do with the fact that the Beastie Boys showed off great rapping skills, clever {{sampling}} and an overall creative and fun party atmosphere, exemplified by the hits "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)" and "No Sleep Till Brooklyn".

The Beasties themselves, however, would endure a CreatorBacklash about this album. They felt they were too much pigeonholed as mindless ''party music'' and their lyrics on this album were a bit too puberal. Also, their SignatureSong "Fight for Your Right (To Party)" was actually meant as {{Irony}}, but [[MisaimedFandom most fans didn't get the joke]]. As a result ''Licensed to Ill'' became an OldShame to them and their followup would be the more mature NewSoundAlbum ''Music/PaulsBoutique'' (1989). Nevertheless, ''Licensed to Ill'' is still a classic and regarded as a cornerstone in the history of hip-hop and pop music in general.

** "The New Style" was sampled during "Johnny Ryall" from the Beasties' own album ''Music/PaulsBoutique''.

-->''Went into your locker and smashed your glasses''

* ThePianoPlayer: The one in "Paul Revere" [[Determinator continues providing the music throughout Mike D's holdup of the bar]] and doesn't stop until Ad-Rock punches him in the face.

* TheWestern: "Paul Revere."

--> ''I got the ladies of [[TheEighties the eighties]] from where to the White Castle''

* BarbaricBully: All three of the boys present as this. Their then-producer Rick "DJ Double R" Rubin was a fan of ProfessionalWrestling and their image was influenced by the over-the-top antics of {{Heel}}s; depending on the song their behavior ranges from literal barbarism to stereotypical schoolyard bullying.