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Beastie Boys Book

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Beastie Boys Book

Written by: Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz
Narrated by: Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz, various
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About this listen

Number One New York Times Best Seller

A panoramic experience that tells the story of Beastie Boys, a book as unique as the band itself - by band members ADROCK and Mike D, with contributions from Amy Poehler, Colson Whitehead, Wes Anderson, Luc Sante, and more.

The inspiration for the Spike Jonze "live documentary" Beastie Boys Story, coming soon to IMAX theaters and Apple TV+

Named One of The Best Books of the Year by Rolling StoneThe GuardianPaste

Formed as a New York City hardcore band in 1981, Beastie Boys struck an unlikely path to global hip hop superstardom. Here is their story, told for the first time in the words of the band. Adam "ADROCK" Horovitz and Michael "Mike D" Diamond offer revealing and very funny accounts of their transition from teenage punks to budding rappers; their early collaboration with Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin; the debut album that became the first hip hop record ever to hit number one, Licensed to Ill - and the album's messy fallout as the band broke with Def Jam; their move to Los Angeles and rebirth with the genre-defying masterpiece Paul's Boutique; their evolution as musicians and social activists over the course of the classic albums Check Your Head, Ill Communication, and Hello Nasty and the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits conceived by the late Adam "MCA" Yauch; and more. For more than 30 years, this band has had an inescapable and indelible influence on popular culture.

With a style as distinctive and eclectic as a Beastie Boys album, Beastie Boys Book upends the typical music memoir, featuring a collection of voices reminiscent of your favorite mixtape.

Photo Credit © 1987 Lynn Goldsmith

Audiobook Cast Includes:

Steve Buscemi / Ada Calhoun / Bobby Cannavale / Exene Cervenka Roy Choi / Jarvis Cocker / Elvis Costello / Chuck D / Nadia Dajani Michael Diamond / Snoop Dogg / Will Ferrell / Crosby Fitzgerald Randy Gardner / Kim Gordon / Josh Hamilton / Adam Horovitz LL Cool J / Spike Jonze / Pat Kiernan / Talib Kweli / Dave Macklovitch Rachel Maddow / Tim Meadows / Bette Midler/ Mix Master Mike Nas / Yoshimi O / Rosie Perez / Amy Poehler / Kelly Reichardt John C. Reilly / Ian Rogers / Maya Rudolph / Rev Run Luc Sante / Kate Schellenbach / MC Serch / Chloe Sevigny Jon Stewart / Ben Stiller / Wanda Sykes / Jeff Tweedy / Philippe Zdar

Praise for Beastie Boys Book

"A fascinating, generous book with portraits and detail that float by in bursts of color.... As with [the band’s] records, the book's structure is a lyrical three-man weave.... Diamond's voice is lapidary, droll. Horovitz comes on like a borscht belt comedian, but beneath that he is urgent, incredulous, kind of vulnerable.... Friendship is the book's subject as much as music, fame and New York." (The New York Times Book Review)

"Wild, moving...resembles a Beastie Boys LP in its wild variety of styles." (Rolling Stone)

©2018 Michael Diamond (P)2018 Random House Audio
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What the critics say

“A fascinating, generous book with portraits and detail that float by in bursts of color.... As with [the band’s] records, the book’s structure is a lyrical three-man weave.... Diamond’s voice is lapidary, droll. Horovitz comes on like a borscht belt comedian, but beneath that he is urgent, incredulous, kind of vulnerable.... Friendship is the book’s subject as much as music, fame and New York.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“Wild, moving...resembles a Beastie Boys LP in its wild variety of styles.” (Rolling Stone)

“As nutty, irreverent, and fun as you think it would be.” (Vogue)

What listeners say about Beastie Boys Book

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A Great Story About A Great Career

Mike D and Ad-Rock did a wonderful tribute to Adam Horovitz and the illustrious career that they had as a trio in Beastie Boys. The storytelling by their friends and fans over the many chapters was a wonderful added touch. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audio book.

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amaizing stories, amaizing book!

loved this book so much, learned so much about my boys, the Beastie Boys!!!!

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masterpiece of music history

Can't recommend this title enough. Wether your a Beadtie boys fan, a fan of hip-hop, punk, audio engineering/production or just a music fan in general there is so much you content here to entertain and educate delivery in a fresh way.

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Beastie Boys 4ever

I honestly didn’t know what to expect before listening to this. It was all that I could hoped for and definitely more. They’ve gained a fan for life. I can’t wait to listen to every single one of their albums, front to back, while knowing what I now know from listening to this book.

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great book for you to get

it's a great listen even if you're not a beastie boy fan. it's about life in new York city and kids into hardcore punk and rap music. if you love the beastie boys then it's a must get.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Beastie

A must for any Beastie fan. Got a little long toward the end, but a great listen.

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a must for any beastie boys fan

a must for any beastie boys fan. a few slow spots and I wish I could view the pictures but overall a classic

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I knew nothing of BB

I laughed out loud so many times, relating to the stories.. cried a bit too.. these guys seem like the friends I had growing up... and I miss them.
Thanks boys

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The best band autobiography ever!

I didn't know much about them. I just liked their most popular singles... now I want to listen to every track these 3 guys ever created! amazing audio book!

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The Best Book ever written.

Long Live Hip Hop. These are the best stories bout the best band. hello nasty.

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