Ill Communication

by Beastie Boys

Ill Communication cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: May 31, 1994
  • Label: Grand Royal, Capitol
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 59:26
  • Community rating: 4.14/5 from 26 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Co-produced with Mario Caldato, Jr., 'Ill Communication' continues the expansion of live instrumentation, fusing the group's hip-hop foundation with hardcore punk, jazz, and funk. The album's varied texture is defined by the fuzzed-out rock of "Sabotage," the iconic Jeremy Steig flute sample on "Sure Shot," and vocal collaborations with artists like Q-Tip. This eclectic approach, which ranged from raw punk tracks to mellow jazz-funk instrumentals, solidified the trio's artistic evolution and earned them their second consecutive number-one album.

Genres

Descriptors: rap, funky, old-school, experimental, abrasive

Tracklist

  1. Sure Shot (3:19)
  2. Tough Guy (0:57)
  3. B-Boys Makin' With The Freak Freak (3:36)
  4. Bobo On The Corner (1:13)
  5. Root Down (3:32)
  6. Sabotage (2:58)
  7. Get It Together (4:05)
  8. Sabrosa (3:29)
  9. The Update (3:15)
  10. Futterman's Rule (3:42)
  11. Alright Hear This (3:06)
  12. Eugene's Lament (2:12)
  13. Flute Loop (1:54)
  14. Do It (3:16)
  15. Ricky's Theme (3:43)
  16. Heart Attack Man (2:14)
  17. The Scoop (3:36)
  18. Shambala (3:40)
  19. Bodhisattva Vow (3:08)
  20. Transitions (2:31)

Credits

  • Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz - vocals, guitar, producer
  • Adam "MCA" Yauch - vocals, electric bass, double bass, producer
  • Michael "Mike D" Diamond - vocals, drums, producer
  • Money Mark - keyboards, organ
  • Eric Bobo - percussion, drums on "ricky's theme", Written-By
  • Amery Smith - drums on "tough guy" & "heart attack man", Beats [Hardcore Beats], Written-By
  • Eugene Gore - violin on "eugene's lament", Violin, Written-By
  • Q-Tip - vocals on "get it together", Featuring
  • Biz Markie - vocals on "do it", Rap, Featuring
  • Mario Caldato, Jr. - producer
  • Gibran Evans - design
  • Jim Evans - typeface
  • Bruce Davidson - cover photography
  • Alex Grey - inside painting
  • Ari Marcopoulos - photography
  • Beastie Boys - Primary Artist, Written-By
  • Hurricane - Written-By
  • Mario Caldato Jr. - Written-By
  • Mark Ramos-Nishita - Written-By
  • Jonathan Davis - Written-By
  • Marcel Hall - Written-By

More from Beastie Boys: full discography