Was it really 25 years ago that Caucasian rap first got put on the map when Licensed to Ill first blew the roof off the party? As crazy as it seems, it was. The pastiche of rock/rap/whippersnapping worked for the trio back in the day, and with the long-shelved Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2 they return to their wisecracking New York roots by embracing the thing that got them there—irreverent street charm. Key tracks are the single “Too Many Rappers” and “Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win,” featuring Santigold. Digipak. Outer slip case.

The Beastie Boys put out a new record. It sounds like them and if you like that sound (which I do) than you’ll be happy to know that they resisted the urge to make a record that sounded “new” and just kept to what they do best. Kanye/Rihanna et al. don't guest on it. It's just four intelligent guys giving themselves the space to be dopey and cool. - Ryan Stark, Berkeley

Also available on LP.