What is the title of the Beastie Boys' 1986 debut studio album?
Answer
Licensed to Ill
The Beastie Boys' 1986 debut studio album is Licensed to Ill.
Released on November 15, 1986, by Def Jam and Columbia, the album was produced primarily by Rick Rubin. It fused abrasive rap, rock riffs, shouted vocals, scratching, and heavy sampling, helping define the group's early party-rap sound.
Licensed to Ill became the first rap album to reach number one on the Billboard 200. Its best-known tracks include “Fight for Your Right,” “No Sleep till Brooklyn,” and the title track. The album's distinctive cover depicts a Boeing 727 crashing into a mountain shaped like a burnt-out joint.
A common mix-up is Paul's Boutique, the Beastie Boys' 1989 follow-up. That album is also highly influential, but it was released after the group left Def Jam and signed with Capitol Records. Licensed to Ill was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2015 for U.S. shipments exceeding ten million copies.