Paul’s Boutique is the Beastie Boys album released in 1989 and produced with the Dust Brothers, known for its dense sample-based sound.
The album was the group’s second studio release, following their hugely successful 1986 debut, Licensed to Ill. Unlike that debut’s harder rock-rap style, Paul’s Boutique emphasized layered production, extensive sampling, and more intricate lyricism. The Dust Brothers handled most of the production, while the Beastie Boys contributed to the writing and performance.
Paul’s Boutique was released by Capitol Records on July 25, 1989. Its cover depicts a fictional neighborhood storefront in New York City, reflecting the group’s connection to the city and its street-culture roots. The album initially sold less strongly than Licensed to Ill, but later gained major critical recognition.
It is often associated with pioneering sample collage in hip hop. Listeners sometimes confuse it with Licensed to Ill because both albums belong to the Beastie Boys’ early period, but Paul’s Boutique is the later, more experimental record. Its best-known track is “Hey Ladies.”