Ranking ‘Licensed to Ill’ Tracks by How Many Times the Beastie Boys Mention They’re from New York

The Beastie Boys burst onto the New York scene in 1986 with their debut studio album Licensed to Ill, a seminal album that inspired white boy rappers everywhere. In 1982, they unofficially debuted with the EP Polly Wog Stew, a hardcore punk record with a sound that they essentially abandoned, but its influence can still be felt throughout their discography.

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Another influence that makes several appearances on Licensed to Ill is New York City, the birthplace of all three Beastie Boys. MCA was from Brooklyn (“Born and bred in Brooklyn, USA / They call me Adam Yauch but I’m MCA” he raps on “No Sleep Til Brooklyn”), Ad-Rock is from Manhattan (he states this on “Hold It Now, Hit It,” rapping “And I’m from Manhattan and I’m not a bum”), and Mike D grew up on the Upper West Side (he pays tribute on “To the 5 Boroughs,” stating “To the Grand Concourse where my mom and dad met / Before they moved on down to the Upper West”).

New York City has always been woven into the Beastie Boys’ lyrics, but on Licensed to Ill they made more than several references to their home city. Here’s every song on that album ranked by how many times the Beasties mention they’re from New York City.

Just How Many Times Do the Beastie Boys Reference New York City?

Zero References

Let’s get this out of the way: there are a few songs where the Beastie Boys don’t mention New York. That would be “Rhymin’ & Stealin’,” “Slow Ride,” “Girls,” “Fight For Your Right,” “Paul Revere,” “Slow and Low,” and “Time To Get Ill.” A little more than half the songs on Licensed to Ill don’t contain any references. However, the boys make up for it on the remaining six tracks.

One Reference

“She’s Crafty” contains a reference to New York, but it’s not as overt as others. Still, if you’re familiar with the city at all, you’ll get this one: “I think I thought I seen her on Eighth and Forty-Deuce.” 42nd Street is basically in the heart of Times Square in Midtown Manhattan, and in the 1980s it had a reputation of being a bit sleazy. This makes sense for the subject matter of “She’s Crafty,” as The Deuce was a hub for prostitution in its heyday. As the song goes, “She’s crafty / She gets around / She’s crafty / She’s always down / She’s crafty / She’s got a gripe / She’s crafty / And she’s just my type.”

“Brass Monkey” also features one reference, performed by MCA. “I drink Brass Monkey and I rock well / I got a castle in Brooklyn, that’s where I dwell.” As mentioned earlier, MCA was from Brooklyn, so this line just makes sense.

Two References

Now we’re getting into some heavy hitters. “The New Style” references New York City twice. Once in the line “You’re from Secaucus, I’m from Manhattan” performed by Ad-Rock, and also in the outro where someone mutters “Brooklyn” as the song fades out.

Next, “Posse In Effect” features two lines performed by Ad-Rock. “I’m a Def Manhattan killer, a rhyme thriller” he raps near the middle of the track. Near the end he raps, “I’m from downtown, from the city of Manhattan,” to which Mike D responds “I got a lot of girlies and not one’s cattin’.”

Finally, “Hold It Now, Hit It” features lines from both Ad-Rock and MCA. First, MCA raps “Around the way is where I’m from” and Ad-Rock responds “And I’m from Manhattan and I’m not a bum.” Later, MCA reiterates that he’s from “around the way,” as he states “and I come from Brooklyn cuz that’s where I’m from.”

Which Beastie Boys Song Has the Most References to New York City?

I’m sure you’ve already guessed where this is going, but “No Sleep Til Brooklyn” does, in fact, have the most references to New York. They say “Brooklyn” six times in the outro alone, with two more references in the verses bringing the total to eight mentions. Overall, Licensed to Ill features 16 direct references to the Beastie Boys’ home city. If it wasn’t clear that they loved New York before this, then I don’t know what you’ve been listening to. Still, this experiment just solidifies that fact.

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