Album: To The 5 Boroughs (2004)
Track: Triple Trouble
Kicking intros:
The track opens with a short "kicking lyrics right to your brain..." and is followed by the percussion groove sample made famous by the Sugarhill Gang. Enter, Mix Master Mike's rhythmic scratching on the turntables to provide the rhythmic accents for the rest of the song.
Three emcees and one deejay:
The emcees, Mike D, Ad Rock and MCA (RIP) rap simultaneously in the first section. The general system that is followed in Beastie Boys raps is that choruses contain all three voices. Verses are then traded with the final word or accents of each line accented by the others. A great example of the Beastie Boys performing (a different song) in the studio can be seen in this video: Notice the group dynamics with the verse trading and simultaneous accented sections.
The challenge of three vocals:
Rather than pan each vocal to create a separation between the voices they all positioned centrally. The challenges that I can imagine the producer having to deal with on Beastie Boys records is making each voice stand out. In any multi vocal track, avoiding masking and clashing must be challenging. The three emcees in Beastie Boys have unique textures to their voices which is a beneficial factor. Mixing these vocals would require dealing effectively with the frequently changing focus. That is, ensuring that any one time there is one leading vocal supported by two backings.
The beat:
The beat for this track is particularly unusual in that there is no strong kick drum. Instead, Mike's scratches fill that roll along with a snare on beats two and four. I've also noticed after examining the WhoSampled link that the Beastie Boys have added an extra set of hi hats on top of the sample.
Release and success:
To The 5 Boroughs was released in 2004 on the Capitol Records label. It was recorded between 2002 and 2004 produced by the Beastie Boys themselves. In fact, this album was their first separate from a co-producer. The album was extremely successful.
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Billboard 200 | #1 |
| 2004 | European Album Chart | #1 |
| 2004 | Top Internet Albums | #1 |
| 2004 | Top Canadian Albums | #1 |
| 2004 | Top Hip-Hop/R&B Albums | #1 |
| 2004 | UK Albums Chart | #2 |
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