When the Beastie Boys burst onto the rap scene, nobody quite knew what to expect. Critics panned them, and other rap artists sneered at them. But, in time, the trio was able to establish themselves as a force with which to be reckoned in the music industry.

The Beastie Boys – Mike Diamond, Adam Yauch, and Adam Horovitz – became friends as youngsters in New York. Each came from upper middle-class Jewish homes, and each spent their teenage years focused on the underground punk movement. The trio started making music in the early 1980s, releasing several underground singles.

The band got their big break in 1985, signing with Def Jam Records and soon thereafter released their debut single, “She’s On It,” which was featured on the Krush Grove motion picture soundtrack. In between laying tracks for their debut album, the Beastie Boys hit the road, opening for Madonna. Unfortunately for the trio, the audience reception was less than cordial due, in large part, to the Beastie Boys’ blatant use of profanity. Their debut album, “Licensed to Ill” was released in 1986. Ripped to shreds by critics, “Licensed to Ill” made Columbia Records’ history, selling a stunning 750,000 copies in a month and a half.

The Beastie Boys had their share of fans, but they also had plenty of critics, among them women’s rights groups who declared their lyrics offensive and sexist. Their ensuing tour, to promote “Licensed to Ill,” proved that Beastie Boys concert tickets were white hot, but the trio found themselves in constant trouble, often ending up behind bars for their antics.

In 1988, the Beastie Boys realized a makeover was long overdue, and they signed with Capitol Records and headed to the west coast. The trio’s sophomore offering, “Paul’s Boutique,” produced the semi-hit single “Hey Ladies” which managed to crawl to a mere 36 on the charts.

Despite the flop of “Paul’s Boutique,” the Beastie Boys moved forward, even creating Grand Royal, their own record label. Under the new label, the band recorded their third album, “Check Your Head,” which secured a position in the Top Ten on the charts in 1992. Two years later, “Ill Communication” hit store shelves and shot straight to the number one position on the charts. “Ill Communication” produced the hit singles “Sure Shot,” and “Sabotage.” “Ill Communication” also went double-platinum, sealing the Beastie Boys’ success.

The Beastie Boys also took Grand Royal to the next level, producing records for such bands as Luscious Jackson, and debuting Grand Royal Magazine. In addition to tending to Grand Royal matters, the Beastie Boys went on to release several more albums, including “The Sounds of Silence,” (1999), “Hello Nasty” (2003), and “Solid Gold Hits” (2005).