The Beastie Boys were an American hip hop group formed in New York City in 1981 by Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Adam “MCA” Yauch, and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz. Originally a hardcore punk outfit, they transitioned to hip hop and achieved breakthrough success with their debut album Licensed to Ill (1986), followed by the sample-heavy classic Paul’s Boutique (1989). Known for their genre-blending sound, innovative sampling, and outspoken activism, they released several acclaimed albums before disbanding after Yauch’s death in 2012