Author David D.

Watching a young version of the Beastie Boys perform grunge rock is kind of like watching Dan Marino throw darts. While they definitely appear and sound unpolished, you know they have the mechanics to get the job done, thus the potential to go on to bigger and better things. But this video, from New York’s public access program The Scott and Gary Show, was shot in 1984; Hip-Hop wasn’t lucrative yet. It was a hobby, which is why the soon-to-be-great trio only showed their true musical selves during commercial breaks when they’d stop to freestyle.

“They were rapping between takes, and afterward, but they wouldn’t do it on camera,” explained [Scott] Lewis [One of the show’s hosts]

“They had to be careful about their image,” [Gary] Winter added.

“If the Beastie Boys were in their 20’s when they did that kind of music they’d be a footnote in history, but the fact that they were 17 and 18 and they evolved into that mixture of New York rap and soul and blues and rock, it’s pretty cool,” Lewis said. “It’s not exactly my thing, but I give them all the credit in the world. They’re terrific.” via BlackBook

Whatever the “thing” is birthed Hip-Hop classics (Paul’s Boutique, anyone?), a blueprint for modern musical activism (Free Tibet) and unending beer pong anthems. Just think how the world’s musical landscape would be different if these three kept singing about White Shadow reruns instead of telling us to fight for our right to party.

Nevertheless, this is a nice piece of history that truly shows how far these guys have progressed.