Another Dimension

Intergalactic by The Beastie Boys is a frenetic full-range blast of old-school drum machines, synthesizers, freestyle rhymes, call-and-response vocals, and masterful record scratching and sampling. It's an audio cornucopia served up by three MCs and one DJ, who are all at once class clowns, poets, and artisans at the peak of their powers. If we stick it around, they'll make it worth our while.

The Beastie Boys isn't your typical audiophile fair. They don't take things seriously. But that doesn't mean there's no craftsmanship. Seriously pursued nonsense can create brilliant art. See also Mel Brooks, Robin Williams, and Gary Larson. Or if you need something with a little more pedigree, try some Mark Twain or Jonathan Swift.

Intergalactic is the seventh track and first single on the Beastie Boys' fifth album, "Hello Nasty." The boys were already pop-culture icons in 1998 when this album came out. They had released a string of commercial and artistic hits starting in the 80s. I'm not going to do the history of The Beastie Boys. It's been covered. If you're interested in that sort of thing, there's an excellent documentary on Apple TV+ titled "Beastie Boys Story." 

I was a few years late to discovering the Beastie Boys. The first song I remember hearing was You Gotta Fight from "Licensed to Ill," which I quickly bought on CD and loved. It blew my mind. These guys were rapping, but they were white, and punks, and hilarious, and cool.

As a Midwest kid who went from listening to his parents' Billy Joel and Allman Brothers Band CDs to Paul's Boutique in a matter of months, I'm not sure the term "another dimension" entirely covers it. Wherever or whatever I had found, I was fascinated. I've been a fan ever since.

I could have picked at least a dozen Beastie Boys songs for Seek HiFi. So, why Intergalactic? The production of it is wildly good, and no patience is required for an elaborate buildup. The full monty is served from the word go. The robot vocals (vocoder?) bring complex midrange sound. Legendary 808 drum beats start at five seconds (and never let up.) My favorite thing about this intro is the high synth effects that pan left and right, swirling around and above the production. It sounds brilliant on a good set of tweeters. It's also a great song to play loud–fun, dynamic, and kinetic.

Intergalactic falls into that category of song that was massively popular on release. It makes for a quality demo/test track since most people have heard it at some point. The song hit #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and #5 in the UK. It won the 1999 Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. 

The Intergalactic music video was wildly popular and is still quite entertaining. It relies on low-budget effects and campy charm, which ages well. The video was directed by one Nathanial Hörnblowér. The name is an inside joke indicative of the multifaceted layers of production and craftsmanship that go into the band's endless toil at class clownery. The silly dick-joke-adjacent name is an oft-used pseudonym and alter ego for Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch, a.k.a. MCA.

I digress. To quote this week's bonus track–the excellent Shake Your Rump from their "Paul's Boutique" album...

A lot of people, they be Jonesin' just to hear me rock the mic
They'll be staring at the radio, staying up all night

Indeed.

Data

Song: Intergalactic
Album: Hello Nasty
Artist: Beastie Boys
Genre: Rap
Year: 1998
Length: 3:51
Producer: Beastie Boys, Mário Caldato Jr.