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Beastie Boys Mark 40 Years of Licensed to Ill with New Reissue
The Beastie Boys are marking the 40th anniversary of their debut album, *Licensed to Ill*, with a limited-edition two-LP reissue due on 18 March 2027. The album helped bring the group’s blend of hip-hop, punk and hard rock to a wide audience, becoming the first rap album to top the Billboard 200.
The “Vinylphyle” release was remastered from a digital transfer of the original 1986 master tapes to avoid handling the fragile tapes repeatedly. It will be pressed on 180-gram black vinyl, with a gatefold sleeve, an insert featuring tape-box scans, new liner notes by Chuck D, and a logo etched on the silent fourth side. The original album was released on 15 November 1986 and was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2015.
In short
- *Licensed to Ill* gets a 40th-anniversary two-LP reissue.
- The release is due on 18 March 2027.
- Chuck D contributes new liner notes.
Explained simply
The Beastie Boys were a New York group made up of Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz and Adam “MCA” Yauch. They began in punk before turning to hip-hop, combining rap with loud rock sounds on their 1986 debut, Licensed to Ill.
The album reached listeners beyond hip-hop’s existing audience and became the first rap record to top the US Billboard 200 albums chart. Its commercial success helped establish rap as a major force in popular music; the group later became known for a wider range of styles and for their influence on hip-hop.