THE STORIES
BEHIND
CHECK
YOUR HEAD
An independent archive of the making of a landmark album.
SONGS
Go track by track through the music and its creation..
SAMPLES
Trace the records, breaks, voices, and sounds behind the album.
CONTRIBUTORS
Meet the musicians, engineers, and artists who shaped the record..
LOCATIONS
Enter the studio and other places where the album took shape.
LATEST STORIES
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READ STORY →: “Yo Paul, This Is Allen”: How a Beastie Boys Voicemail Reached “Exit Planet Dust”“Yo Paul, This Is Allen”: How a Beastie Boys Voicemail Reached “Exit Planet Dust”
The strange path from a Brooklyn answering machine to “The Maestro,” “In Dust We Trust,”…
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READ STORY →: Candy, Crates, and Collector Lore: How Biz Markie Became the Beastie Boys’ Most Unbelievable FriendCandy, Crates, and Collector Lore: How Biz Markie Became the Beastie Boys’ Most Unbelievable Friend
The familiar story begins with Biz Markie walking into G-Son Studios late at night and…
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READ STORY →: “Jimmy James” & “Rockin’ It” by Fearless Four: The Harlem Rap Classic that Turned Kraftwerk Human“Jimmy James” & “Rockin’ It” by Fearless Four: The Harlem Rap Classic that Turned Kraftwerk Human
The Fearless Four’s “Rockin’ It” occupies a distinctive place in early hip-hop history. Released as…
THE BOOK
HOW THE BEASTIE BOYS MADE CHECK YOUR HEAD AND TURNED INSTINCT INTO LEGACY
The definitive behind-the-scenes story about one of the most influential albums of the 1990s. Coming in early 2027.
