10 Amazing Rock Songs By Pop Artists

When the genesis of hip hop first got started, it wasn't clear just exactly what it was yet. Since it emerged as an offshoot of disco, there were a lot of rock boys who were already skeptical about guys who could freestyle on the beat instead of actually playing riffs. Though the Beastie Boys may have been the exception to the rule in the early days, the '90s is where the real magic came up.

While something like Licensed to Ill may have been a good proof of concept for the group's potential, something like Gratitude is where they started really coming into their own as both MCs and producers, with Ad Rock sounding as boisterous as ever on the cut. The big difference here though is the samples used. Instead of the normal twisting of classic rock songs, all of the Beasties played their own riffs on this, with MCA being the one behind that fat as hell bassline that drives the rest of the song .

The music video even shows a bit of their classic rock worship, as they set up their gear and amps the same way that Pink Floyd did when they played their open stadium gigs back in the '70s. As much as the Beasties may have been considered jokes at the time, this is where the gimmicks start to wear off. These aren't just hip hop kids anymore...these are members of a punk band who just happened to go the hip hop route.