4. Beastie Boys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07Y0cy-nvAg Rest in peace, MCA. The surviving Beastie Boys have been relatively quiet and inactive since Adam Yauch's tragic death in 2012. While the landmark hip-hop band has not technically broken up, it seems safe to assume that, at the very least the band will be unable to continue as they once were. We can hope for more work from Ad-Rock and Mike-D, but the Beastie Boys we knew will never be the same. Beastie Boys have the sound of a thrashing, furious rap band, but the rage in their vocal deliveries masked intelligence and irreverent wit. This was a group with staying power; they evolved and maintained relevance throughout their career. There are great Beastie Boys records scattered through four decades, right up until Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 from 2011. Beastie Boys aren't the only funky rap group to rise from the 80s, but they were definitely the most prolific and long-lasting.