14. Root Down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf1YF_MH1xc The Beastie Boys bring the funk on this cut from 1994's Ill Communication. This is one of the few (if only) cases where instead of sampling parts of a song, the Beasties just rapped over a single song, in this case, Jimmy Smith's Root Down. The song's bassline, drums, organ and wah guitar make it the perfect instrumental for the guys to lay down verses about growing up in New York City. Stand out line: "Every morning I took the train to High Street Station/Doing homework on the train, what a fucked up situation" 13. Remote Control
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZdMuIq3NLY Another blast of funk by the Beasties, this time with their own original music. Listening to that guitar riff, it's hard to believe it isn't sampled from an old 70's record. Lyric-wise, Mike D riffs on how television and media is taking over our minds and how we all "want to hold the remote control". Stand out line: "It's the night of the living cable box/Wires coming up from around the block" 12. Alive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6BR422lpkA The single off their Sounds of Science compilation, "Alive" might sound corny if done by anyone else. However coming from the Beastie Boys, it comes off as earnest. The Beasties let it be known that homophobia and billionaires who don't share are not cool. While discussing politics, they also give shout outs to their hip hop forefathers over a bubbly beat, courtesy of a Boogie Down Productions sample. Stand out line: "Homophobics ain't alright/If you learn to love, then you might love life"