When you listen to Golden Age standards like Illmatic, you forget that the artists making these timeless art pieces were only kids. Nas is the classic example, releasing an opus at age 21, but plenty of legends from hip-hop’s golden years were getting their start at an early age. LL Cool J dropped out of high school to record his Def Jam debut, Radio, and fellow Def Jam members Beastie Boys were in their twenties when their groundbreaking License to Ill hit the shelves at local record shops. Artists like these could make the biggest skeptics believe that some people are born with natural talent, and when you mix an innate ability with the right setting, you get magic.
For this Golden Age Thursday, we revisit a very early Beastie Boys interview from 1986. In the quick interview with MuchMusic TV, the young Beastie Boys discuss touring with Madonna, upcoming plans for promoting what is now their classic debut, License to Ill, and the success of their early singles. You can watch the full clip below.
