When Ad-Rock, MCA and Mike D – aka the Beastie Boys – came together in New York City in the early 80s, they united two worlds with their explosive blend of rap and rock.
Starting life as a hardcore band, propping up bills alongside the likes of Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys and the Misfits, it wasn't until the mid 80s that they started incorporating rap and a live DJ into their music. The result was a sound that inspired everyone from Rage Against The Machine and Limp Bizkit through to Eminem and Radiohead, and which aimed to blend genres without limits and reach fans from all walks of life. And it worked: they're still one of the best selling rap groups of all time.
From goofy party animals sporting VW badges round their necks to socially aware music geeks, the Beastie Boys covered a lot of ground in the 30 years they made music together. Ten years on from their final album Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, we rank the Beastie Boys back catalogue in order of greatness.