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Beastie Boys

As the early hip hop beats emanated from the streets of New York, three middle-class punk kids traded their guitars for turntables to become the first white rap stars. Signing to newly-formed Def Jam Records, their brash energy, DIY spirit and genuine love of hip hop blazed a boisterous trail of teenage rebellion on tours with Madonna, Run DMC and LL Cool J, as debut album Licensed To Ill (1986) shot straight to Number 1 in the US. Its fusion of booming beats, thrashing metal guitars and brattish cheek spread rap to the suburbs, before hits like (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (...