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Beastie Boys Discover Surprise Inside 'Paul's Boutique' Plaque

The Beastie Boys recently discovered that their gold record plaque for 'Paul's Boutique' contains no music from the album, sparking curiosity about the manufacturing of music accolades.

Published on Monday, September 9, 2024 at 6:10 PM

Dawn

In an unusual revelation, the Beastie Boys have uncovered that their gold record plaque for the iconic album 'Paul's Boutique' does not contain recordings from the album itself. The trio, known for their innovative blend of rap and rock, shared their discovery through a recent post where they decided to dismantle the plaque. This unexpected twist raises questions about the manufacturing process of such accolades in the music industry.

Historically, gold records are awarded to artists to recognize their commercial success, and typically they reflect the music that earned such honors. However, in this instance, the Beastie Boys found something entirely different within their plaque. This revelation fosters curiosity about other potential discrepancies in the awards given to artists over the years.

The Beastie Boys, consisting of Adam 'MCA' Yauch, Adam 'Ad-Rock' Horovitz, and Michael 'Mike D' Diamond, released 'Paul's Boutique' in 1989 to critical acclaim, though it initially met with modest commercial success compared to their debut album. Over time, however, it has been recognized as a landmark recording that paved the way for future hip-hop albums, particularly through its sophisticated use of sampling.

The incident invites fans and historians to reflect on the band's legacy, as well as the broader implications of how accolades are represented and archived in the music world. While the missing music may not detract from the album's status, it serves as a reminder of the sometimes uncharted territory of music documentation and recognition fixtures.

For further reading, you can find the full report on DJ Mag’s website.

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