So What'cha Want?

In third grade I somehow acquired the tape "License to Ill" and I was in love. I remember sitting in the back of the bus singing "Brass Monkey", of course not knowing what the song was even about. I thought I was cool. The tape disappeared shortly after I got it. I thought I just misplaced it, but as it turns out, my mom did not think that it was appropriate music for a for an eight year old- so she threw it out (along with my Duran Duran tape). But despite my mom's wishes, that did not end my love affair with the Beastie Boys.

In High School my friends and I purchased tickets to Lallapalooza.  I think it was '94 or '95. We were SO excited to go. The line up was amazing- Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day and my beloved Beastie Boys. Well, it rained so hard the stage tipped over and the concert was cancelled. We were devastated.

Freshman year in college the Beastie Boys were a staple. They were like part of the four food groups (or however many there are now). We even had "So What'cha Want?" as our answering machine message- hey, people did that at 18, remember? And my parents HATED it.

Living on K street in the Avenues in 2002. We would clean the apartment to the Beastie Boys. Whenever I am feeling like I need to have a dance party or get motivated to do something or maybe just to feel a little bit happy I often turn to the Beastie Boys.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I am sad. I feel like I lost a part of my childhood, adolescence and even adulthood today. A part of my life, in a sense. Knowing that 1/3 of the Beastie Boys is gone makes me sad and nostalgic and feel old.

RIP, MCA