On Thursday (7.14), the New York City Council officially voted to rename a square on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in honor of the pioneering hip-hop group, the Beastie Boys
Located on the corner of Rivington and Ludlow streets “Beastie Boys Square” will mark the location where the “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” rappers shot the cover of their classic 1989 sophomore album Paul’s Boutique. Named after a fictional clothing store, the full length (featuring the singles “Hey Ladies” and “Shadrach”) peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200, and is often considered the trio’s finest album.
In a statement about the vote, New York city council member Christopher Marte said “As many of us know, once the Beastie Boys hit the scene, it really changed the hip-hop game,” and about the ongoing nine-year effort he added “I see it as a celebration. A celebration for the Lower East Side, a celebration for hip-hop and especially a celebration for our community who has been organizing for a really long time to make this happen.”
Helmed by Spike Jonze in 2020, Beastie Boys Story documentary — co-written by surviving members Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz — earned several nominations, including best music film at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, but was ultimately overlooked by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the 2021 Oscars.
The proposed bill to name Beastie Boys Square will head to Mayor Eric Adams’ desk to be signed and approved.
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Author: Al Denté
Photo: Michael Morel