80s Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill Tour 1987 Sweatshirt Large

Chest 21.5 in.

Length 25 in.

Sleeve 21 in.

Content: 50/50 Cotton/Polyester

Tag Brand: Wrights

This incredible vintage sweatshirt is for the iconic hip hop group the Beastie Boys, and the shirt is a keepsake from their Licensed to Ill Tour, which commemorated the boys' first ever studio album of the same name. The Beastie Boys were originally born from a hardcore punk band called the Young Aborigines. In their early years, the group was a part of the New York hardcore scene where they would perform at clubs like CBGB's, supporting groups such as the Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, and the Misfits. They didn't start to venture into hip hop until they released the EP Cooky Puss, whose title song became a hit among underground dance clubs throughout New York.

The success of "Cooky Puss" lead the group to continue incorporating rap into their sets, and they wound up hiring a DJ for their sets, Rick Rubin, the future co-founder of Def Jam Recordings. When Rubin formed Def Jam alongside Russell Simmons, he approached the Beastie Boys about signing them to his new label. License to Ill, the band's debut studio album, was released in 1986 by Def Jam and Columbia Records and it was a smash hit that eventually became certified Diamond.

Licensed to Ill made history as the first rap LP to reach the top of the Billboard 200, and it was one of the fastest-selling debut records ever produced by Columbia. It featured several of the band's most memorable hits such as "Brass Monkey", "No Sleep Till Brooklyn", "Girls", and "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)". While the Licensed to Ill Tour was rife with scandals and lawsuits, the boys were still at the top of their game. "Fight For Your Right" became an MTV staple, and the boys also went on tour with new school hip hop legends Run-D.M.C. The 1987 Together Forever Tour celebrated both groups during one of the most successful periods of their careers.

Fits like a modern unisex adult large






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