Three white guys from New York, Adam Yauch, Adam Horovitz, and Michael Diamond, who started of as a punk rock band then went into hip hop after Ad Rock (Horovitz) decided to buy a TR-808 instead of a guitar for the band. In their early Licenced to Ill/Paul's Boutique days their lyrics were very controversial, but after their third album, Check Your Head, they ditched their tough, frat boy attitudes and didn't rap about stealing and taking drugs. They have inspired many rappers including Nas and Eminem.
Unfortunately, on June 4, 2012, Adam 'MCA' Yauch passed away due to cancer. They are very
influential and, in my opinion, they greatest rap group in history. They have also discovered LL Cool J, invented sampling, and put Def Jam
on the map.
"I wanna say a little something that's long overdue/The
disrespect to women has got to be through/To all the mothers and the sisters and the wives and friends/I wanna offer my
love and respect to the end"
If you haven't listened to Beastie Boys yet, I strongly
recommend you do so.