Hold It Now, Hit It

Beastie Boys

About Hold It Now, Hit It

"Hold It Now, Hit It" is a song by American hip hop group Beastie Boys, released as the first single from their debut album Licensed to Ill. It is also remixed on the album New York State of Mind. In 2008, it was ranked number 27 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.


Year:
2009
3:27
80 
#1

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com

Now I chill real ill when I start to chill
When I fill my pockets with a knot of dollar bills
Sipping pints of ale out the window sill
When I get my fill I'm chilly chill

Now I just got home because I'm out on bail
What's the time? It's time to buy ale
Peter eater, parking meter all of the time
If I run out of ale, it's Thunderbird wine

Miller drinking, chicken eating, dress so fly
I got friends in high places that are keeping me high
Dow with Mike D. And it ain't no hassle
Got the ladies of the eighties from here to White Castle

Hold it now (hold it now, hold it now) hit it!

Now its me Adam Yauch in the place to be
And all the girls are on me cause I'm down with Mike D.
I'm down with Mike D. And it ain't no baloney
For real, not phony, "O.E." and Rice-a-Roni

I come out at night 'cause I sleep all day
Well, I'm the King Adrock and he's M.C.A.
Well I'm cruising, I'm bruising, I'm never ever losing
I'm in my car, I'm going far and dust is what I'm using

Around the way is where I'm from
And I'm from Manhattan and I'm not a bum
Because you're pud-slapping, ball-flapping, got that juice
My name's Mike D. And I can do that Jerry Lewis

Hold it now (hold it now, hold it now) hit it!

Hip-hop, body rockin', doing the do
Beer drinking, breath stinking, sniffing glue
Belly flipping, always illing, busting caps
My name's Mike D. And I write my own snaps

I'm a peep-show seeking on the forty-deuce
I'm a killer at large and I'm on the loose
Pistol packing, Monkey drinking, no money bum
I come from Brooklyn 'cause that's where I'm from

Cheap-skate, perpetrating, money hungry jerk
Everyday I drink a "O.E." and I don't go to work
You drippy nose knuckle-head, you're wet behind the ears
You like men, and we like beer (beer, beer, beer)

Hold it now, hit it!

King of the Ave. With the Def female
You're rhyming and stealin' with the freshest ale
Cooling at the crib watching my TV
Ed Norton (Ted Knight) and Mr. Ed

Pump it up homeboy, just don't stop
Chef Boy-are-dee cooling on the pot
I take no slack 'cause I got the knack
And I'm never dusting out 'cause I torch that crack

The King Adrock, that is my name
And you're drinking Moet, we got the champagne
A quarter dropping, going shopping buying wigs
Surgeon general cut professor D.J. Thigs

Hold it now (hold it now, hold it now), hit it!
Hit it! (Hit it, hit it, hit it, hit it)
Hold it now (hit it!)
Yo Leroy!

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Beastie Boys

Beastie Boys is an American hip hop band from New York City, formed in 1981. For the majority of its career, the group has consisted of three MCs and musicians Michael "Mike D" Diamond (vocals, drums), Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass) and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (vocals, guitar). more »

4 fans

Written by: Rick Rubin, Adam Horowitz, Michael Diamond, Adam Yauch

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Band Evolution
"Hold It Now, Hit It" is by the Beastie Boys, who started as a hardcore band in the early 80s but steadily transitioned into becoming pioneering figures in rap music. This song is emblematic of their successful bridging of rock and hip hop styles.
Year of Release
The song was released in 1986 as part of their debut album "Licensed to Ill". It was one of the earliest examples of their new hip-hop style, proving to be a groundbreaking record.
Commercial Success
"Hold It Now, Hit It" did not enter the pop charts, but it marked the Beastie Boys' entry into the rap charts and helped increase their popularity among hip hop audiences.
Production Team
The song was produced by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons, who were co-founders of the Def Jam Recordings. Their production had a significant influence on the punk-infused hip-hop sound of the Beastie Boys.
Song Sampling
"Hold It Now, Hit It" is notable for its wide use of samples including Curtis Blow's "Christmas Rappin'", Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean", KC and the Sunshine Band's "Let It Go", and many others. This extensive use of sampling became a key feature of the Beastie Boys' approach to creating music.
Music Video
Although not as popular as their other videos like "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)", the music video for "Hold It Now, Hit It" captures the band's goofball humor and high energy, which became iconic to their musical performances.
Recognition
In 2008, "Hold It Now, Hit It" was listed as the 43rd best hip hop song of all time in a list published by VH1.
Legacy
Even without significant mainstream success, "Hold It Now, Hit It" played a major role in expanding the boundaries of what hip-hop could sound like, demonstrating that it could incorporate elements from other genres like rock and punk. It left a lasting impact on the genre, their fans and artists.
Lyrical Content
The lyrical content of the song, much like the rest of the "Licensed to Ill" album, is characterized by a party-themed braggadocio that reflected the Beastie Boys' playful and rebellious image at the time of its release.
Live Performances
"Hold It Now, Hit It" was a staple of Beastie Boys' live sets and was often mixed with other songs to create extended jams. The group's dynamic performance of the song became a fan favorite.

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