Pass the MIC

The early 1990s, considered the golden age of hip hop, saw the release of the Beastie Boys' ground-breaking albums Check Your Head and III Communication. From 1991 to 1996 photographer Air Marcopoulos--whose work has been compared to that of the controversial Larry Clark--witnessed the leg entry band firsthand. For five years he had fly-on-the wall access to Mike D, MCA, and King AD Rock in the arenas and in the recording studio; in the fun and dopey moments in between; and in such diversions as playing hoops at G-son, the famed birthplace of Grand Royal. In these never-before-published photographs--as well as in rare video grabs--Marcopoulos's masterful yet understated perspective taps into the punk/rock/rap/funk vibe that has made the Beastie Boys the longest-standing, most consistently evolving group in hip hop.