Paul’s Boutique

1989Beastie Boys Beastie Boys Records The Golden Age

Music videoBeastie Boys - Shake Your Rump

Music videos Official videos via YouTube

Beastie Boys - Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun

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Beastie Boys Paul's Boutique Capitol Records Vinyl 2LP Record New/SealedNew · Buy It Now$22.95
Beastie Boys 2 LP in Shrink - Paul's Boutique CAPITOL Records Gatefold 1989Used · Buy It Now$300
Beastie Boys 'Paul's Boutique' Gatefold Vinyl - NEWNew · Buy It Now$36.99
FIRST EDITION Beastie Boys Paul's Boutique Original 1989 Vinyl Capitol RecordsUsed · Buy It Now$400

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Paul’s Boutique is the second album by the Beastie Boys, released on July 25, 1989 by Capitol Records and produced by the group with the Dust Brothers and Mario Caldato Jr. Underrated on release, it is now celebrated as one of the most inventive sample records ever made.

The story

After leaving Def Jam, the group relocated to Los Angeles and recorded at Mario Caldato Jr.’s apartment, the Record Plant and a Koreatown studio nicknamed The Opium Den. Singles “Hey Ladies” and “Shadrach” couldn’t match the commercial wave of Licensed to Ill, and the album initially sold far less despite positive reviews.

Sound and production

The Dust Brothers had built dense loop collages they never expected anyone to rap over; the Beasties wanted them as-is. The finished album draws on samples from roughly 105 songs, with clearance costs reported around $250,000, an approach that would be nearly impossible to afford today.

Charts and certifications

Paul’s Boutique peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and No. 24 on the R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart. Its reputation and sales grew for years, and it is certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA.

Legacy

Pitchfork ranked it No. 3 on its 2002 list of the best albums of the 1980s. In 2023 the Lower East Side corner from the cover photo, at Ludlow and Rivington, was renamed Beastie Boys Square.