Rhymin' And Stealin'
Beastie Boys · Licensed to Ill [1986]
I'm gonna board your ship and turn it on out
No soft sucker with a parrot on his shoulder
'Cause I'm bad gettin' bolder - cold getting colder
Terrorizing suckers on the seven seas
And if you've got beef - you'll get capped in the knees
We got sixteen men on a dead man's chest
And I shot those suckers and I'll shoot the rest
Chorus:
Most illingest b-boy - I got that feeling
Cause I am most ill and I'm rhymin' and stealin'
Snatching gold chains - vicking pieces of eight
I got your money and your honey and the fly name plate
We got wenches on the benches - and bitties with titties
Housing all girlies from city to city
One for all and all for one
Taking out M.C.'s with a big shotgun
All for one and one for all
Because the Beastie Boys have gone A.W.O.L.
Friggin' in the riggin' and cuttin' your throat
Big biting suckers getting thrown in the moat
We got maidens and wenches - man they're on the ace
Captain Bly is gonna die when we break his face
(Chorus)
Ali Baba and the forty thieves
Torching and crakin' and rhymin' and stealin'
Robbin' and raping - busting two in the ceiling
I'm wheeling' - I'm dealin' - I'm drinking, not thinking
Never cower, never shower - and I'm always stinking
Yo ho ho and a pint of Brass Monkey
And when my girlie shakes her hips - she sure gets funky
Skirt chasing, free basing - killing every village
We drink and rob and rhyme and pillage
(Chorus)
I've been drinking my rum - a Def son of a gun
I fought the law and I cold won
Black Beard's weak - Moby Dick's on the tick
'Cause I pull out my jammy and squeeze off six
My pistol is loaded - I shot Betty Crocker
Deliver Colonel Sanders down to Davey Jones' locker
Rhymin' and stealin' in a drunken state
And I'll be rockin' my rhymes all the way to Hell's gate
(Chorus)
Rhymin' And Stealin'
Released on the Beastie Boys' landmark 1986 album Licensed to Ill, 'Rhymin' And Stealin'' stands as a quintessential example of the group's early hip-hop fusion. The track features the band's signature blend of aggressive rapping and catchy, melodic hooks, showcasing their ability to merge rock instrumentation with urban rhythms. Produced by Rick Rubin, the recording captures the raw energy and youthful ambition that defined the mid-80s East Coast scene. As one of the group's most recognizable singles, it helped propel the Beastie Boys to mainstream success while solidifying their reputation as innovators who could seamlessly transition between genres. The song remains a staple of their discography, reflecting the era's vibrant cultural landscape and the band's unique voice.