Beastie Boys immortalised with street name in New York
‘Beastie Boys Square’ got its final approval from the NYC council after nine years
After a nine-year battle to honour the US hip-hop group, New York City council has finally approved a Beastie Boys-named street in the city.
Renamed ‘Beastie Boys Square’, the street on Manhattan’s Ludlow Street & Rivington Street in the Lower East Side corner is set to be changed after approval from the council.
Fans of the hip hop group have been fighting for the change since 2014 with multiple rejections and postponements until last week, Thursday, July 14.
The street was first made famous after the band’s second record ‘Paul’s Boutique’, released in 1989, picturing the Manhattan corner on the album cover.
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The cover depicted a clothing store of the same name close to where the group first formed in Brooklyn, New York. The cover was shot by the band’s original bassist, Jeremy Shatan.
‘Paul’s Boutique’ went on to sell over 2 million copies in the decade after its release and contained hit tracks including ‘Shake Your Rump’ and ‘Hey Ladies’.
New York City council member Christopher Marte said on the new sign (via PIX11): “As many of us know, once the Beastie Boys hit the scene, it really changed the hip hop game.
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“I see it as a celebration. A celebration for the Lower East Side, a celebration for hip-hop, and especially a celebration for our community who has been organising for a really long time to make this happen.”
LeRoy McCarthy, former Beastie Boys Records rep, told the New York Post: “It has been a long road to get Beastie Boys Square accomplished, but I am happy to see New York government formally embracing the indigenous arts and culture of hip hop,”
“The street sign is very appropriate because hip hop is from the NYC streets,” added McCarthy, who has also helped to honour the likes of Biggie Smalls and Wu-Tang Clan throughout New York City signage.
Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Editorial Assistant, follow her on Twitter
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