Beastie Boys Perform "Ch-Check It Out" From The Subway To The Stage | Letterman

Ad-Rock, MCA and Mike D. make a classic New York entrance to perform their hit from "To The 5 Boroughs."
(From "Late Show," air date: 6/15/04)
#beastieboys #subway #letterman
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Welcome to the Letterman KZbin Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. These highlights have been artisanly-produced, carefully-curated, and chosen completely at random by an old computer that used to pick numbers for the New York Lotto back in the 90’s.

[@perdbeer6713]

From reddit... "I worked on this crew, and I was right behind the steadicam op, one of several utilities pulling cable. Actually, this was live-to-tape like every Letterman show. We rehearsed it several times, and pulled it off in one shot for the taping. At the time, this bit got serious accolades from the steadicam and tv tech community, given the technical challenges that we faced. The most widely overlooked aspect of the Letterman version of the Late Show is the fact that we did this kind of stuff on a regular basis. This segment was not nearly the most challenging thing we did that year, but it looks and sounds so good that it gets much more attention."

[@perdbeer6713]

"There were permanent RF antennas outside because of all of the outside shoots we did. It’s likely even more were added for this and run up from engineering to the street. I maybe misremembering, but I believe their hand mics were going to RF receivers on the steadicam, and then hitting production audio through the camera cable,...at least until they got inside and hooked into the RF system. Outside shoots on 53rd street were common practice, so technically, we could always follow a semi-regular template of how the cams and audio were configured and passed through the control room. In essence, we were always ready to shoot anywhere at any time, based on the whim of the producers, writers, or Dave himself. If Dave mentioned a play on Broadway, or a manhole cover on 53rd st, we would be moving to get camera 4 or 5 out the door right away. If Dave decides he wanted to have an unscheduled chat with Rupert, it would be lit and covered on cam in minutes. So when the Beastie Boys wanted to perform in the subway, we were already partly prepared for it."

[@perdbeer6713]

"The DJ is part of the production mix, house mix, monitor mix, and music room mix. Any of those sources can go into any in ear monitor in the house. It’s how the band can hear themselves and the host mic in the same mix. The DJ could have been on the roof, the 11th-14th floors, the green rooms, or the basement boiler room where we keep George Clark, and it would have worked out the same. As long as you can get the signal to the control room, it can get into the mix. So program audio is always going to match all other audio mixes, in terms of sync. During the shoot, I had program audio in my headset, hearing their performance in real time. Their performance was synced with what I was hearing also. My audio source was the control room, theirs was the monitor mix. It’s all synced. I have limited audio knowledge, so I think that’s a reliable answer. There’s at least 50 feet from the elephant doors to the first spot exposed to the audience. Plenty of time to remove sunglasses. Also, we only did this once for an audience. It’s very very unlikely they’d use footage from rehearsal in the show. In fact, I’m not sure that we actually ran through the whole outside-to-inside walk at full speed with the actual band during rehearsal. There may have been stand ins to block shots, and then a low key walkthrough to show the band how it’s going to go. I believe the actual sound check happened on stage without the walk. "

[@123JWJWJW]

thanks for sharing. I was wondering about this considering when it took place. I was thinking how fast they are going and then the cable to the right and it was good work or a miracle no one tripped or got in their way.

[@MrOvlov02]

know your cuts of meat

[@adamlytle2615]

I came into the comments to say something like "shout out to the crew that must have had to run hundreds of feet of cable and then walk behind the camera operator pulling it all up again" and was so pleasantly surprised to find this bit of behind the scenes info. Thanks for posting.

[@briangray9409]

My wife and I had gotten married on June 5, 2004 and we decided to do New York for a couple of weeks and just do everything we could in the city instead of a boring beach honeymoon. From the MoMA to Times Square, theater shows, to just hanging in the SOHO and seeing bands etc. We lucked out and got to see this taping of David Letterman live from the audience. We were watching the Beastie Boys perform through the street on a monitor and at first I was bummed because we thought they weren't gonna even be in the studio at all. But when they came in the back way everyone in the audience just exploded. One of my favorite NYC memories of all time.

[@trump-totalwar6509]

cool story bro

[@CaptAwesumNo1Zone]

That would be an epic moment, my God I've wanted to go to New York ever since I was a kid, that city blew my little mind, I found it all so fascinating that a place like that existed compared to the small city I was from

[@rileyk5228]

Dude! What a show to attend

[@davidlillecrapp2960]

Married in 2004 too. Big anniversary next year!

[@DougEFresh-mj1xf]

My wiiiiiife

[@SteveWiIIDolt]

Their arrival on stage with the words "Shazam and abracadabra" was perfect.

[@capgorski]

wildly underrated comment

[@Naytone1]

Now you know where em gets his inspiration from

[@paulb808]

Legendary performance! No one does it as cool as the Beastie Boys! RIP MCA. Happy Birthday.

[@jamesmuller1481]

no one is right. If any other white guys tried to rap like this, they would look stupid.

[@modgmodg6987]

Indeed. RIP MCA 🙏.

[@natethenub6595]

My top 3 groups all time!

[@ukrainianhiphop]

💜💜💜💜💜💜 Fan for 20 years Ukraine 🇺🇦 Zaporizhzhya The war zone 💥💥💥🪖 All money 💰💰💰 spend on music cassettes. Beastie Boys always been 1🏆💯💪 RIP MCA 🙏☦️

[@sharonisaac445]

❤💎👑🎤

[@CarlScripter]

Mix Master Mike is AMAZING... No gimmicks -- just wax, a mixer, and a shitload of raw talent.

[@toomuchsumo]

Word up! One of thee best D-J's on the planet.

[@heirrose1606]

@@toomuchsumo Watched them at Coachella ages ago and it was so windy a couple times his records flew off his board mid-scratching and he deftly flipped new vinyl on and Mike D jumped on the beat on point. Mix Master Mike was incredible with his instincts in the moment,

[@sonnyspliff]

that just might be the most perfect description ever.

[@Lycan_24_7]

Look up beastie boys glasgow

[@robmausser]

I love how he stops cueing up the next record to do the miss piggy impression into the mic. Priorities.

[@chrisfromshaolin213]

The chemistry between the 3 of them is incredible.

[@BrynDonovanWriter]

They pass the mic so easily, pure camaraderie

[@Birgitta123]

Yes omg! ❤

[@infradig696]

MCA's voice was just epic. He just always sounded like he was too cool to even be there lol. RIP

[@booradley0x0]

His voice is so distinctive, it’s rad!!

[@YOURTECHFRIEND]

Not to speak of his Bass playing - Very cool !

[@fitfogey]

Timed perfectly on the stage entrance with MCA’s “shazam and abracadabra” and I mean come on the whole thing was amazing.

[@TSOL2023]

My favorite moment, Adam was a low-key wizard.

[@cotelo00]

That was perfect… perfect coordination

[@komi-origami]

Basically one of the greatest performances ever broadcasted in Letterman. The boys going out of the subway with this classic fish eye effect on steadicam… Perfect

[@JaredBrownAtLarge]

Them boys sure loved that fish-eye! Can't beat 'em!

[@CinemaGulp]

In 2004, coming off of a 6 year hiatus, the Beastie Boys debuted their new single on the Letterman Show in what I think is the best musical performance in the show's history. You just can't take your eyes off it.

[@seanluke3052]

Best in the show's history? Check out James Brown on the show first.

[@leebutton3032]

Have watched this so many times. Three guys at the top of their game. Just listen to those lyrics. So so clever. And to do this without a glitch is true genius.

[@ThomasTallant]

This and the Foos

[@browngaymethodistjesuschri1361]

Wavves exists

[@roykentseyebrows4196]

I agree.

[@wpetersejt]

One of the most legendary entrance by a group!

[@MitchClement-il6iq]

Jus like there old school music videos 😊

[@soulors]

The contrast of their voices just makes my brain go brrrr. RIP MCA 🐐

[@cotelo00]

Whoever coordinated this performance deserves a medal...imagine performing live through New York

[@wyndonpendergraft]

Can we get a round of applause for Mix Master watching and waiting and being an MVP during the whole song?

[@rallymodeller]

Best TV performance in history IMO. I remember watching this live and jumping out of my chair. So great.

[@deadlotCamper]

jumping off the chair and waking the neighbors and not caring. superbly kickass

[@hustler3of4culture3]

Yeah it was pretty darn cool

[@berdoo7780]

These 3 gentlemen changed the game. Mix Master Mike 🔥

[@dr.mark.b.hubble]

Authenticity is why the Beastie Boys has stood the test of time. At their roots, they are a punk rock group, and nothing is more punk than doing something nobody expects (such as 3 white boys rapping when it was almost exclusively a black artform at the time) R.I.P. to MCA

[@zxcccccc1]

The black kids were into clash and Billy idol also.

[@skineyemin4276]

Well, at their roots, they were music students or at least 2 of them were.., punk was just apart of the fabric of NYC in those days.

[@SuperRobertoClemente]

It's a piece of their identity, but not the skills piece-- many punk rockers barely knew how to play their instruments when they started. To be this good at rapping and production-- remember that Paul's Boutique was an all-world leap forward in sampling-- you had to be dyed in the wool true believers-- not performance art provocateurs. There are plenty of examples of the latter, and they're cringe.

[@anthonyv6962]

@@skineyemin4276except they weren’t music students the were in a hardcore band opening for the biggest hardcore bands. They were students of music in that they loved music

[@Malambrizzle]

Not meeting MCA will always be one of the greatest regrets of my life. LINY, SINY for life ❤

[@darrenreid5409]

Beastie Boys make life just about worth it

[@shoesncheese]

Mad props to the camera crew running backwards in front of the Beastie Boys.

[@yournumberr1]

They were almost 40 here but they still rock like they’re in their 20s. Pure gold ❤

[@murraysampson2501]

"Sport that freshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh attire!" Love it. A classic performance I'll always love.

[@michelek.5233]

Mega-Props to Mix Master Mike scratching in the studio while this whole 'out of studio' thing was happening. He just held it down, made it work and rocked it out.

[@rockturtleneck]

The Beasties are geniuses at making themselves look like they do everything kind of half-assed, when in reality a performance like this takes huge amounts of preparation and talent. Another thing they don't get enough credit for is their fashion influence. They started the whole thing of wearing ironic T-shirts, Converse high-tops, etc back in the 80s and it's still going strong today.

[@DougMacRay]

Excellent summary. Cheers from Boston.

[@DCfromBC]

A group that elevates your mood every time. Thankfully got to be their fan for decades. "It's called gratitude, and that's right!"

[@mradriankool]

How tight were they. Spotless performance. How anyone could dismiss this at the time is beyond me. They were heralded as the destroyers of youth when they hit the shores here. I’m so glad they destroyed mine. Opened my ears to a whole new genre

[@claudiociccozzi3499]

Che Grandi che sono stati. Che stile MCA, da paura!!!! GRANDI

[@doomlava222]

My daughter showed me this version and I can't believe I've lived this long without watching this performance. So.damn. perfect. ❤❤❤

[@jcdthevoice3896]

Seek everything they ever did live. They belong on the Mt. Rushmore...

[@safaith6502]

2:37 MCA on fire 🔥

[@mikewatts1533]

The Respect that NY had for the Beastie Boys and the Respect they had for NY was very obvious. Great Song and Great Group. Thank you for sharing.

[@MarlonD805]

They were so in sync as a group. And divided the work. No one outshined anyone

[@mangasky7]

One of the truly great musical performances on the show -- or any show.

[@juancarloszuniga1898]

That has to be one of the coolest performances in Hip Hop 👏🏼

[@lordundhimself1310]

There’s so much about this that’s impressive, both performance wise and the crew behind it. R.I.P. to MCA, my favorite Beastie Boy.

[@JoshColletta]

This is genuinely one of the best performances I've ever seen on television, and because of that, it remains my favorite Beastie Boys song.

[@vanessawhitneypro]

I remember watching this LIVE... The Beastie Boys were PERFECTION... Miss You, Yauch! Thanks, Dave & Beastie Boys!

[@bryanddd]

Absolutely amazing performance. AdRock's flow is legendary. I could watch this over and over. One of the many examples of how iconic Beastie Boys truly are.

[@Rob_Kates]

Outstanding performance and kudos for the Letterman production staff for pulling this off. Beastie Boys and Dave were both pivotal figures in NYC entertainment.

[@michelek.5233]

Letterman loved the B-Boys and I will always love him for that.

[@yohei72]

Now that you mention it.... one of the things that made Letterman's show(s) unique was the extent to which it was rooted in its place. The Carson & Leno Tonight Shows, for a counterexample, could take place in a studio anywhere - but with Letterman, you were always aware of the city swirling just outside the studio doors and the show often took you out into it. This started right from the first seconds of every episode, with the camera swooping through the city and the announcement "From New York..." followed by a different joke about the city every night, and after 9/11, an expression of local pride. How often did The Tonight Show even mention the city it was taped in? (And what would you even say about Burbank?)

[@Rob_Kates]

@@yohei72 Right, it's like NY was one of the characters in the show almost. The location was pivotal. Carson said little about Burbank, except to make fun of how it's stodgy and not too exciting. Hence, Ed McMahon said "From Hollywood..."

[@michelek.5233]

@@yohei72 It was the same for Beastie Boys too, NYC was like the 5th member of their group.

[@SeanAllocca]

I remember watching this live like it was yesterday. Thanks for bringing back a great memory.

[@DeanMichaud]

same same, man - feels like forever ago and yesterday all at the same time

[@randydalton5720]

I know nothing about hip hop or rap, child of the late 70s 80s and when The BB’S STORMED on to the world’s stage I instantly became a fan of the genre in that ERA!

[@ontherockspod]

God, I miss these guys. 😥 Beastie Boys forever! 💙🤘🥃

[@rogeriostocco8292]

Beastie Boys the best hip-hop classic!!

[@bradstocker1717]

AD-ROCK smacks it - its all about his flow!!!

[@dnbsoldier7259]

I love how Ad Rock just posts up on Dave's desk at the end, taking over the whole set like a boss.

[@ShelterDogs]

He does that a lot, it seems. You can see him doing it on the Joan Rivers Show back in the 80s.

[@Timmyfromphilly1994]

To this day i can’t watch a video with a fisheye lens without thinking of the beastie boys🤘🏻

[@fantasyguru26]

This was 18 years after their debut and they were still killing it. Testament to their skills and longevity. Great performers live, saw them several times.

[@sailingpineapple6853]

Such amazing rappers. Truly ground breaking.

[@Angie-Pants]

Top 5 Letterman moment for me. RIP MCA.

[@willhelmbrightraven3429]

R.I.P MCA such a raw musical performance 👏

[@peterddb1593]

Loved this performance! From walking the streets to the theater to ending their song by congregating at Dave’s desk! Thanks for posting this!

[@colinwilliams553]

I remember watching this when it originally aired.what an UNFORGETTABLE performance from MIKE D,AD ROCK and of course,MCA he will never be forgotten.R.I.P to him.

[@user-rw9rj9yz7h]

Greatest musical performance on letterman...end of story.. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@GAMECLOSET]

This was one of the coolest bands performances I had ever seen. I saw it the day it aired and flipped out. Fantastic!

[@charlestrahan2756]

This vid lives in my head rent free

[@skuntsauce3570]

Holy shit were old. Look at people using digital cameras and flip phones capturing those memories.

[@1973jaj]

Beastie Boys and Tribe Called Quest. Love them both.

[@James-semaJ]

Literally the coolest people to ever live!!!!!

[@aresef]

A classic performance

[@jimmybootz1277]

You can't tell me this ain't the illest most original late night performance ever 😐👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🫱🏾🫲🏾🤜🏾🤛🏾✊🏾🥲🤛🏾🕊️🙏🏾🕊️🙏🏾

[@JaayEmm]

I feel that... but B Boys doin' Sabotage on the Late Show may be even 'iller'...

[@jimmybootz1277]

@@JaayEmm 🤔💭ok....ok.....I don't disagree with this observation🫵🏾👏🏾👏🏾🤜🏾🤛🏾✊🏾

[@zatoichimasseur6767]

Only Boys could out Il each other bro.

[@overdimensional]

This is just too fresh to bear. Absolutely amazing. Legends!! Forever!...

[@pwdroed]

Amazing performance

[@ProfessorKenneth]

Brilliant band.. brilliant way to enter the audience 😄 these guys are awesome 👍🏻💯🙏🏻mca you're sadly missed brother.

[@HardwareLust]

I remember staying up late to watch this. One of my favorite BB performances ever.

[@pepcaone]

Absolute legend.

[@thebodybeatdownDiTi]

LEGENDS..ICONS..including David

[@oldmoviesinbwwithsubtitles3501]

The sad part late night music is dead, it died the night of Dave's last show. Come to YT for the memories

[@paulweil7107]

THE best musical guest appearance ever.

[@jonathancomfort9939]

Best Band Ever...none can compare...none can create like them and no one will replace them

[@stateofkansass]

Been to about 1200 concerts. Still those fellas gave the funnest concert I ever went to. Everyone was grinning ear to ear.

[@dr.madthumbz2689]

They're just the best. GOAT status til infinity

[@bquick918]

AD Rock is a beast perfect voice on the mic

[@markmiranda8520]

These dudes are always so damn hype and brought energy like crazy! Such chemistry! I absolutely LOVE them! RIP!

[@cinemaintorno]

What A GROUP !!!!!!!!!! Long Live BB

[@theeveshamgamer]

A once in a lifetime band..... No, hold up, a once in a millennium band. PERIOD!

[@rae-everything]

Wow I'm finally seeing this in good picture quality after all these years!!

[@MX-ch6nu]

2023 Still rockin'

[@RobQos]

These guys are STILL the bench mark for Hip Hop.

[@fdrstan]

I was 8 when Licensed To Ill was released and it was the soundtrack to my youth. I was blessed to see the Hello Nasty tour and they didn’t disappoint. RIP MCA.

[@noitallmanaz]

The Greatest! What a performance!

[@sh9nryu]

My definition of TALENT

[@skjones6654]

just exceptional

[@jayala2637]

This one of my favorites

[@perdbeer6713]

This is what winning looks like.

[@christianjackson9360]

Almost 40 years old, but still PUNK/METAL/RAP goes on!!!

[@2weird378]

Gold standard for three MC hip hop

[@JMack007]

MCA’s voice is legendary man. All there voices were no doubt but man his was special

[@philr9407]

I forgot they rolled up on to Dave Soo Awesome !!!

[@MrfuckinBeilke]

Mix master Mike is the GoAT

[@Crs313]

They don't get spoke on enough in hip hop culture. Dope group.

[@skineyemin4276]

Well, they did for many years before that, so..,

[@OM-et4qj]

Bicycle spoke?

[@carlrice1774]

This isn't true. The people you hang out with don't do it but people who truly know hip-hop know who they are and give them props.

[@Crs313]

I'm speaking on generalized media. I don't hear any1 now days mention them. Period

[@lucasm3879]

@@Crs313 I rate Beasties above Eminem. Not many people seem to agree with me but I’m old school ✌️

[@jt.8144]

To have been a Kid in the 80's is a good thing leading to becoming a young adult in the 90's. Truly Blessed from there on in. Oh pity the kids today..

[@christopherhill7843]

Saw the Beasties back in the day a few times. In my top 5 all time groups. They just had the baddest jams.

[@munz1870]

I love you they timed the start of the song just as they were getting off the subway to come to the studio. (😉)

[@Ambot51]

Just... the best.

[@mikecantreed]

I like how letterman sat in on the musical and comedy performances. They don’t do that anymore. Now it’s separately taped.

[@BenSuzi1980]

Real Rap 😍😍😍

[@charlesleeiii]

Something I love about rap groups performing onstage, here at 1:57 when 2 artists of a group walk past each other.

[@sgt.thundercok4704]

I spent all my time watching the bodyguard's moves.

[@StuffedBearSus]

Ad rocks flow was so serious bro

[@Drewsarchus]

this just gave me pure joy

[@cdecent]

Maybe this is weird, but I love that MCA got to shake hands with David Letterman.

[@xa9131]

The best intro ever!!!!