Hello Nasty

Hello Nasty is the fifth studio album by the Beastie Boys. It was released on July 14, 1998 via Capitol Records and sold 681,000 copies in its first week, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 album sales chart. The album took home two awards at the 1999 Grammys, in the categories of Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “Intergalactic”.


Background:

Hello Nasty was released in 1998—four years after the band’s previous album, Ill Communication—and marked the addition of DMC champion Mix Master Mike to the group’s line-up.[1] “Song for Junior” features Miho Hatori on vocals, and “Dr. Lee, PhD” guest stars dub musician Lee Scratch Perry on both vocals and percussion. Hello Nasty also marked Eric Bobo’s last appearance as percussionist in the band, as well as the last time the Beastie Boys worked with a co-producer.

The title for the album was allegedly inspired by the receptionist of their NY based publicity firm Nasty Little Man who would answer the phone with the greeting “Hello Nasty”.


Critical reception:

Hello Nasty received mostly positive reviews upon release. Caroline Sullivan writing for The Guardian Review awarded the album “Pop CD Of The Week” claiming that it “fills a gap created by the current profusion of serious rock bands like Radiohead; elbowing its way up front, rip with adolescent vigour.” She went on to summarize the record as “the perfect party soundtrack by the perfect party band.