Ch-Check It Out by Beastie Boys Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Playful Genius Behind the Rhyme
Lyrics
All you Trekkies and TV addicts
Don’t mean to diss, don’t mean to bring static
All you Klingons in the fucking house
Grab your backstreet friend and get loud
Blowin’ doors off hinges
I’ll grab you with the pinchers
And no, I didn’t retire
I’ll snatch you up with the needle-nose pliers
Like Mutual of Omaha
With the ill boat you’ve never seen before
Glidin’ in the glades
And like Lorne Greene you know I get paid
Like Caprese and with the basil
Not goofy like Darren or Hazel
I’m a motherfuckin’ “Nick At Nite”
With classics rerunning that you know all right
Now remain calm, no alarm, ’cause my farm ain’t fat
So what’s up with that?
I’ve got friends and family that I respect
When I think I’m too good they put me in check
So believe when I say I’m no better than you
Except when I rap so I guess it ain’t true
Like that y’all and you just don’t stop
Guaranteed to make your body rock
Check-ch-check-check-check-ch-check it out
What-wha-what-what-what’s it all about?
Work-wa-work-work-work-wa-work it out
Let’s turn this muthafucking party out
Said, Doc what’s the condition?
I’m a man that’s on a mission
Said, son, you’d better listen
Stuck in your ass is an electrician
Like a scientist
When I’m applying this
Method of controlling my mind
Like Einstein and the Rappin’ Duke combined
Now, hey, baby bubba now what the deal?
I didn’t know you go for that mass appeal
Some call it salugi, some hot potato
I stole your mic but you won’t see it later
‘Cause I work magic like a magician
I add up like a mathematician
I’m a bank cashier, engineer
I wear cotton and I don’t wear sheer
Shazam and abracadabra
In the whip I’m gonna cruise past ya
Yo, money, don’t chump yourself
Put that shit back on the shelf
Light rays blazin’
You’re out of phase, and my crew’s amazin’
We’re working on the record yo, so just stay patient
Check-ch-check-check-check-ch-check it out
What-wha-what-what-what’s it all about?
Work-wa-work-work-work-wa-work it out
Let’s turn this muthafucking party out
Check-ch-check-check-check-ch-check it out
Check-check-check-check it out
Check-ch-check-check-check it out
Check-ch-check-check-check-check it out
Now, I go by the name of the King Adrock
I don’t wear a cup nor a jock
I bring the shit that’s beyond bizarre
Like Miss Piggy, who moi?
I am the one with the clientele
Who say, Adrock, you rock so well
I’ve got class like pink champale
MCA grab the mic before the mic goes stale
Don’t test me, they can’t arrest me
I’ll fake right, cross-over and shoot lefty
You look upset, yo, calm down
You look like Cable Guy dunked off of your crown
I flow like smoke out a chimney
You never been me
You want to rap but what you’re making ain’t hip-hop, B
Now, get your clothes right out the dryer
Put Armor-All up on your tire
Sport that fresh attire
Tonight we goin’ out set the town on fire
Set the town ablaze, gonna stun and amaze
Ready to throw a craze
Make your granny shake her head and say “Those were the days”
Now, check-ch-check-check-check-ch-check it out
What-wha-what-what-what’s it all about?
Work-wa-work-work-work-wa-work it out
Let’s turn this muthafucking party out
The Beastie Boys, with their unorthodox blend of punk influenced hip-hop, have always been more than their surface suggests. Each track a labyrinth, each verse a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. ‘Ch-Check It Out’ is no outlier in this regard; it’s an explosive ensemble of references, humor, and braggadocio that demands a deeper analysis.
The track, as playful and seemingly lighthearted as it is, contains the breadcrumbs of the group’s ethos and era-spanning inspirations. Here’s an explorative jaunt into ‘Ch-Check It Out,’ digging beneath its catchy hook and party vibes to uncloak the intricate layers of meaning the Beastie Boys are revered for.
Trekkies and TV Addicts Unite: A Cross-Pollination of Cultures
The opening lines of ‘Ch-Check It Out’ serve as a rallying cry for a motley crew of pop culture enthusiasts. Referencing ‘Trekkies’ and ‘Klingons,’ the Beastie Boys tap into a cultural homage that bridges the chasm between sci-fi fandom and hip-hop vigor. It’s a statement of inclusion and a testament to the wide-reaching influence of the band’s eclectic taste.
This isn’t just about music; it’s about community and identity. By weaving these references into the fabric of the song, the Beasties are challenging genre conventions and inviting a dialogue that transcends the traditional boundaries of musical fandom.
Artful Braggadocio: The Beasties’ Boastful Banter
The Beastie Boys were known for their brash and witty lyricism which often touted their talents. ‘Ch-Check It Out’ serves as a horn-blowing homage to their own greatness, with lines like ‘I’m a motherfuckin’ Nick At Nite with classics rerunning that you know all right.’ They cleverly assert their timelessness and ability to entertain, akin to beloved TV reruns from ‘Nick At Nite.’
Their bravado comes with an undertone of self-awareness, exemplified when they admit to still seeking the respect of friends and family to keep their egos in check. This dynamic raises the song above typical chest-thumping rap; it’s a self-deprecating celebration of their success.
The Hidden Meaning: A Lens into the Artists’ Psyche
Beyond the surface, ‘Ch-Check It Out’ can be perceived as an insight into the group’s self-awareness and maturity. Lines like ‘So believe when I say I’m no better than you’ speak to their humility. It’s a far cry from their earlier, more irreverent days and hints at a growing recognition of their platform’s impact and a responsibility to their listeners.
At its core, the track reflects their evolution from rebellious youths to seasoned, reflective artists. They’re looking back on their career, asserting their own worth, while recognizing the improbable success they’ve had.
Memorable Verses That Time Travel
It’s difficult to discuss ‘Ch-Check It Out’ without diving into specific lines that have etched themselves into the memory of hip-hop aficionados. For instance, the lyric ‘Like Einstein and the Rappin’ Duke combined’ amalgamates a scientific giant with a hip-hop oddity, suggesting a blend of high-brow intelligence and low-brow culture that is quintessentially Beastie Boys.
This quirky fusion of unexpected elements isn’t just characteristic of their lyrical style, but also a broader statement on the nature of creativity and the enduring power of intelligently cultivated contradiction.
A Sonic Boom That Spans Decades
Parsing through the dense allusions and wordplay of ‘Ch-Check It Out’ spotlights the group’s musical and cultural literacy. They reference not just icons of the past, but also contemporary obsessions, creating a seamless thread between generations and genres within a single track.
This isn’t just the sound of a party being turned ‘muthafucking out.’ It’s a nuanced, retrospective mashup of styles that pays homage to where they’ve come from and how they’ve shaped the musical landscape. It’s a nod to their past and a flash to their present, urging listeners to always ‘ch-check it out.’
