DESCRIPTION
BEASTIE BOYS – “ILL COMMUNICATION”
Label: Capitol Records – C4 7243 8 28599 4 9
Country: USA
Released: 1994
Genre: Hip-Hop
Style: Conscious, Experimental, Jazz Rap, Hardcore Hip-Hop
Fourth studio album by Beastie Boys, released in 1994 at the height of the band’s creative fusion of hip-hop, punk energy, and live instrumentation. Featuring legendary tracks such as “Sabotage,” “Sure Shot,” and “Root Down,” the record marked their return to the top of the Billboard charts and remains a defining album of 1990s alternative hip-hop.
NOTES
Original 1994 U.S. first pressing on Capitol Records, factory sealed with the original GRANDPA’S retail sticker priced at $9.97.
Distinctive green cassette shell identifies this as the authentic early run — later repressings (Columbia House / BMG) used clear shells and had revised barcode panels.
Spine printed “Beastie Boys – Ill Communication” in the band’s stylized font, alongside the Capitol logo and catalog number C4 7243 8 28599 4 9 on a black background.
The inlay features the full tracklist with Grand Royal and Capitol logos, no remaster credit, matching the original 1994 J-card layout (no Dolby mark, horizontal barcode).
Sealed copies from this batch are now very scarce — most were opened and played extensively after the album’s release. A fully sealed example with intact vertical shrink seam and price sticker is an exceptional collector’s find.
MATRIX/LABELS
- Label logos: Capitol / Grand Royal
- Catalog number: C4 7243 8 28599 4 9
- Barcode: 7 2438-28599-4 9
- Shell color: Transparent green
- Manufactured by: Capitol Records, Hollywood & New York, USA
- Sticker: “GRANDPA’S – $9.97” retail price tag on shrink
- Shrink: Factory sealed, vertical seam intact