Beastie Boys inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall

[April 16, 2012]  CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Beastie Boys, three white New Yorkers who helped bring rap music to the suburbs in the 1980s, have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Dismissed early on as beer-drinking frat boys, Adam "Ad-rock" Horovitz, Adam "MCA" Yauch and Michael "Mike D" Diamond debuted with songs like "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)!" but the Beasties eventually won over critics and fans with their sharp lyrics, samples and beats.

They are the third hip-hop group to be inducted, joining Run-D.M.C. and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

Fellow rappers LL Cool J and Chuck D inducted the Beasties Saturday night in Cleveland. Chuck D called the Beastie Boys "one of the greatest live acts in music" and said their impact cannot be measured.

[Associated Press; By TOM WITHERS]

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