The song “Brass Monkey” was released on January 5, 1987, into a music world largely influenced by MTV and music videos. Rap and hip-hop music genres developed simultaneously underneath the hype and popularity of many early music videos.

 

With songs like “Cooky Pussy,” bands like Beastie Boys picked up on the largely underground rap to hip-hop conversion that came before today’s mainstream hip-hop recording artists. 

Strangely enough, Beastie Boys started as an experimental punk rock band in the late seventies. Bands like the New York Dolls brought performance spectacle to punk rock, which in lyrical arrangement, aligns with rap. Beastie Boys mixed these burgeoning music genres together to produce a sound iconic to partying in the 80s.

Fun Facts: 

• As confirmed by band member Mike D, the band took their name from Brass Monkey, a premixed cocktail sold by Heublein.
• Contrary to popular belief, a Brass Monkey isn’t a mix of malt liquor and orange juice—that drink is the “forty,” which colloquially refers to the 40-ounce bottle of malt liquor.
• The song is from Beastie Boys’ debut album, License To Ill, and is one of the best-selling debut albums of all time.
• “Brass Monkey” samples parts of “Wild Sugar.”
• The song sold a quick 500,000 copies in 1987 and promptly earned Gold certification.
• In 1987, the song peaked at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, in 2012, it reached #32 on the Billboard Rap Digital Songs. 
• With sales of License To Ill, Beastie Boys were one of the bands that prompted the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to institute the Diamond certification for selling 10 million copies.
• Both The Dave Matthews Band and Richard Cheese covered the song. 

Lyrics 

Brass Monkey

That funky Monkey

Brass Monkey junkie

That funky Monkey

Brass

Got this dance that’s more than real

Drink Brass Monkey, here’s how you feel

You put your left leg down

Your right leg up

Tilt your head back, let’s finish the cup

MCA with the bottle, D rocks the can

Ad-Rock gets nice with Charlie Chan

We’re offered Moët

We don’t mind Chivas

Wherever we go, we bring Monkey with us

Ad-Rock drinks three, Mike D is D

Double R foots the bill most definitely

I drink Brass Monkey and I rock well

I got a castle in Brooklyn, that’s where I dwell

Brass Monkey

That funky Monkey

Brass Monkey junkie

That funky Monkey

Because (brass)

I drink it anytime and any place

When it’s time to get ill, I pour it on my face

Monkey tastes def when you pour it on ice

Come on, y’all, it’s time to get nice

Cooling by the lockers, getting kind of funky

Me and the crew, we’re drinking Brass Monkey

This girl walked by, she gave me the eye

I reached in the locker, grabbed a Spanish fly

I put it in the Monkey, mixed it in a cup

Went over to the girl, “Yo, baby, what’s up?”

I offered her a sip (sip)

The girl she gave me lip (lip)

It did begin, the stuff wore in and now she’s on my tip

Brass Monkey

That funky Monkey

Brass Monkey junkie

That funky Monkey

Brass

Step up to the bar and put the girl down

She takes a big gulp and slaps it around

You take a sip, you can do it

You get right to it

We had a case in the place

And we went right through it

You got a dry martini, you thinking you’re cool

Take you place at the bar, I smack you off your stool

I’ll down a 40 dog in a single gulp

And if you got beef, you’ll get beat to a pulp

Monkey and parties and reelin’ and rockin’

Def-def, girls-girls, all y’all jockin’

The song and dance keepin’ you in a trance

If you don’t buy my record, I got my advance

I drink it, I think it, I see it, I be it

I love Brass Monkey, but I don’t give D it

We got the bottle, you got the cup

Come on everybody, let’s get f-

Brass Monkey

That funky Monkey

Brass Monkey junkie

That funky Monkey

Brass Monkey

That funky Monkey

Brass Monkey junkie

That funky Monkey

Brass Monkey!