In November 1986, the Beastie Boys released their debut album Licensed To Ill on Def Jam/Columbia. It stands as one of Columbia's fastest-selling debuts to date and eventually sold over nine million copies in the U.S. alone. Licensed To Ill is still the only album by a white hip-hop act to receive the coveted 5 mics from the Source who has selected the album as one of the best 100 Best Rap Albums of all-time. Playful music videos were made for the classic cuts "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)," "No Sleep Till Brooklyn," "Girls," "Hold It Now Hit It," "Rhymin' and Stealin'" and "She's Crafty," while further gems like "Brass Monkey," "Paul Revere," and "Time To Get Ill" proved Licensed To Ill to be all killer no filler.

Kerry King of Slayer even made an appearance on the album playing lead guitar on "No Sleep Till Brooklyn," which was named as a spoof on Motorhead's No Sleep 'til Hammersmith album. King's appearance came about because Rick Rubin was producing both bands simultaneously (Slayer's Reign in Blood was also originally released on Dej Jam). The album's iconic cover, front to back, features a Boeing 727 - with Beastie Boys emblazoned on the tail - crashing head-on into the side of a mountain, appearing as an extinguished joint. The tail of the plane has the Def Jam logo and the legend '3MTA3' which spells 'EATME' when viewed in a mirror.