Ch-Check It Out

"Ch-Check It Out"
Single by Beastie Boys
from the album To the 5 Boroughs
B-side	"And Then I"
Released	May 3, 2004 (2004-05-03)
Studio	Oscilloscope Laboratories (New York City)
Length	3:12 (album version) 3:10 (single version)
Label	Capitol Parlophone
Songwriters	Michael Diamond Adam Horovitz Adam Yauch
Producer	Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys singles chronology
"Alive" (1999) "Ch-Check It Out" (2004) "Triple Trouble" (2004)
Music video
"Ch-Check It Out" on YouTube

"Ch-Check It Out" is a song by American alternative hip-hop group Beastie Boys, released as the first single off their sixth studio album, To the 5 Boroughs (2004), on May 3, 2004. The song heavily samples "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Peggy Lee. ^[1] Following its appearance on the season one episode "The Strip" of the American teen drama television series The O.C. in April 2004, ^[2] the song was released as a single on May 3, 2004.

The song reached number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the Canadian Singles Chart. In Australia, the song reached number 46 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was ranked number 28 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004. ^[3] "Ch-Check It Out" was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards. ^[1] Beastie Boys member MCA directed the song's music video under his pseudonym, Nathaniel Hörnblowér.

Critical reception

Reviewing "Ch-Check It Out" for Billboard , Susanne Ault wrote that "Ch-Check It Out" harkens back to the Beastie Boys' past works, calling the track "a bit retro" as well as its horns and bassline "much fun", comparing the chorus to the group's 1992 single "So What'cha Want". She went on to comment, "Still, with so many hits in their stable, it seems near impossible for the Beastie Boys not to compete with themselves with each successive track." ^[4]

Music video

MCA directed the music video for the song under his pseudonym, Nathaniel Hörnblowér. ^[2] It features the Beastie Boys performing the song while dressed in various costumes. The video was added to the playlists of MTV and MuchMusic on the week ending May 2, 2004, and to Fuse's playlist two weeks later, on May 16. ^{[5] [6]}

Live performances

The Beastie Boys performed the song live on The Late Show with David Letterman . This performance was unusual, as it featured the Beastie Boys performing the song while on their way to the studio. They began by emerging from a subway stop and walking through New York City until arriving at the Letterman studio and finishing the track inside. ^[7] This performance has been regarded as one of the best musical moments on the program, with Paste magazine ranking it number 11 on their list of "David Letterman's 25 Greatest Music Moments". ^[8]

Track listings

Canadian and Australian CD single [9] [10] "Ch-Check It Out" "Ch-Check It Out" (instrumental) "And Then I" UK CD1 [11] "Ch-Check It Out" "Ch-Check It Out" (Just Blaze remix) UK CD2 [12] "Ch-Check It Out" "Ch-Check It Out" (instrumental) "And Then I" "Ch-Check It Out" (video)

UK 12-inch single [13] A1. "Ch-Check It Out" A2. "Ch-Check It Out" (instrumental) B1. "Ch-Check It Out" (Just Blaze remix) B2. "Ch-Check It Out" (a cappella) Japanese maxi-CD single [14] "Ch-Check It Out" (explicit version) "And Then I" "Ch-Check It Out" (Just Blaze remix) "Ch-Check It Out" (instrumental) "Ch-Check It Out" (explicit a cappella)

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the UK CD single liner notes. ^[11]

Studio

• Recorded and mixed at Oscilloscope Laboratories (New York City)

Personnel

• Beastie Boys – writing, vocals, production, engineering
• MixMasterMike – turntable extraordinaire
• Supa Engineer "DURO" – mixing
• Jon Weiner – engineering
• Freddie – assistant to the regional manager
• Piero Ribelli – photography
• Noel Yauch – illustration

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Ch-Check It Out" Chart (2004) Peak position Australia (ARIA) [15] 46 Australian Urban (ARIA) [16] 17 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [17] 75 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [18] 16 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan) [19] 1 Canada Rock Top 30 ( Radio & Records ) [20] 27 Denmark (Tracklisten) [21] 16 France (SNEP) [22] 82 Germany (GfK) [23] 65 Ireland (IRMA) [24] 29 Italy (FIMI) [25] 13 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade) [26] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100) [27] 21 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [28] 31 Norway (VG-lista) [29] 17 Scotland Singles (OCC) [30] 10 Spain (PROMUSICAE) [31] 8 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [32] 38 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [33] 36 UK Singles (OCC) [34] 8 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC) [35] 3 US Billboard Hot 100 [36] 68 US Alternative Airplay ( Billboard ) [37] 1 US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [38] 6

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Ch-Check It Out" Chart (2004) Position UK Singles (OCC) [39] 180 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard) [40] 35

Certifications

Certifications for "Ch-Check It Out"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [41]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Ch-Check It Out"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	May 3, 2004	Rhythmic contemporary urban active rock alternative radio	Capitol	[2]
United Kingdom	May 31, 2004	12-inch vinyl CD	Parlophone	[42]
Australia	June 7, 2004	CD	Capitol	[43]
United States	June 8, 2004	Contemporary hit radio		[44]
Japan	June 16, 2004	CD		[45]

References

1. Taysom, Joe (May 4, 2020). "Revisiting When the Beastie Boys Stormed Letterman with the Greatest 'Late Show' Performance of All Time". Far Out. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
2. Trias, Mike (April 30, 2004). "Ch-Check It Out" (PDF). Radio & Records . No. 1553. p. 24. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
3. "Triple J Hottest 100 2004". ABC . January 26, 2005. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
4. Ault, Susanne (May 22, 2004). Paoletta, Michael (ed.). "Billboard Picks: Singles". Billboard . Vol. 116, no. 21. p. 33.
5. "Billboard Video Monitor". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 20. May 15, 2004. p. 81.
6. "Billboard Video Monitor". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 22. May 29, 2004. p. 63.
7. Bernstein, Scott (May 4, 2018). "Remembering Adam 'MCA' Yauch: The Beastie Boys Perform 'Ch-Check It Out' on 'The Late Show'". JamBase . Retrieved December 4, 2020.
8. Staff (August 9, 2017). "David Letterman's 25 Greatest Music Moments". Paste . Retrieved December 4, 2020.
9. Ch-Check It Out (Canadian CD single liner notes). Capitol Records. 2004. C2 7243 5 49363 2 6.
10. Ch-Check It Out (Australian CD single liner notes). Capitol Records. 2004. 7243 5 49363 2 6.
11. Ch-Check It Out (UK CD1 liner notes). Parlophone. 2004. CDCL 857.
12. Ch-Check It Out (UK CD2 liner notes). Parlophone. 2004. CDCLS 857.
13. Ch-Check It Out (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Parlophone. 2004. 12CL 857.
14. Ch-Check It Out (Japanese maxi-CD single liner notes). Capitol Records. 2004. TOCP-61085.
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