Root Down (EP)

Root Down
EP by Beastie Boys
Released	May 23, 1995
Recorded	1994–1995
Genre	Alternative hip-hop, hardcore punk
Length	28:56
Label	Capitol
Producer	Beastie Boys, Mario Caldato Jr.
Beastie Boys chronology
Ill Communication (1994) Root Down (1995) Aglio e Olio (1995)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Root Down is an EP by American hip-hop group Beastie Boys, released in 1995.

The first three tracks are variations of the track "Root Down", from the Beastie Boys' 1994 album Ill Communication . The remaining seven tracks were recorded "live in Europe, winter 1995". ^[2] The hidden track heard in the end is a radio jingle in Hebrew made in Israel's military radio station Galey Tzahal. It promoted a Beastie Boys special aired prior to their only two concerts in the country, in March 1995. When Mike D and Ad-Rock were interviewed at the station they heard the recording and asked for it. ^[3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Beastie Boys except where noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Root Down" (Free Zone Mix)	3:48
2.	"Root Down" ( Ill Communication Mix)	3:31
3.	"Root Down" (PP Balloon Mix - produced by Prince Paul)	3:30
4.	"Time to Get Ill" (Horovitz, Yauch, Diamond, Rubin)	1:59
5.	"Heart Attack Man" (Beastie Boys, AWOL)	2:08
6.	"The Maestro"	3:14
7.	"Sabrosa" (Beastie Boys, Bobo, Money Mark)	2:53
8.	"Flute Loop" (Beastie Boys, Caldato, Al Kooper)	1:39
9.	"Time for Livin'" (Frontline)	1:58
10.	"Something's Got to Give" (Beastie Boys, Caldato, Money Mark) (Ends at 3:56. The hidden track can be heard at 4:28)	4:57
Total length:		28:56

Charts

Chart (1995)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart [4]	43
Austrian Albums Chart [5]	38
Canadian Albums Chart [6]	48
Dutch Albums Chart [7]	78
German Albums Chart [8]	38
UK Albums Chart [9]	23
US Billboard 200 [10]	50

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [11]	Gold	50,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

"Root Down"

"Root Down"
Promotional single by Beastie Boys
from the album Ill Communication
Released	1995
Genre	Hip-hop funk [12]
Length	3:31
Label	Grand Royal Capitol
Songwriters	Michael Diamond Adam Horovitz Adam Yauch
Producers	Beastie Boys Mario Caldato Jr.
Beastie Boys singles chronology
"Sure Shot" (1994) "Root Down" (1995) "Intergalactic" (1998)

"Root Down" is a song by Beastie Boys from their fourth studio album Ill Communication . The original version of the track, as well as two remixes of the track, are featured on the Root Down EP. It was released as a promo single in promotion of the Root Down EP; it also served as the fourth single from Ill Communication.

A sample from jazz musician Jimmy Smith's "Root Down (And Get It)", from his seminal album Root Down , serves as the basis for "Root Down". A small vocal sample from "Root Down" was later sampled on The Prodigy's 1997 track "Funky Shit".^{[ citation needed ]}

Track listing

Promo CD single

1. "Root Down" (LP, Clean) – 3:32
2. "Root Down" (Free Zone Mix, Clean) – 3:47
3. "Root Down" (PP Balloon Mix, Clean) – 3:30

7" single

A. "Root Down" (Clean version) – 3:43

B. "Ricky's Theme" (Clean version) – 3:32

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Beastie Boys: Root Down" at AllMusic. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
2. Root Down (Media notes). Beastie Boys. Capitol Records. 1995. CDP 7243 8 33603 2 1.
3. Pollicino, Raul. "Beastiemania.com - Interviews - Interview with Quami De La". www.beastiemania.com. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
4. "Beastie Boys - Root Down". australian-charts.com. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
5. "Beastie Boys - Root Down" (in German). austriancharts.at. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
6. "RPM 100 Albums". RPM . 61 (24). archived at Library and Archives Canada. July 17, 1995. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
7. "Beastie Boys - Root Down" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
8. "Chartverfolgung / Beastie Boys / Longplay" [Chart Tracking / Beastie Boys / Albums] (in German). musicline.de. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
9. "Root Down EP". Official Charts Company . Retrieved May 10, 2011.
10. "Beastie Boys Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
11. "Canadian album certifications – Beastie Boys – Root Down". Music Canada . Retrieved June 28, 2023.
12. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Ill Communication – Beastie Boys". AllMusic . Retrieved April 10, 2025. ...the relentless dirty funk of "Root Down,...

External links

• Beastie Boys – Root Down EP at Discogs (list of releases)