Sure Shot

Last updated
"Sure Shot"
Beastie boys-sure shot-cover.jpg
Single by Beastie Boys
from the album Ill Communication
ReleasedNovember 14, 1994 [1]
Studio
Length3:20
Label
Songwriters
Producers
  • Beastie Boys
  • Mario Caldato Jr.
Beastie Boys singles chronology
"Get It Together"
(1994)		"Sure Shot"
(1994)		"Root Down"
(1995)
Music video
"Sure Shot" on YouTube

"Sure Shot" is a song by American hip-hop group Beastie Boys, released by Grand Royal and Capitol as the third single from their fourth album, Ill Communication (1994), in November 1994. The song was co-written by the group with Mario Caldato Jr., who also co-produced it with them. It features a looped sample of jazz flautist Jeremy Steig's song "Howlin' for Judy" from the 1970 album Legwork . The brief vocal sample after the second verse ("Oh yes indeed, it's fun time") was taken from a comedy record by Moms Mabley. [2]

Contents

Release

The CD and cassette maxi single (with a total of 7 tracks) features three remixes of the title track, by Large Professor, Mike Nardone and Dred Scott, and the Prunes, respectively.

It also features 3 new songs, "Mullet Head" (a punk-rock-style song whose title references the much-ridiculed mullet hair-style), "Son of Neckbone" (an instrumental track) and "The Vibes", a more traditional rap song akin to "Sure Shot". "Mullet Head" was also featured on the 1994 EP Pretzel Nugget.

Critical reception

Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "It's in there. The kooky trio rarely misfires, having become experts at their hybrid of frat-rap and rock. Ever aware of the old school, the Beasties shout, scratch, and sample a frantic masterpiece of twisted flutes, barking dogs, and juvenile lyrics. Ill and real." [3] Pan-European magazine Music & Media noted, "Coming to you with a screen saver for your PC, the Brooklyn scumbags have singled out one of the purest hip-hop tracks from their "media rehabilitation" album, III Communication." [4]

According to various publications, the song is noteworthy for including the verse:

“I want to say a little something that’s long overdue/The disrespect to women has got to be through/To all the mothers and sisters and wives and friends/I wanna offer my love and respect to the end.”

The verse is widely considered to be a contrition for the group's early lyrics and demeanor which are perceived by some as misogynous. [5] [6] [7] [8]

Music video

Directed by American filmmaker, actor, musician, and photographer Spike Jonze, the music video for "Sure Shot" features the group, along with DJ Hurricane, performing, skating, and wearing suits while attending a party.

Track listing

  1. "Sure Shot" (LP Version)
  2. "Sure Shot" (Large Professor Remix)
  3. "Mullet Head"
  4. "The Vibes"
  5. "Sure Shot" (Nardone Mix)
  6. "Son Of Neckbone"
  7. "Sure Shot" (European B-Boy Mix)

Charts

Chart (1994)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [9] 129
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [10] 15
UK Singles (OCC) [11] 27
US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales [12] 48

References

  1. ↑ "Beastie Boys singles".
  2. ↑ "The Beastie Boys' 'Sure Shot' Deconstructed". 10 May 2012.
  3. ↑ Flick, Larry (10 September 1994). "Single Reviews: Pop" (PDF). Billboard . p. 89. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  4. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 12, no. 6. 11 February 1995. p. 10. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  5. ↑ "How One Verse Helped the Beastie Boys Atone for a Bad-Boy Past". The Wall Street journal . Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  6. ↑ "10 Great Adam Yauch Musical Moments". The Rolling Stone . Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  7. ↑ "Peace, Adam". The New Yorker . Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  8. ↑ "Adam Yauch obituary". The Guardian . Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  9. ↑ "Beastie Boys ARIA single chart history (to April 2025)". ARIA. Retrieved May 18, 2025– via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  10. ↑ "BEASTIE BOYS - SURE SHOT" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  11. ↑ "Beastie Boys Album & Song Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 2011-05-10.
  12. ↑ "Beastie Boys - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles". AllMusic . Retrieved 2011-05-10.
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