According to an article by Music Fix, hip hop greats the Beastie Boys’ record sales have increased an astronomical 1,235% since the tragic passing of MCA, real name Adam Yauch.
The Music Fix article reports that Beastie Boys’ debut record Licensed to Ill reached #18 on the Billboard Hot 200 this week along with six other Beastie Boys albums. When Licensed to Ill originally entered the charts in 1986 it reached #1, becoming the first hip hop album to ever sit at the top of the Billboard charts.
GMA News reported that Licensed to Ill returned to the charts with 19,000 copies sold. Collective sales of all seven records to re-enter the charts were 55,000 units, which was amassed two days after Yauch passed away.
Unfortunately for the surviving members of the Beastie Boys, a current lawsuit with record label Tuf America could see the band lose out on a solid amount of the profits from this week’s resurgence.
Again according to Music Fix, Tuf America are attempting to sue the Beastie Boys for copyright infringement due to the use of certain samples on the hip hop group’s first two albums. The two records in question were released before sampling laws were active, but if Tuf America is successful in their lawsuit, they will profit mightily from this week’s sales.
Watch: Adam Yauch, Beastie Boys’ MCA, Dies
