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
Songwriter(s)	Michael Diamond Adam Horovitz Adam Yauch
Producer(s)	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 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 an episode of 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 2005 Grammy Awards.[1] Beastie Boys member MCA directed the song's music video under his pseudonym, Nathaniel Hörnblowér.

Critical reception

Reviewing the song for Billboard, Susanne Ault wrote that "Ch-Check It Out" harkens back to 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. One of the characters that MCA portrayed was Sir Stewart Wallace from the music video “Sabotage”. 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

Beastie Boys performed the song live on The Late Show with David Letterman. This performance was unusual, as it featured 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
• Ken "DURO" Ifill – engineering
• Jon Weiner – engineering
• Freddie – assistant to the regional manager
• Piero Ribelli – photography
• Noel Yauch – illustration

Charts

Weekly charts 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 (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 Chart (2004) Position UK Singles (OCC)[39] 180 US Modern Rock Tracks (Billboard)[40] 35

Certifications

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

Release history

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). Beastie Boys. Capitol Records. 2004. C2 7243 5 49363 2 6.
10. Ch-Check It Out (Australian CD single liner notes). Beastie Boys. Capitol Records. 2004. 7243 5 49363 2 6.
11. Ch-Check It Out (UK CD1 liner notes). Beastie Boys. Parlophone. 2004. CDCL 857.
12. Ch-Check It Out (UK CD2 liner notes). Beastie Boys. Parlophone. 2004. CDCLS 857.
13. Ch-Check It Out (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Beastie Boys. Parlophone. 2004. 12CL 857.
14. Ch-Check It Out (Japanese maxi-CD single liner notes). Beastie Boys. Capitol Records. 2004. TOCP-61085.
15. "Beastie Boys – Ch-Check It Out". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
16. "Issue 757" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
17. "Beastie Boys – Ch-Check It Out" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
18. "Beastie Boys – Ch-Check It Out" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
19. "Beastie Boys Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2019.^[dead link‍]
20. "R&R Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1562. July 2, 2004. p. 63. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
21. "Beastie Boys – Ch-Check It Out". Tracklisten. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
22. "Beastie Boys – Ch-Check It Out" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
23. "Beastie Boys – Ch-Check It Out" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
24. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ch-Check It Out". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
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26. "Tipparade-lijst van week 28, 2004" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
27. "Beastie Boys – Ch-Check It Out" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
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29. "Beastie Boys – Ch-Check It Out". VG-lista. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
30. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
31. "Beastie Boys – Ch-Check It Out" Canciones Top 50.
32. "Beastie Boys – Ch-Check It Out". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
33. "Beastie Boys – Ch-Check It Out". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
34. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
35. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
36. "Beastie Boys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
37. "Beastie Boys Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
38. "Beastie Boys Chart History (Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
39. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2004" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
40. "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Modern Rock Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. December 17, 2004. p. 29.
41. "American single certifications – Beastie Boys – Ch-Check It Out". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
42. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. May 29, 2004. p. 39.
43. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 7th June 2004" (PDF). ARIA. June 7, 2004. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 6, 2004. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
44. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1558. June 4, 2004. p. 27. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
45. "Ch-Check It Out" (in Japanese). Toshiba-EMI. Archived from the original on June 6, 2004. Retrieved August 26, 2023.