Pass the Mic

{{Infobox song

| name = Pass the Mic

| cover = PassTheMic.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Beastie Boys

| album = Check Your Head

| B-side = "Time for Livin'", "Drunken Praying Mantis Style", "Netty's Girl"

| released = April 7, 1992

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Hip hop, rap rock

| length = 4:16

| label = Capitol

| writer = Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz, Adam Yauch, Mario Caldato Jr.

| producer = Beastie Boys, Mario Caldato

| prev_title = Shadrach

| prev_year = 1989

| next_title = So What'cha Want

| next_year = 1992

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|NpsvBvwRuf0|"Pass the Mic"}}}}

}}

"Pass the Mic" is the first single from the third studio album Check Your Head by American rap group the Beastie Boys, released on April 7, 1992.

Sampling lawsuit

In 2003, Beastie Boys were involved in the landmark sampling decision, Newton v. Diamond. In that case, a federal judge ruled that the band was not liable for sampling James Newton's "Choir" in their track, "Pass the Mic". The sample used is the six-second flute stab. In short, Beastie Boys cleared the sample but obtained only the rights to use the sound recording and not the composition rights to the song "Choir". In the decision, the judge found that:

{{quote|when viewed in relation to Newton's composition as a whole, the portion is neither quantitatively nor qualitatively significant... Because Beastie Boys' use of the sound recording was authorized, the sole basis of Newton's infringement action is his remaining copyright interest in the 'Choir' composition. We hold today that Beastie Boys' use of a brief segment of that composition, consisting of three notes separated by a half-step over a background C note, is not sufficient to sustain a claim for copyright infringement.{{cite web|title=Newton v. Diamond, 388 F. 3d 1189 – Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit 2004|url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=660862405243129598&q=388+F.3d+1189|author=United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit|access-date=December 19, 2012}}}}

Track listing

"Pass the Mic" (LP version) – 4:30
"Dub the Mic" (Instrumental) – 4:26
"Drunken Praying Mantis Style" – 2:37
"Pass the Mic (Pt. 2, Skills to Pay the Bills)" – 4:24
"Netty's Girl" – 5:39

Charts

class="wikitable"

!align="left"|Chart (1992)

!align="left"|Peak
position

align="left"|Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/zDQbgEQ |title= Beastie Boys ARIA single chart history (to April 2025) |publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date=May 18, 2025}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.

|align="center"|199

align="left"|UK Singles Chart{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/|title=The Official Charts Company - Beastie Boys|work=Official Charts Company|publisher=|accessdate=2011-05-10|df=}}

|align="center"|47

align="left"|U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/check-your-head-r27628/charts-awards/billboard-album|title=Check Your Head - Beastie Boys - Billboard Singles|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=2011-05-10}}

|align="center"|38

References

Category:1992 singles

Category:1992 songs

Category:Beastie Boys songs

Category:Capitol Records singles

Category:Songs written by Ad-Rock

Category:Songs written by Mike D

Category:Songs written by Adam Yauch

Category:Songs written by Mario Caldato Jr.

Category:Song recordings produced by Mario Caldato Jr.

Category:Music videos directed by Adam Yauch