With Star Trek out on DVD today, we’re reminded of the awkward insertion of the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” into the 24th century. But was it as random as it seemed, or just returning an overdue rap favor?
Believe it or not, it makes sense that the Beastie Boys would appear in Star Trek, even if it is only a slightly unbelievable oldies station in a hijacked future car. After all, the Beasties haven’t been shy about mentioning Star Trek in their songs. To wit:
The Brouhaha:
Communicator check one two, one two
This is Bones McCoy on a line to Sulu
Set the bullshit to warp factor one
Check your tricorder, set your phasers on stun
Stop That Train:
French trenchcoat wing tip going to work
And you’ll be pulling a train like Captain Kirk
Intergalactic:
Your knees start shakin’ and your fingers pop
Like a pinch on the neck from Mr. Spock
But it’s not just the Beasties who like to namedrop the crew and missions of the Starship Enterprise; here’re some other Star Trek cameos in rap:
MC Lars – “Space Game”
‘Cause I get more play than Captain Kirk
He found out and went berserk like a jealous jerk
But no puny Vulcan death grip can paralyze me
I said beam me up Scotty and then I got free
DangerDoom – “Space Hoes”
When it come to wreck, cruisers like them dudes
Are red shirts off Star Trek, he Kirk, he Spock, he McCoy
Dilated Peoples – “Right On”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laCXc6tzRVA
Innovator of rhyme communication with data like Star Trek, The Next Generation
Public Enemy – “Don’t Believe the Hype”
They got to be beating that pipe you know what I’m sayin’
Yo the Megas got ’em goin’ up to see Captain Kirk
Redman – “Sooperman Luva II”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3aCbRKkK2k
I lived in the same building with Mr. Spock and Captain Kirk
Got R2D2 and Mork from Ork puttin in work
Xzibit – “Shroomz”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4mTkx5KzTI
Pull the phone out, acceleration and we bone out
In the zone out beyond Captain Kirk and Klingon
Master P – “Captain Kirk”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUclbHGhByk
Are you ready to boldly go,
where no family has gone before?
The Ghetto Enterprise has landed.
Captain Kirk has arrived, I repeat,
Captain Kirk, has arrived.
Women, if you’re lucky, Captain Kirk will save you,
and beam your loved ones to the fortune and fame you
are lookin’ for. I mean the next generation, ya’ heard me?
Are you ready? (Yes I Am!!!!)
Yes, Star Trek’s rap connections are so wide and deep that suddenly their usage in Star Trek suddenly seems a lot more… well, logical, if still entirely anarchronistic. There’s really nothing else to add, apart from…
Additional research and reporting from Sarah Williams.
