Root Down (EP)

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title: "Root Down (EP)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1995-eps", "beastie-boys-songs", "live-eps", "beastie-boys-eps", "hardcore-punk-eps", "capitol-records-eps"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_Down_(EP)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]

Field	Value
name	Root Down
type	EP
artist	Beastie Boys
cover	BeastieBoys-RootDown.jpg
released	May 23, 1995
recorded	1994–1995
genre	Alternative hip-hop, hardcore punk
length	28:56
label	Capitol
producer	Beastie Boys, Mario Caldato Jr.
chronology	Beastie Boys
prev_title	Ill Communication
prev_year	1994
next_title	Aglio e Olio
next_year	1995
::

| name = Root Down | type = EP | artist = Beastie Boys | cover = BeastieBoys-RootDown.jpg | alt = | released = May 23, 1995 | recorded = 1994–1995 | venue = | studio = | genre = Alternative hip-hop, hardcore punk | length = 28:56 | label = Capitol | producer = Beastie Boys, Mario Caldato Jr. | chronology = Beastie Boys | prev_title = Ill Communication | prev_year = 1994 | next_title = Aglio e Olio | next_year = 1995 |rev1 = AllMusic |rev1score =

Root Down is an EP by American hip-hop group Beastie Boys, released in 1995.

The first three tracks are variations of the track "Root Down", from the Beastie Boys' 1994 album Ill Communication. The remaining seven tracks were recorded "live in Europe, winter 1995". The hidden track heard in the end is a radio jingle in Hebrew made in Israel's military radio station Galey Tzahal. It promoted a Beastie Boys special aired prior to their only two concerts in the country, in March 1995. When Mike D and Ad-Rock were interviewed at the station they heard the recording and asked for it.

Track listing

| all_writing = Beastie Boys except where noted | title1 = Root Down | note1 = Free Zone Mix | length1 = 3:48 | title2 = Root Down | note2 = Ill Communication Mix | length2 = 3:31 | title3 = Root Down | note3 = PP Balloon Mix - produced by Prince Paul | length3 = 3:30 | title4 = Time to Get Ill | note4 = Horovitz, Yauch, Diamond, Rubin | length4 = 1:59 | title5 = Heart Attack Man | note5 = Beastie Boys, AWOL | length5 = 2:08 | title6 = The Maestro | length6 = 3:14 | title7 = Sabrosa | note7 = Beastie Boys, Bobo, Money Mark | length7 = 2:53 | title8 = Flute Loop | note8 = Beastie Boys, Caldato, Al Kooper | length8 = 1:39 | title9 = Time for Livin | note9 = Frontline | length9 = 1:58 | title10 = Something's Got to Give | note10 = Beastie Boys, Caldato, Money Mark) (Ends at 3:56. The hidden track can be heard at 4:28 | length10 = 4:57 | total_length = 28:56

Charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (1995) | Peak position | |---|---| | Australian Albums Chart | 43 | | Austrian Albums Chart | 38 | | Canadian Albums Chart | 48 | | Dutch Albums Chart | 78 | | German Albums Chart | 38 | | New Zealand Albums Chart | 10 | | UK Albums Chart | 23 | | US Billboard 200 | 50 | ::

Certifications

"Root Down"

| name = Root Down | cover = Root Down Beastie Boys single.jpg | type = promotional single | artist = Beastie Boys | album = Ill Communication | genre = *Hip-hop

• funk | released = 1995 | length = 3:31 | writer =
• Michael Diamond
• Adam Horovitz
• Adam Yauch | label = *Grand Royal
• Capitol | producer = *Beastie Boys
• Mario Caldato Jr. | prev_title = Sure Shot | prev_year = 1994 | next_title = Intergalactic | next_year = 1998

"Root Down" is a song by Beastie Boys from their fourth studio album Ill Communication. The original version of the track, as well as two remixes of the track, are featured on the Root Down EP. It was released as a promo single in promotion of the Root Down EP; it also served as the fourth single from Ill Communication.

A sample from jazz musician Jimmy Smith's "Root Down (And Get It)", from his seminal album Root Down, serves as the basis for "Root Down". A small vocal sample from "Root Down" was later sampled on The Prodigy's 1997 track "Funky Shit".

Track listing

Promo CD single

1. "Root Down" (LP, Clean) – 3:32
2. "Root Down" (Free Zone Mix, Clean) – 3:47
3. "Root Down" (PP Balloon Mix, Clean) – 3:30

7" single :A. "Root Down" (Clean version) – 3:43 :B. "Ricky's Theme" (Clean version) – 3:32

References

References

1. {{AllMusic. Stephen Thomas. Erlewine
2. (1995). "Root Down". [[Capitol Records]].
3. Pollicino, Raul. "Beastiemania.com - Interviews - Interview with Quami De La".
4. "Beastie Boys - Root Down". australian-charts.com.
5. "Beastie Boys - Root Down". austriancharts.at.
6. (17 July 1995). "RPM 100 Albums". archived at [[Library and Archives Canada]].
7. "Beastie Boys - Root Down". dutchcharts.nl.
8. "Chartverfolgung / Beastie Boys / Longplay". musicline.de.
9. "Discography Beastie Boys". charts.nz.
10. "Root Down EP". [[Official Charts Company]].
11. "Beastie Boys Album & Song Chart History". Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
12. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "''Ill Communication'' – Beastie Boys".

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