The Beastie Boys were an American hip hop and rap rock group formed in New York City in 1981. Originally a hardcore punk band, they transitioned to hip hop and became pioneers in blending genres. The trio consisted of Michael "Mike D" Diamond, Adam "MCA" Yauch, and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz. They achieved mainstream success with their debut album "Licensed to Ill" (1986) and continued innovating with albums like "Paul's Boutique." The group disbanded after Yauch's death in 2012.