Samples

• "Party Time" by Kurtis Blow from the album The Best Rapper on the Scene (1983)
• "Machine Gun" by the Commodores from the album Machine Gun (1974)
• "Shake Your Pants" by Cameo from the album Cameoisis (1980)
• "Holy Ghost" by the Bar-Kays from the album Money Talks (1978)
• "Jazzy Sensation" by Afrika Bambaataa and the Jazzy Five from the single ""Jazzy Sensation" (1981)
• "Hey DJ" by Malcolm McLaren and the World Famous Supreme Team
• "The Ballroom Blitz" by Sweet from the album Desolation Boulevard (1974)
• "War" by Edwin Starr from the "War" single (1970)
• "Funky President (People It's Bad)" by James Brown from the album Reality (1974)
• "Jungle Boogie" by Kool & the Gang from the album Wild and Peaceful (1973)
• "So Ruff, So Tuff" by Zapp & Roger from the album All the Greatest Hits by Zapp & Roger
• "Dance Floor" by Zapp from the album Zapp II (1990)
• "Come Let Me Love You" by Jeanette "Lady" Day from the single "Come Let Me Love You" (1981)
• "Change the Beat" by Fab 5 Freddy from the single "Change the Beat" (1982)
• "Pumpin' It Up" by P-Funk All Stars from the single "Pumpin' It Up/Pumpin' It Up (Special Club Mix)" (1983)
• "Shake Your Pants" by Cameo from the album Cameosis (1980)

References

• Sadaharu Oh (1940- ) - a Japanese baseball player
• Tom Thumb - PT Barnum's famous little person
• Tom Cushman - a friend of the Beastie Boys
• Tom Foolery - tomfoolery is a foolish action or statement
• Chuck Woolery (1941- ) - a host of TV's Love Connection
• Grand Canyon - a gorge of the Colorado River in Arizona, one of the natural wonders of the world
• Moccasins - skin shoe worn by indigenous people of North America
• The Kid - Adam Horovitz' nickname
• Welcome Back Kotter - an American television show (1975-1979), starring Gabe Kaplan and John Travolta
• James at 15 - an American television show (1978-1979), starring Lance Kerwin
• Chachi in Charge - a cross between Scott Baio's television show Charles in Charge and his character's name of Chachi on the television show Happy Days
• Sassoon - brand of designer clothing
• Coup de Ville - Cadillac Coup de Ville automobile
• Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) - a Dutch painter
• Beatnik - a member of the Beat Generation who rejects or avoids conventional dress, behavior, etc.

Sample & Reference Breakdown

• "Hey ladies!" - a sample from "Party Time" by Kurtis Blow
• Main musical sample is from "Machine Gun" by the Commodores
• "Date women on TV with the help of Chuck Woolery" - refers to the game show "Love Connection," in which the contestant chooses a date partner after asking them several questions; the show was hosted by Chuck Woolery
• "Get funky" - a sample from "Hey DJ" by Malcolm McLaren and the World Famous Supreme Team
• "All the ladies in the house...the ladies, the ladies" - a sample from "Jazzy Sensation" by Afrika Bambaataa and the Jazzy Five
• Guitar and synthesizer under "All the ladies in the house...the ladies, the ladies" - a sample from "Shake Your Pants" by Cameo
• Sample after the first chorus is from "Holy Ghost" by the Bar-Kays
• "Tune in, turn on to a tune that's live" - refers to psychedelia guru Dr. Timothy Leary's coined phrase of "Tune in, turn on, drop out"
• "Ain't it funky, brother" - a sample from "Funky President" by James Brown
• "Well, take my advice at any price, a gorilla like your mother is mighty weak, man" - refers to lyrics in the Magilla Gorilla theme song ("Take our advice at any price, a gorilla like Magilla is mighty nice")
• "She thinks she's the passionate one" - a sample from "The Ballroom Blitz" by Sweet
• "Good God!" - a sample from "War" by Edwin Starr
• "Baby, baby, baby" - a sample from So Ruff, So Tuff" by Zapp & Roger

Beastie Boys

"As to why this became the first single or where 'Vincent Van Gogh go and mail that ear' came from, your guess is as good as mine." - Michael Diamond, 1999

Press

"...clever and hilarious bullshit: Who can be put off by claims like 'I got more hits than Sadaharu Oh'?" - Rolling Stone, 1989

"Where else [but a Beastie Boys record] will you hear Japanese baseball superstar Sadaharu Oh and dismal TV game-show host Chuck Woolery linked in the same breath?" - People, 1989

"...hyperventilated funk" - Melody Maker, August 1989

"The Beasties have never sounded as slick, sexy and dynamic as on the cowbell-chiming strut 'Hey Ladies'" - New Musical Express, 1999