The Beastie Boys already mastered the game of “how many stars can you pack into five minutes” with their “Fight For The Right (Revisited)” video…so what do Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock,  do next? Get Spike Jonze to re-imagine the trio as jumpsuit-wearing Ken Barbie, and Santigold as a hipster Black Barbie…and then place them in an action plot that plays out like Robot Chicken meets xXx: State of the Union. LOL.
I love kooky s–t like this. (spotted on FreshnessMag)

Obviously, this is not the first time the Beasties have been dolled up ; ) The BAPE versions were classic! I love the short interview that Nigo/BAPE did with the now-defunct Grand Royale Magazine about the figurines when they came out in the late 90′s….
Interview and photos after the jump


How awesome are these! This set is actually on sale via Ebay for around $850 right now.

Nigo discusses the Beastie Boys BAPE dolls with Grand Royale Magazine (circa 1998?)

Interviewer: What’s your deal?
NIGO: My name is NIGO, I’m 30 years old, from Tokyo. I started my clothing line named A Bathing Ape in 1993 with my friend SKATE THING. And we started our toys section, Ape Play, and music label Ape Sounds in 1999. I released my own album, Ape Sounds,in 1999 which featured Ben Lee, Money Mark, Cornelius, U.N.K.L.E. and more. I will release a hip hop album featuring Biz Markie, Rakim, Beatnuts, GZA, and Flava Flav.And oh yes, Mario C remixed the tracks for the Ape Sounds remix album.
Interviewer: What other figures have you made?
NIGO: Futura 2000, U.N.K.L.E., SDP (A Japanese rap group) and Planet of the Apes figures, and myself.
Interviewer: How long does it take to make one set?
NIGO: Usually it takes 6 months or a year. But it took 2 years to make Beastie Boys action figures.
Interviewer: How many sets of the Beasties figures were made?
NIGO: 1,000 sets.
Interviewer: How are the heads made, especially the incredibly accurate faces?
NIGO: I asked Hama Hayao who is famous molding artist to make the face. He is so great.We took pictures of the Beastie Boys’ heads from every side, 360 degrees, as the data for the dolls. I lost the pictures though.
Interviewer: Do you make the clothes or does someone else?
NIGO: Yes. All clothing was made by A Bathing Ape. I made whole thing except face and body.
Interviewer: How did you decide on the outfits that they would come with?
NIGO: I tried to reproduce Hello Nasty album jacket for the action figures. And about the extra Quasar outfit, I and my friend Matt Takei had helped to find their uniforms in Tokyo when they had come to Tokyo for the Quasar tour. And I also helped to make their stickers to arrange the outfit with Beastie Boys’ direction. And Beastie Boys gave us their guitars as [a token of] our friendship.
Interviewer: Is it safe to take them into the bathtub?
NIGO: NO WATER!!!

Related:
The Beastie Boys’ “Make Some Noise”: The Most Celeb-Packed Rap Video Ever?
Hilarious! Will Ferrell, Seth Rogan, Danny McBride star in Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right Revisited” film
We Were Once a Fairy Tale featuring Kanye West (directed by Spike Jonze)
Things I Like: Santigold feat. Karen O “Go”