We learn in Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Beyond (2016) that James T. Kirk is a fan of Beastie Boys, the American hip hop band formed in 1981. In 1998, the Beastie Boys released "Intergalactic," which included the phrase "like a pinch on the neck of Mr. Spock."
This presents a continuity conundrum. How could the band have known about Mr. Spock, much less his famous nerve pinch, hundreds of years before Spock was born?
Well, in the summer of 1986, the Beastie Boys were in Oakland, California, in support of their album Licensed to Ill. Right around that same time, the senior staff of the USS Enterprise were in nearby San Francisco, having travelled back in time to bring a pair of humpback whales to the future. During their visit to the past, Kirk and Spock board a city bus and gain some notoriety when Spock silences a rude punk rocker with a nerve pinch. The other passengers clap, and shortly after, Spock says, "Admiral, may I ask you a question?"
Kirk responds, "Spock, don't call me admiral." They then proceed to have a short conversation about colourful metaphors--double dumb ass on you, and so forth.
I propose that one or more members of the Beastie Boys were on that bus and witnessed the incident, taking note of the strange attire of the one they heard called "Spock" and his friend the admiral. The amusing memory stuck with them, and they reference the event in "Intergalactic."
Young Kirk, when he first heard "Intergalactic" hundreds of years later, wouldn't have taken note of the "Spock" lyric. But when he met Spock at Starfleet Academy, I wonder if was taken aback for a moment. Probably not; after all, there were Spocks on Earth, such as Dr. Benjamin Spock. The first time Kirk saw Spock use a nerve pinch, though, must have made him wonder . . .
A predestination paradox!
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