Michael L. Diamond, also known as Mike D (born November 201965), is a founding member of New York hip hop trio the Beastie Boys. Mike D raps, sings, and plays drums alongside fellow members Adrock, MCA, Money Mark and Mix Master Mike.

Biography

Mike D was born in the New York City borough of Manhattan. He is Jewish. He attended Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York for six months. It is rumored that he was expelled after throwing a beer keg from the ninth floor of a residence hall. In 1979, he co-founded the band The Young Aborigines. In 1981, Adam Yauch, aka MCA, a friend and follower of the band became their bass player, and from the suggestion of their then-guitar player, John Berry, the band changed their name to the Beastie Boys. By 1983, Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) joined to form the lasting Beastie Boys trio, and their sound began to shift away from punk to hip-hop. In 1992, Mike D founded the Beastie Boys now-defunct record label Grand Royal Records. Mike D is married to Director Tamra Davis. They have two sons, Davis and Skylar.

Quotes

• Regarding the cost to sample Bob Dylan's Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues for the Beastie Boys song Finger Lickin' Good:

"Seven hundred bucks, but he asked for two thousand dollars. I thought it was kind of fly that he asked for $2000.00, and I bartered Bob Dylan down. That's my proudest sampling deal.

• Regarding his failed attempt to get clearance from AC/DC member Malcolm Young to sample Back in Black on the Beastie Boys song Rock Hard:

"He goes, 'I'd love to do it for you guys, but it's 'Back In Black' - one of the top three songs we've ever written!' Whatever. AC/DC could not get with the sample concept. They were just like, 'Nothing against you guys, but we just don't endorse sampling.'

References