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For Mike D, Making New Solo Music Was Never a ‘Race to the Finish Line’ With His Fellow Remaining Beastie Boy

Mike D revealed he has a new album on the way while discussing his journey back to making music.

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With brand new tracks from Mike D, a run of small-venue shows, and the exciting news of an upcoming album, a lot of attention has been put on the fact that he’s the first Beastie Boy to go solo after the 2012 death of Adam “MCA” Yauch. But, as he admitted in a June 2026 interview with NME, that wasn’t even a milestone he was aware of.

“To be honest, there was no race to the finish line on that one!” he said when asked if he felt any pressure. “I’m still thankfully good friends with Ad-Rock and he’s not racing me on this one. It wasn’t until I had to sit down and do the first interview that I realized that was a thing.”

Mike D publicly revealed his solo endeavor around May, after making a surprise appearance on stage with his two sons. Davis and Skyler Diamond make up the lo-fi/indie/hip-hop duo Very Nice Person, and their father often collaborates. But there........

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