Mike D

Mike D
Mike D
	Diamond performing in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Michael Louis Diamond
Also known as	Mike Diamond; Country Mike; The King of Lunch; Meshach; Sweet Lou; Malibu Mike;
Born	November 20, 1965 (age 59); New York City, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop; rap rock; hardcore punk; alternative hip hop;
Occupations	Rapper; musician; songwriter;
Instruments	Vocals; drums; percussion; keyboards;
Years active	1979–present
Website	beastieboys.com

Michael Louis Diamond (born November 20, 1965),^[1] better known as Mike D, is an American rapper, musician, and music producer. He is a founding member of the hip hop group Beastie Boys.^[2]

Early life

Diamond was born in New York City^[3] to Harold Diamond, an art dealer, and Hester (née Klein) Diamond, an interior designer and art collector. He grew up on the Upper West Side surrounded by artwork, including pieces by Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, and Barnett Newman.^[4]^[5]^[6] He attended the arts-oriented Saint Ann's School and Walden School.^[5]

Career

In 1979, Diamond co-founded the band The Young Aborigines. In 1981, Adam Yauch, (known professionally as MCA), a friend and follower of the band, became their bass player, and on the suggestion of their then-guitar player, John Berry, the band changed their name to the Beastie Boys.^[7] By 1983, Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) joined, and their sound began to shift away from punk to hip hop.^[8]

In 1986, the group's debut album Licensed to Ill was released on Def Jam Records and became a huge success. Though it spawned several singles, only one would reach the top twenty of the US Hot 100, the number 7 "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)". Sales of Licensed to Ill were extremely strong, going multi-platinum during the time of its run. Several years later, it would be certified diamond status. The group would release several albums, some attaining platinum or multi-platinum status.

In 1992, Diamond had founded the Beastie Boys' now-defunct record label Grand Royal Records. He is also interested in interior design, and designed Brooklyn-themed toile wallpaper; it was used in the renovation of the Marquee nightclub in the Chelsea neighborhood in New York City, which reopened in January 2013.^[9]^[10]

A year after the death of Yauch in 2012, Diamond told Rolling Stone he was "excited about making new stuff again" and released "Humberto Vs the New Reactionaries (Christine and the Queens Remix)" in July 2013.^[11] A remix of Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band's "Bad Dancer" by Diamond and Adam Horovitz was streamed online in August 2013. The pair is credited with "additional beats, programming and other curve balls".^[12] In October 2014, Diamond stated that he had been working in the studio with American rock band Portugal. The Man as a producer.^[13] He has also produced English punk duo Soft Play's (formerly Slaves) second studio album, Take Control, which was released on September 30, 2016.^[14]

He hosts the Apple Music podcast The Echo Chamber.^[15]

Personal life

In 1993, Diamond married film, television and music video director Tamra Davis; they have since legally separated.^[16] They have two children, Davis Diamond and Skyler Diamond who formed the group Very Nice Person.^[17] They lived in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.^[18]

He grew up on Central Park West.^[4] He later lived in Brooklyn and Tribeca,^[18] and as of 2016 was living in Malibu, California.^[19]