Mike D has released “Switch Up,” his debut solo single. The release marks the first new music from any member of Beastie Boys since the group’s 2011 album, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two.
First premiered on Thursday night during a sold-out performance at Los Angeles’ Plaza Nightclub & Dance Hall, “Switch Up” arrives as a free-flowing, genre-blurring collaboration born out of sessions at Mike D’s home studio with his sons Skyler and Davis Diamond and their band Very Nice Person. What began as experimentation naturally expanded into a broader communal effort involving additional collaborators and recording locations.
Produced by Carter Lang and Very Nice Person, the single leans into a fluid mix of hip-hop, funk, dance, and rock textures, driven by an infectious refrain, “Switch up connection/ Switch up direction/ Switch up connection,” and an improvisational energy reflective of the organic sessions that shaped it. “Switch Up” was mixed by Derek “MixedByAli” Ali – known for his work with Kendrick Lamar, Nipsey Hussle, Childish Gambino, and more – at No Name Studios.
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The release also coincides with a run of intimate pop-up performances from Mike D in unassuming venues. In recent weeks, the rap pioneer appeared at spaces including Malibu’s Brothers Marshall Surf Shop and The Ojai Valley Women’s Club. Additional dates are scheduled for May 10th at Sid the Cat Auditorium in South Pasadena, California, and for May 22nd and 23rd at Xanadu Roller Arts in Brooklyn, New York.
Mike D 2026 Tour Dates:
05/10 – South Pasadena, CA @ Sid the Cat Auditorium
05/22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Xanadu Roller Arts
05/23 – Brooklyn, NY @ Xanadu Roller Arts