Michael Diamond

Michael Diamond (born November 20, 1965), better known as Mike D, is an American rapper, songwriter, producer, and cultural figure best known as a founding member of the influential hip-hop group Beastie Boys.

Diamond grew up in New York City and helped form the Beastie Boys in the early 1980s alongside Adam Horovitz and Adam Yauch. The group quickly became one of the most important acts in hip-hop history, known for their genre-blending style, playful lyrics, and innovative sampling. Their 1986 debut album Licensed to Ill became the first rap album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and included hits such as Fight for Your Right and No Sleep till Brooklyn.

Over the following decades, the Beastie Boys released a string of acclaimed albums including Paul's Boutique, Check Your Head, Ill Communication, and Hello Nasty. Songs such as Sabotage and Intergalactic became defining tracks of alternative hip-hop and helped the group sell more than 40 million records worldwide. In 2012, the Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Following the death of Adam Yauch in 2012, Diamond and Horovitz confirmed that the Beastie Boys would not continue recording as a group. In later years, Diamond has remained active through DJ performances, music production, and creative collaborations with artists including Björk and Moby.

Diamond also helped document the band’s legacy through the memoir "Beastie Boys Book" and the documentary Beastie Boys Story, directed by Spike Jonze. Beyond music, he has been involved in art, design, and food culture, and has continued to oversee and protect the Beastie Boys’ catalog, including maintaining the group’s stance against the use of their music in advertising.

As of the mid-2020s, Mike D remains an influential figure in hip-hop and popular culture, widely recognized for helping bring rap music into the mainstream while maintaining the creative independence and irreverent spirit that defined the Beastie Boys.