Mike D, photo by Jack Coleman

Mike D has shared his debut solo single, “Switch Up.” The Beastie Boy’s new independent offering is the first music from any member of the legendary trio since 2011’s Hot Sauce Committee Part Two.

Mike D’s long-awaited resurrection follows a viral surprise sit-in with his sons Skyler and Davis Diamond’s band Very Nice Person a few weeks ago, and the rapper premiered the track in the same company last night during an intimate, short-notice performance at Los Angeles’ Plaza Night Club & Dance Hall. The recorded version grew from experimentation in home studio sessions between the family members, and Very Nice Person are credited as producers, alongside Carter Lang. Clearly, he can still rock a block party till his hair turns grey. 

“Switch Up” hits like a distant echo of the fizzy, leftfield rock, rap and dance synthesis the Beastie Boys conducted on their final dispatch. Mike (stands for Money) D (stands for Diamonds) serves up more hypeman chanting than proper verses, bobbing and weaving while a krauty bassline sedates an insistent d&b breakbeat. Guitar lashings, thurmmy dub echo and industrial screeches push and pull the track to pieces through breakdowns and rage rap clutter apotheosis. It’s a singularly familiar and surprising reintroduction to an ever-forward-thinking artist. Be true to yourself and you will never fail.