Mike D in the LTI age

[AtoD]

I read Skills to Pay the Bills a few months back and it was talking about how in the mid 80s they were talking about kicking Mike D out of the group because he wasn't "Beastie Down" or something. I was surprised when I read it and considering he is my favourite, quite glad they made the right decision. Does anyone know more on this or if the Adams were that adament on it? You think that would linger over Mike all these years.

[KENNY GUIDO]

I cant remember this much but I think Rick Rubin wanted him out.

[AtoD]

That is what I figured too. RR LOVED Horovitz and Yauch was seen as "hard".

[AtoD]

Double R's roommate Adam Dubin: "Just before the album came out, they were having conversations about whether or not to kick Mike D out, whether he was cool enough. They were asking different people whether he was 'Beastie Down,' as they would describe it. It was only by a pretty slim thing that they kept him in."

Russell Simmons: "I was shocked that there was a discussion about that. He was the only original member, right? They wanted to put him out. That's fucked up."

Bill Stephney, former Def Jam GM: "The thing is, if you had Ad-Rock and Yauch as they were back then, they could have crossed the line a lot of white rappers unfortunately cross, which is trying to sound black. Mike D was, out of the three of them, the one who sounds-I don't want to say whitest, but most conversational; he was trying the least to sound like the black rappers. Not that Yauch and Ad-Rock were trying to sound like something that was insincere. But that's always been a thing about white rappers-unless they're just screaming like Run, white rappers do this Jim Nabors thing where they're speaking one way and then all of a sudden, whoa! So Mike provided a necessary balance and sort of brought it downtown again.

Tom Cushman: "The reason they mention Mike's name so much on Licensed to Ill-they keep saying 'My man, Mike D'-is because he's not fucking doing anything. It's like he's barely there."

The Captain, former Beastie Boys road manager: "In the early days, it was always Adam and Adam against Mike. Adam and Adam used to room together, and me and Mike used to room together. I woke up one morning and there was a pile of dirt on Mike's bed. They'd broken into the hotel room in the middle of the night and dumped a potted plant on his bed. They definately would pick on him."



That's a lot of typing.

[splatter-house]

Yeah, he's noticeably absent on LTI, and even PB to a lesser extent. I'd definitely say he was the weakest of the three in terms of MCing from Rock Hard through to Paul's Boutique, but he came into his own on CYH, and he was killing it on IC.

Don't forget, Rick Rubin kicked Kate Schellenbach out of the band in '84. From what i've read though, she was real nice on the mic back in the day.

[kate-gun]

Originally Posted by AtoD

"In the early days, it was always Adam and Adam against Mike. Adam and Adam used to room together, and me and Mike used to room together. I woke up one morning and there was a pile of dirt on Mike's bed. They'd broken into the hotel room in the middle of the night and dumped a potted plant on his bed. They definately would pick on him."

can't believe that

[kate-gun]

Originally Posted by splatter-house

Yeah, he's noticably absent on LTI, and even PB to a lesser extent.

so that's why he sings "Well I'm Mike D and I'm back from the dead"...?
or am i mistaken?

[kleptomaniac]

Originally Posted by kate-gun

so that's why he sings "Well I'm Mike D and I'm back from the dead"...?
or am i mistaken?

i think there were rumors flyin' around that he died...so he just wanted to clarify he was very much alive.

Originally Posted by beastiemania.com

"Well I'm Mike D and I'm back from the dead" references a rumor started in late '87 that Mike D had died from a drug overdose, a brain tumor, he was murdered, etc...

[kate-gun]

thanks, klepto

[ggirlballa]

when i read that a few months ago i was shocked

i can't imagine the b-boys without all 3 of them

[korn_phr33k]

i never knew about ANY of this, itis kinda weird to think of the beasties without him, or anyone for that matter.

[AtoD]

Mike D is absent from LTI but I disagree about him being absent from PB! He was all over that shit. Def Jam obviously was the one who limited him because he was more prominent than Yauch on Paul's.

[Justin]

I disagree with all of you....mike d has some great lines on lti....especially on paul revere....(the crowd says this rhyme with him at every concert!)

Get ready cause this ain't funny
My name's Mike D. and I'm about to get money


also..

slow and low... " i wanna hear i do's and no i can't"

those are only two of the MANY examples on lti. Dont listen to what you read!

Adrock says "adrock" in alot of his lyrics but he's not lacking at all!

[Knuckles]

If I met Mike I'd probably give him a wedgie.

[KENNY GUIDO]

Originally Posted by splatter-house

Yeah, he's noticeably absent on LTI, and even PB to a lesser extent. I'd definitely say he was the weakest of the three in terms of MCing from Rock Hard through to Paul's Boutique, but he came into his own on CYH, and he was killing it on IC.

Don't forget, Rick Rubin kicked Kate Schellenbach out of the band in '84. From what i've read though, she was real nice on the mic back in the day.

yea, but ya couldnt call the group "the beastie boys" if Kate was in it, eh?

[yooooo]

as far as i know they were "The Beastie Boys" before kate was kicked out, or am i mistaken?

[canucklehead200]

Originally Posted by Justin

I disagree with all of you....mike d has some great lines on lti....especially on paul revere....(the crowd says this rhyme with him at every concert!)

Get ready cause this ain't funny
My name's Mike D. and I'm about to get money


also..

slow and low... " i wanna hear i do's and no i can't"

those are only two of the MANY examples on lti. Dont listen to what you read!

Adrock says "adrock" in alot of his lyrics but he's not lacking at all!

agreed, i think he has the most noticeable rhymes on that album, including the above + "strong as an ox, fresh out the box, the crowd's so live, they comin in flocks" which may be their most powerpacked line

[timmie]

interesting read!!.....however, the kid ad was introduced to the rest of the band a couple of years before kate left!!! hence why kate was kicked out! then LTI was born!

[splatter-house]

.

[discopants]

Perhaps this explains Mike's Russell hating. Sorta.

The rumour was that Run DMC shot him, which sounds like something from a sitcom.

Do you guys think they still would have rocked with Schellenbach? They shoulda bought her back for PB. I'm starting the Schellenbach was Shat on League (SSL).

[KENNY GUIDO]

Originally Posted by discopants

Perhaps this explains Mike's Russell hating. Sorta.

The rumour was that Run DMC shot him, which sounds like something from a sitcom.

Do you guys think they still would have rocked with Schellenbach? They shoulda bought her back for PB. I'm starting the Schellenbach was Shat on League (SSL).

the reason why Mike and the other hated Russ was obvious: he stole the beasties money!

[KENNY GUIDO]

Originally Posted by yooooo

as far as i know they were "The Beastie Boys" before kate was kicked out, or am i mistaken?

yea....i know. but lets think about it.....THE BEASTIE BOYS.....with Kate!

[yooooo]

the beastie womoys!

[AtoD]

Kate was treated unfairly and was hurt by the treatment she got from her "friends". I don't think Russell Simmons had a problem with Mike at all. Rubin did. Rubin LOVED Adrock and favoured him over any Beastie.

[camo]

Originally Posted by ggirlballa

when i read that a few months ago i was shocked

i can't imagine the b-boys without all 3 of them

2 mc's and 1 dj, we be gettin' down with no delay.....


doesn't sound right does it?

[AdRockGRL]

damn...No MikeD....no Party!
How could it be....!?

[chrisd]

Mike D rocks. I've always seen him as kinda the business man of the boys. Plus he's got a residence in LAmerica. And like many have noted; he's on the fashion tip. I also like his paranoia line in TT5B. I think its cool when stars allude however faintly to neuroses. Especially the beasties even though they do always take the open shot:-) Mike D is also a great MC. I'm super glad they kept him, it's perfect for the trimmetry. Plus i stole my hip hop alias from him. MIKE D, YOU'S THE MAN! The whole story shows that shit can go down behind the scenes, but I guess that happens with even the best mates. I know ot does in my crew; 09 Z-City b!

[Jmoney77]

I cant imagine the beastie boys without either of them, im glad they made the right decision.

[kate-gun]

You know what? Today I was seriously thinkin about it. And I realised, while listening Intergalactic, that at first I identified Beastie only with Mike and his sharp voice. Beastie = Mike D. I love and respect two other Beasties, but Mike was the first, whom I recognized.

We love you Mike!!




ps: I had no idea, that there was such a serious split. Damn it, now my whole Beastie view collapsed.

[AtoD]

Originally Posted by kate-gun

You know what? Today I was seriously thinkin about it. And I realised, while listening Intergalactic, that at first I identified Beastie only with Mike and his sharp voice. Beastie = Mike D. I love and respect two other Beasties, but Mike was the first, whom I recognized.

We love you Mike!!




ps: I had no idea, that there was such a serious split. Damn it, now my whole Beastie view collapsed.

In the book they talk about how close the Beasties have always been. Mike D could have been like the younger brother type kid originally because he was very submissive. It doesn't mean they hate him, just teasing him. It never clarifies if Ad-Rock or MCA ever wanted him out. I'm guessing it was Rubin and/or Simmons. You also have to remember that RR had a huge influence on Ad-Rock and likely MCA as well, so they would only consider shit that he had brainwashed into them. The only time the Beasties became assholes was 85 - 88 when they were with Def Jam.