Mike D Compares Telling Beastie Boys Bandmate Ad-Rock About His Solo Album to a Relationship Talk

Stepping into the recording booth without your lifelong creative partners after several decades in the business is a massive milestone, and Mike D is being totally open about how awkward that shift felt. The Beastie Boys pioneer recently reflected on the emotionally charged conversation he had to navigate with his longtime group member Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz before launching his very first individual musical chapter. The hip-hop and punk veteran recently put out his debut solo album, titled *Thank You*. Having spent the vast majority of his storied career creating tracks side-by-side with Horovitz and the late Adam "MCA" Yauch, making music completely on his own represented a dramatic departure from his traditional group routine.

The world-renowned New York hip-hop outfit largely paused their collective musical output following the tragic death of founding member Yauch back in 2012. Even though Mike D and Ad-Rock have remained close friends in the years since, carving out room for individual solo artistic projects still involved treading into sensitive emotional territory for the duo. Despite the initial awkwardness of breaking the news, the milestone chat allowed Mike D to move forward and share *Thank You* with listeners worldwide. Fans of the legendary group can now check out the new release to experience how the pioneer crafts a distinct musical identity entirely on his own terms.