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Mike D Releases “Switch Up” – First Solo Single Since 2011

5/9/2026

Summary

Mike D Releases

Michael Louis Diamond (Mike D) released “Switch Up” on May 8 2026 at Plaza Nightclub.
Carter Lang and Very Nice Person produced the track, which Derek “MixedByAli” Ali mixed and which blends hip-hop, funk, rock and U.K. jungle beats, the first Beastie Boys-member release since 2011.
The single was released through Universal Music Group (UMG) and will be promoted with shows at Sid the Cat Auditorium on May 10 2026 and Xanadu Roller Arts on May 22-23 2026.

Summary

Mike D Unveils

The new single was released after a series of quietly promoted, low-profile shows across California.
Mike D performed at The Plaza Nightclub & Dance Hall in Los Angeles as part of the pre-release shows.
Beastie Boys album anniversaries divisible by five are routinely celebrated with events and venue landmarks.
Despite the commemorations, new recordings from surviving members have received little attention until now.

Summary

Mike D Drops

Mike D released the single “Switch Up” via Capitol Records, streaming on platforms with a YouTube visualizer.
He launched the Mike5D website in March to preview work and said on Instagram the song seeks to spread happiness despite problems.
Mike D and Ad-Rock issued a vinyl and CD reissue of “To the 5 Boroughs” with eleven bonus tracks, co-produced with his sons Skyler and Davis Diamond of Very Nice Person.

History

Historical Context

When the Beastie Boys issued To the 5 Boroughs on June 14 2004, their first album since 1998, it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 360,000 first-week sales and addressed post-9/11 New York. That anniversary-driven comeback model underpins Mike D’s 2026 single “Switch Up,” released via Universal, showing how legacy acts reuse milestone releases to spark renewed fan interest.

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Mike D Releases

Michael Louis Diamond (Mike D) released “Switch Up” on May 8 2026 at Plaza Nightclub.
Carter Lang and Very Nice Person produced the track, which Derek “MixedByAli” Ali mixed and which blends hip-hop, funk, rock and U.K. jungle beats, the first Beastie Boys-member release since 2011.
The single was released through Universal Music Group (UMG) and will be promoted with shows at Sid the Cat Auditorium on May 10 2026 and Xanadu Roller Arts on May 22-23 2026.

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