The Beastie Boys Are Still My N*ggas!

Over the years, reporters have asked me what my biggest regret in music was and my stock answer has always been, "losing the Beastie Boys." Of course, now that time has passed, I realize that every mistake I have ever made has brought me to the place I am now, and I'm ok with that. I am proud to say that in spite of some rocky times with the Beasties they remain my niggas - which may not be the appropriate name to call them, but that's what I have always called them.

I have also read that Rick Rubin and myself "made" the Beastie Boys. Not true. While it can be said that Rick's collaboration with them was instrumental in producing their early mega hits and I gave them some good advice (like ditching their red Adidas sweatsuits for the clothes they originally wore when they were in punk rock bands), the Beastie Boys, with their unique talent and genuine love of rap, were destined for greatness. I am proud that I was able to ride that wave with them during one of the most exciting times of their career. Another notable contribution I will admit to, is during the ONE time I was in the studio with them I took their perfectly good version of ACDC's "Back In Black" and probably ruined it by putting silly drums on it.