'We Weren't Afraid To Try S**t': Mike D Speaks On Beastie Boys' Legacy, Adam Yauch's Death 

Michael "Mike D" Diamond recently spoke with Vulture about a number of topics including the Beastie Boys' storied career, Adam "MCA" Yauch's passing, hip-hop becoming mainstream, and more.

READ: Mike D Reveals Beastie Boys Memoir Will Be Out This Year

"It's interesting, because there are so many things that I appreciate musically, but I don't ever think of them as Oh wow, that’s like what we did. I just don't see things through that lens," Mike D said in regards to Beastie Boys' influence. "...I'm interested in trying to do things that I feel like I have no business doing. Because that was part of what we did as a band. We weren't afraid to try s**t."

The Beats 1 radio show host also discussed MCA's passing, and how that affected him, particularly as a parent.

"After what happened with Adam [Yauch], I realized that life can be short. Especially being a parent, the moments I appreciate most are when I'm with my kids and we're all experiencing something together," Mike D said. "...Yauch dying was so tragic, on so many levels, that it took a profound period of grieving to then be able to start figuring out what I wanted to do."

The artist also speaks on hip-hop becoming mainstream, saying that he "didn't foresee it becoming as mainstream as it is."

"With current rap, there's nothing that makes it not pop," he said. "Obviously certain rappers are going to make poppier records and certain rappers are going to be more esoteric, but I never would’ve thought that rappers could be the Lionel Richies of their day."

Read the interview in its entirety here.