Beastie Boys DJ's
Author: Jim Gaunt

Ever wondered who DJ Double R is or why people think Dr Dre had involvement with the Beastie Boys, or who that Hurricane guy was? Well here's your short guide:

Rick Rubin (DJ Double R)

The Beastie Boys first DJ, Rick was with the band when Kate was still a member right after Cookie Puss was released. They met Rick after a DJ said they should meet with him.

" It was Christmas , and we wanted to have a bubble machine and a smoke machine - Rick had both.
So there was this part of our show when Mike was playng the drums and Kate, who was our drummer, played the bass and Rick (DJ Double R) was scratching and me and Adam were trying to rap."

Rick managed to pursuade the Beastie Boys to focus on rap and later brought them to Def Jam. At this point Kate had left the band, supposedly because of Rick who was takeing control. Rick performed with the Beastie's as DJ when they were on Madonna's 'Like A Virgin' tour and produced and co-wrote many songs on Licensed To Ill.

You can hear the Beastie's calling "DJ Double R" on Beastie Groove from the Rock Hard 12". Rick also appears with the Beastie Boys in the She's On It Video chaseing women.

Rick Rubin departed Def Jam soon after the Beastie Boys and went on to build American Records which released Milk's Never Dated which featured Adrock. To this day he remains one of the best producers of his time and recently produced a track on Jay-Z'z The Black Album.

First off I should mention that this is not the same Dr. Dre that released The Chronic and guided Eminem. This Dré is best known for his work on MTV's Yo! MTV Raps before it's cancelation.
Unfortunately not to much is known about Dré and his involvment with the Beastie Boys or exactly when he became DJ or when he left. All I know is that he toured as DJ for the Beastie Boys and then one day disappeared. He later reapeared on MTV with Ed Lover as hosts of the weekday edition.

Dré and Ed have appeared in a few more movies together such as The Hustle (2003). Dré also appeared in episodes on Fresh Prince and Moesha as well as becomeing a radio DJ.

In 1986 when the Beastie Boys and Run DMC were on their Rasing Hell tour, the Beastie Boys DJ Dr Dré went missing. Hurriane, who was part of Run DMC's entourage, was the only person who was able to DJ so he stepped up to the turntables and stayed with the Beastie Boys as DJ until 1997 at the second Tibetan Freedom Concert were Hurricane played his last show with the Beastie Boys.

Hurricane left his position to pursue his solo career and is cuurently working on his 4th album. He has made a name of himself as a great DJ and tours regularly. Hurricane also performed with the Beastie Boys at the Jam Master Jay concert in 2003.

Sam Sever

Although technically he never DJed with the Beastie Boys on any of their releases, Sam Sever did apear as the Beastie Boys DJ in Def Jam's film Tougher Than Leather while the Beastie Boys play the unreleased song Desperado. The reason beeing that Hurricane played a different character.

Sam went on to produce 3^rd Bass's Derelicts of Dialect and later produced the "Sever & Hoffman Intergalactic Remix" which apears on the Anthology DVD.

Michael Schwartz (Mix Master Mike)

Mix Master Mike became the Beastie Boys DJ after Hurricane had left. He would leave messages on their phones of him scratching and such which obviously impressed them because he was asked to come on as DJ. He then worked with them on Country Mike's Greatest Hits and Hello Nasty which features one of his phone messages before 3 MCs and One DJ.

Mike was previously part of the now defunct Invisibl Skratch Piklz and has released many turntablist albums. He remixed Alive and is currently working with the Beastie Boys on their next album.

Sources:
Beastiemania's Who's Who
Internet Movie Database