New York legends Beastie Boys have announced they will release a memoir this year, set for a release on October 30th. Mike D teased the release of a memoir celebrating the career of the iconic hip hop group back in January, which is being described as a “panoramic experience” rather than a conventional memoir.

Fans will be treated to a collection of illustrations, photos, a cookbook by Roy Choi, mixtape playlists, and original essays and other material by Amy Poehler, Colson Whitehead, Spike Jonze, Wes Anderson and Luc Sante, as well as candid writing by Mike D and Ad-Rock themselves about their career. Pre-orders for the book, entitled Beastie Boys Book, are open now through its official website.

A description on the website describes the book as being “as unique as the band itself” and will feature a strong focus on their transition from teenage punks to rappers, early collaborations with Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin, and the unprecedented success of  Licensed to Ill. 

“It’ll also focus on the band’s later years and the unfortunate death of MCA in 2012.I’m not sure if you remember, but a while ago we said we were gonna write a book about our band. Well, it’s almost done and it’s coming out soon. This is what it’s gonna look like. Kinda nice, right?” said the band in a tweet announcing the book.

Mike D said in an interview earlier this year that having the Beastie Boys compared to 311 would be his greatest fear, saying, “not that it’s ever happened, but my fear would be that someone would be like, ‘311. You love those guys, right?’ I’m sure they’re nice people — [their music] isn’t my cup of tea.”

YouTube VideoPlay

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.
to Rolling Stone magazine
to Rolling Stone magazine