MIKE D - BEASTIE BOY MIKE D: NEW ALBUM AFFECTED BY 9/11

New York rapper MIKE D has defended the BEASTIE BOYS' decision to comment on the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on their new album - saying it would be impossible not to.

The INTERGALACTIC band are releasing TO THE 5 BOROUGHS next month (JUN04), and Mike D - real name MIKE DIAMOND - admits it's an unavoidable subject.

He explains, "Of course the music is going to be affected in some way by what has happened.

"Is it possible to have a dialogue about New York that isn't in some way influenced by what happened on September 11? It might be.

"But I still think that event is in the consciousness somewhere, even if you're talking about the most mundane of things."