Beastie Boys were honored on Saturday, September 9 with the unveiling of Beastie Boy Square at the intersection of Ludlow and Rivington in New York City. The corner was famously featured on the band’s 1989 album Paul’s Boutique. 

Surviving members Mike Diamond (Mike-D) and Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) attended the ceremony. During his remarks, Ad-Rock said, “Thank you [to New York] for teaching us what to look at, what to listen to, what to wear, how to love, how to live. It makes me really happy to know that some kid on the way to school 50 years from now is gonna look up and say, ‘What the fuck is a Beastie Boy? Why do they get a square?'”

“We could not have become what we became without growing up in New York City,” added Mike D.

Following the death of Adam “MCA” Yauch in 2012, fans launched a campaign to name the intersection after the band. In July 2022, the New York City Council approved the initiative.