Today, the building still stands at the corner of Glendale Boulevard and Larga Avenue. A mural honoring Adam “MCA” Yauch marks the exterior — a tribute to the artist and activist who helped shape its story. But G-Son is not frozen in time. The 1,600+ square foot space has been reimagined as an intimate event venue and creative hub. Concerts, listening sessions, art exhibitions, dance classes, and community gatherings now fill the room where landmark albums were once recorded.

G-Son Studios was never just a recording space. It served as headquarters for Grand Royal Records — the Beastie Boys’ label that pushed boundaries in music publishing. It was also home to Grand Royal Magazine and Mike D’s X-Large clothing brand. Artists didn’t just record there. They rehearsed, brainstormed, experimented, and collaborated. The studio blurred lines between music, fashion, publishing, and community. It embodied independence at a time when the industry was shift

Within the walls of G-Son Studios, two albums reshaped hip hop and alternative music forever. In 1992, Check Your Head marked a turning point. The Beastie Boys returned to playing their own instruments, blending punk, funk, jazz, and rap in a way few artists had done before. G-Son gave them something priceless: time and space. Two years later came Ill Communication — an album that expanded their sound even further. Tracks like “Sabotage” and “Sure Shot” became defining record

Before it became a cornerstone of hip hop history, the building at 3218–3222 Glendale Boulevard was something much quieter — the Atwater Community Center. Long before platinum records and iconic album sessions, it was a second-floor ballroom where neighbors gathered for dances, meetings, and celebrations. In the early 1990s, that ballroom found new life. Recording engineer Mario Caldato Jr. suggested that the Beastie Boys stop renting studio time and build their own creative