A Pioneering DJ’s Former L.A. Home Lists for $2.5 Million
His name might not be familiar to folks outside of the hip hop circles, but if you happened to watch MTV in the late 1990s and early 2000s, you likely came across Michael Schwartz's handiwork as a DJ and turntablist for the Beastie Boys. Mix Master Mike, as he's known to his legions of fans, was a fixture on the station, performing a relentless, technical scratch routine in a basement for the Three MCs and One DJ video and using two turntables and a mixer to anchor the chaotic, futuristic sound of Intergalactic live at the Video Music Awards.
His time with the Beastie Boys ended after the death of founding member Adam (MCA) Yauch in 2012, the same year the Grammy-winning group effectively dissolved and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. However, the DJ, turntablist, and producer has continued to stay busy, releasing his own solo albums, including Magma Chamber and Conquest ; touring with Metallica and Cypress Hill; and performing at the Kennedy Center Honors 36th Gala honoring Herbie Hancock. He's also immersed himself in the world of virtual reality, creating a "perfect clone" of himself that can perform shows without him being physically present.
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A fireside living room rests beneath a soaring vaulted ceiling with exposed dark wood beams.
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On the real estate front, the influential artist—named "the world's greatest DJ" by USA Today early in his career—doled out $990,000 for a Los Angeles home in 2008. He resided at the charming farmhouse in the hills of Studio City until 2021, when he sold it to a couple who work in Hollywood for just over $1.7 million. They subsequently undertook a restoration and renovation in collaboration with Studio MacDonald Libit , and now the revamped spread has resurfaced on the market for a scratch under $2.5 million.
Completed around 1930, the traditional two-story residence sits behind gates on a street-to-street parcel spanning a quarter of an acre. It offers three bedrooms and a matching number of bathrooms in roughly 2,000 square feet, blending Old World character with modern updates. Interiors feature a mix of hardwood, stone, marble, and tile floors, wood beamed and paneled ceilings, arched doorways, casement windows, and vintage lighting.
The dining room has tropical-themed wallpaper between a green coffered ceiling and peach wainscoting.
Highlights include a step-down living room showcasing a soaring vaulted ceiling with exposed dark wood beams, a classic fireplace, and French doors spilling out to a patio, as well as a formal dining room sporting a black-and-white checkered floor and playful tropical-themed wallpaper between a green coffered ceiling and peach wainscoting. An updated kitchen has light gray shaker-style and glass-front cabinetry against glossy white and green tiled backsplashes, a high-end Thermador range, and a built-in breakfast banquette.
Elsewhere is a gym that opens out to a tree-shaded deck, a bright green speakeasy-style bar room, and an inviting primary bedroom that has an integrated window seat nestled amid floor-to-ceiling wardrobes. Outdoors, the park-like grounds have been reimagined with native California landscaping and are spotlighted by a new saltwater pool and raised spa, a cold plunge, and a sunken fire pit.
Amenities include a speakeasy-style bar for entertaining.
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Per the listing , held by Penelope Stipanovich of Compass, there's also a rebuilt two-car garage with an EV charger, plus a separate APN with its own entrance that's perfect for building an ADU that could be used as a guesthouse, a creative studio, or a rental.
Click here for more photos of the Studio City residence.
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