G-Son was established in a ballroom on the site of the former Atwater Community Center, on the corner of
Glendale Boulevard and Larga Avenue in
Atwater Village, LA. The Beastie Boys established the studios as a way of saving money as the cost of renting studio space whilst making the commercially-unsuccessful album ''
Paul's Boutique'' had been prohibitive. The studios were named after a neighboring plumber's shop named Gilson, which had an "i" and "l" missing from its sign. Interior remodelling of the site was largely done by
Mark "Money Mark" Nishita, who was then working as a carpenter.
Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz said of G-Son that “We had time and space to get serious – that clubhouse turned us into musicians”. Albums recorded at the site include
Ill Communication and
Check Your Head. Videos shot at the location include the one that accompanied the Beastie's 1992 single
Pass the Mic. The location also served as the HQ for the Beastie's recording label,
Grand Royal, as well as that of
Mike "Mike D" Diamond's clothing range,
X-Large. By 2004 the site was no longer in regular use by the Beasties, who had returned to New York. ==Post-Beastie Boys==