Mike D professed his love for the Prince film "Purple Rain," MCA talked about drinking with hip-hop impresario Russell Simmons and Ad Rock dished on his favorite books during a spirited hour-long discussion with fans yesterday (March 15) at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.

Little news came out of the Q&A session, with fans asking the trio to talk about their early inspirations or discuss their views on Three 6 Mafia winning an Oscar. "Nothing against them," Ad Rock said, "but we think Dolly Parton was robbed."

The Beastie Boys are in Austin to promote their film, "Awesome: I F*ckin' Shot That!," which was assembled from footage shot by fans during a 2004 concert at New York's Madison Square Garden. For the sequel, Mike D joked, the act will let its fans keep the cameras for a week.

Fans largely kept the questions light, and the Beastie Boys were more than happy to oblige. When one fan pressed MCA on his belief in Buddhism, the rapper opted not to reveal much to the crowd, which had earlier given the Beastie Boys a standing ovation. Yet the fan persisted, and asked if he was ashamed of the some of the lyrics in early Beastie Boys songs. "That stuff is a goof," MCA said. "I think most people know it's a goof."

On the subject of politically charged material, one fan asked the Beastie Boys if there was an issue about which the group would like to educate listeners. "I don't know if we were ever out trying to educate people," Ad Rock said. "If we say something in a song, it's because we're thinking about it."

Later on, Ad Rock recommended fans read "Fuzz One: A Bronx Childhood," an autobiography from graffiti artist Vincent Fedorchak. When the session turned toward the topic of Brooklyn, one fan asked if the trio was still in touch with the neighborhood, and if they believed they was still "keeping it real"

"They're not keeping it real in Brooklyn anymore," Ad Rock quipped. Added Mike D, "I know more about the playground than the underground right now."

For all the news and happenings at South by Southwest, visit the new Billboard.com blog at JadedInsider.com.