According to Rolling Stone, one-third of the legendary hip-hop group the Beastie Boys, Adam Yauch, aka MCA, has passed away at the age of 47. The rapper was diagnosed in 2009 after a tumor was discovered in his salivary gland.
The Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in April of this year. The group’s most recent album, Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 was delayed momentarily because of Yauch’s treatments and they have not performed live since Bonnaroo 2009.
In 1979, alongside Mike “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horowitz, Yauch co-founded the Beastie Boys. While the band started off as a hardcore punk group, they soon realized their true gift while experimenting with hip-hop. In 1986, their first proper album, Licensed to Ill, revealed them as a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. Other successful albums included Paul’s Boutique, Check Your Head and Ill Communication.
Yauch was also involved in, and co-organized, the Tibetan Freedom Concerts. In addition to his music career, he also launched Oscilloscope Laboratories, a film production company.
RIP Adam. Thank you for co-founding a group that the world will not soon forget. You will be missed.
