Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch Dies at 47
- Posted on May 4, 2012 at 2:59pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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Adam Yauch, the gravelly voiced Beastie Boys rapper who co-founded the seminal hip-hop group, has died at age 47. The cause of death wasn't immediately known. Yauch, who's also known as MCA, was diagnosed with a cancerous parotid gland in 2009. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)
NEW YORK (AP) — Adam Yauch, the gravelly voiced Beastie Boys rapper who co-founded the seminal hip-hop group, has died at age 47.
Yauch’s representatives confirmed that the rapper died Friday morning in New York after a nearly three-year battle with cancer.
Also known as MCA, Yauch was diagnosed with a cancerous salivary gland in 2009. He had undergone surgery and radiation.
At the time, Yauch expressed hope it was “very treatable,” but his illness caused the group to cancel shows and delayed the release of its 2011 album, “Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2.”
The Brooklyn-born Yauch created the Beastie Boys with high school friend Michael “Mike D” Diamond. Originally conceived as a hardcore punk group, it became a hip-hop trio after Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz joined.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
Adam Yauch, the gravelly voiced Beastie Boys rapper and the most conscientious member of the seminal hip-hop group, has died, his mentor Russell Simmons said Friday. He was 47.
Calls and emails to representatives for the Beastie Boys were not immediately returned. Simmons‘ Def Jam label released the Beastie Boys’ first album, “Licensed to Ill.”
The cause, time and whereabouts of death weren’t immediately known. Yauch, who’s also known as MCA, was diagnosed with a cancerous parotid gland in 2009. He had undergone surgery and radiation.
At the time, Yauch expressed hope it was “very treatable,” but his illness caused the group to cancel shows and delayed the release of their 2011 album, “Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2.”
He hadn’t performed in public since 2009 and was absent when the Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April.
The Brooklyn-born Yauch created the Beastie Boys with high school friend Michael “Mike D” Diamond. Originally conceived as a hardcore punk group, it soon became a hip-hop trio after Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz joined. They released their chart-topping debut “Licensed to Ill” in 1986, a raucous album led by the anthem “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)”.
But in the seven studio albums that followed, the Beastie Boys expanded considerably and grew more musically ambitious. Their follow-up, 1989′s “Paul’s Boutique,” ended any suggestion of the group as a one-hit wonder. Extensive in its sampling and sonically layered, the album was ranked the 156th greatest album ever by Rolling Stone magazine in 2003.
The Beastie Boys would later take up their own instruments – a rarity in hip-hop – on the album “Check Your Head” and subsequent releases.
The Beastie Boys – a trio of white Jewish kids – established themselves as one of the most respected groups in hip-hop at a time when white rappers were few.
Introducing the group at the Rock Hall, Public Enemy rapper Chuck D said the Beastie Boys “broke the mold.”
“The Beastie Boys are indeed three bad brothers who made history,” said Chuck D. “They brought a whole new look to rap and hip-hop. They proved that rap could come from any street – not just a few.”
Yauch also went under the pseudonym Nathanial Hornblower when working as a filmmaker. He directed numerous videos for the group, as well as the 2006 concert film “Awesome: I F—– Shot That!” He also co-founded the film distribution company Osciolloscope Laboratories, named after his New York studio.
Yauch is survived by his wife, Dechen Wangdu, and his daughter, Tenzin Losel Yauch.
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Meyvn
Posted on May 5, 2012 at 5:33amHip-Hop?
Report Post »DAVIDTHETANK
Posted on May 5, 2012 at 12:50amWe’ll miss ya MCA!!
Report Post »From the family tree of old school hip hop
Kick off your shoes and relax your socks
The rhymes will spread just like a pox
Cause the music is live like an electric shock
TrueSoundsOfLiberty
Posted on May 5, 2012 at 12:17amThe right to party is alienable and must be fought for.
MCA, Ad Rock, Mike D that’s how we get it done.
Report Post »Sad to see a good man go.
htowneric
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 10:16pmHe’ll be missed, cus I already miss him
Report Post »htowneric
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 10:10pmThis one is hard for me, this guy is truly talented. He was a freedom fighter for the rights for Tibet, Father, Husband, voice of a generation, but before that a spark for millions of young’s imagination. I bought my first cassette because of these guys, and I used to sit in my room listining to it and drawing. When I got my first car, this is what came out my speakers, and these guys always cheer me up when hear their songs on the radio, which isnt very often, but I still roll my friggin window down and crank it up, rest in peace brother, and peace for your family.
Report Post »BenT_Tampa
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 9:08pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BptQHAW2T5M&feature=related
Beastie Boys were about a good time and having fun. You can hear it in all their music. Good positive HipHop music when that was very had to find.
Report Post »OperationNorthwoods
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 8:34pmGreat band. Totally original. College wouldn’t have been the same without them. RIP Adam.
Report Post »allenovercomer
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 8:47pm“I think I thought I seen her on 8th and forty duce the next thing I know she say my place or yours!” R.I.P MCA
Report Post »SERUM
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 8:50pmOr wedding receptions!
Report Post »Macman1138
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 6:56pmSorry that he died, but their “music” was crap.
Report Post »3monkeysmomma
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 7:52pmNo it wasn’t. Their early stuff that charted was gimicky and had a narrow appeal but it was fun. How ever, when they went back to playing their own instruments it was fantastic and allowed a mature audience that still apreciated a bit a of raccous humor mixed with a punk/urban genre to enjoy their unique abilities that broke free of the cookie cutter fumula crap that is commonly mass produced in today’s market.
Maybe its you, dude.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 8:06pmOK… Urban/MetroSexual Crap!
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 8:23pmFirst Jewish Rap group!
Report Post »SERUM
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 8:47pmFunky monkey mommas’ right…it’s you dude, yuz just oooold!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 5, 2012 at 8:14amI agree Mac, it’s an injustice that they are in the R&R Hall of Fame and Deep Purple, Rush, Cheap Trick, Bad Company etc are not.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 5, 2012 at 8:17amSerum, I far prefer to be old over tasteless (or igonorant) enough to think the Beastie Boys were anything other than a novelty act.
Report Post »skippy6
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 6:25pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5rRZdiu1UE&ob=av2n
Report Post »freedomisasfreedomdoes
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 5:46pmwow. :(
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 5:31pmThis is like a knife to the heart. So young. Such amazing cutting-edge vibes. Going to play a couple cycles of “Hello Nasty” but I’m not gonna lie, it’ll be hard. Will try to make it more of a funky celebration, he would’ve wanted that. To all the Beastie’s, much love forever and ever. Big hugs, condolences.
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:49pm3MTA3.
The first rap album I ever bought was Licenced to Ill. May still be the best one I have.
Rest in peace dude.
Report Post »GBTVFan_Non_American_Overseas
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 10:59pmNo more fight for our right to party…..RIP Adam Yauch
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:24pmIm a HUGE fan, grew up in the shadow of ‘Gotham’…these guys got me through 20 years of being in the USMC as well as Afghanistan and Iraq….always got me smilin’ and my body movin, no matter what…in NYC right now and all you hear are the ‘Boys’ getting played loudly…RIP MCA….without ALL forms of music, it would be a sad boring dull world….
Report Post »BoyScout_Mom
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 9:02pmMark, thank you so much for your service. God speed and welcome home, hopefully.
But, about your taste in music… kidding – to each his own, lol….
Try some Johnny Cash :)
Report Post »chriswbakerfortxgov
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:12pmThough I don’t agree with their support of Mumia Abu-Jamal back when that whole issue happened, their music is ridiculously catchy and oftentimes hilarious. I’ll be listening to them in a short bit..after work, that is. ;)
Report Post »spirited
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:09pmCondolences to his wife and child ….and his family and friends.
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:05pmI seen them in concert in the late 90′s. They played punk rock music and some covers most of the show. They all played instruments. They only did like 3 or 4 rap songs and Ice Cube came out as a surprise at the end. They put on a great show. I know they were big libs but still very talented.
Report Post »TheEDGE
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:57pmSad. I saw ‘em live twice. The wife and I will definitely be dusting off the old “Check your Head” and “Paul’s Boutique” albums this evening.
Report Post »SERUM
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 8:52pmClassics…
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:44pmDon’t know how these dudes got away with it, but you have to consider their schtick an act of genius.
Wasn’t a big fan, but License To ILL was original, if nothing else.
R.I.P.
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:32pmIm gonna miss you much MCA. Beast T. I. E. Dam im gettin old.
Report Post »NutterButter79
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:17pmToo young. Rest in peace.
Report Post »Doctor Nordo
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:25pmThis.
Report Post »samurai2112
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:15pm+1 to this.
Report Post »Better Dead Than Red
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:15pmYou think we’ll ever meet Stevie? One of these days, D.
Report Post »3monkeysmomma
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:15pm“I can’t stand it I know you planned it
I’m gonna set it straight, this watergate
I can‘t stand rocking when I’m in here
Because your crystal ball ain’t so crystal clear
So while you sit back and wonder why
I got this XXXX thorn in my side
Oh my, it’s a mirage
I‘m tellin’ y‘all it’s sabotage”
I love you MCA. RIP
Report Post »Prayers to your family.
Jupitor
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 3:59pmSo listen up ’cause you can‘t say nothin’
Report Post »You’ll shut me down with a push of your button?
But yo I‘m out and I’m gone
I’ll tell you now I keep it on and on
SquidVetOhio
Posted on May 4, 2012 at 4:03pmTheir best song ever!!!!!
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