Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch (MCA) Dies at 47

AUGUST 5, 1964 – MAY 4, 2012

Adam Yauch

Adam Yauch, founding member of the groundbreaking hip-hop trio Beastie Boys has died at the age of 47, Rolling Stone is reporting. While the exact cause of his death has not yet been officially confirmed, Yauch was diagnosed with cancer after doctors discovered a tumor in his parotid gland and a lymph node in 2009.

Yauch founded the Beastie Boys in 1979 in Brooklyn, New York with childhood friend Mike Diamond (Mike D). They were later joined by Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) and went on to release a string of seminal hip-hop albums such as Licensed to Ill, Paul’s Boutique, Check Your Head and Ill Communication.

Due to Yauch’s illness, the group chose not to tour behind their latest release Hot Sauce Committee Part Two. MCA also did not attend the group’s recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where they were inducted by fellow trailblazers LL Cool J and Chuck D.

Check out just a few of their clips below, as we remember MCA.