It has been confirmed that Adam Yauch, 47, who along with Adam Horovitz, co-founded one of hip hop’s most iconic groups Beastie Boys, has passed away after an almost three year battle with cancer.
Yauch, was diagnosed back in 2009 after a tumor was discovered in his salivary gland, ever since then, the rapper also known as MCA kept a low profile while he concentrated on routine treatments.
His illness impacted the group’s timely schedule, preventing them from appearing in music videos for their new album Hot Sauce Committee, Pt.2. They were also forced to delay the release of that album. Most recently Yauch was notably absent when the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April.
Beastie Boys comprised of Yauch, Adam “Ad Rock” Horovitz and Mike “Mike D” Diamond, and the magic began back in 1979. They were mainly known for their unique punk sound but that quickly changed as they adapted a groovier tempo that tossed them into the hip hop genre. Licensed to Ill, their 1986 offering put them permanently on the map and subsequent albums were just as successful and solidified their ranking in the world of hip hop.
Yauch was a multi-faceted artist who under the pseudonym Nathanial Hornblower, directed some of the group’s musical videos. He was also heavily involved in the Tibetan movement and helped initiate concerts during the Nineties to spearhead the much needed change.
Sad to see another incredible talent yanked away so soon!