I know it's been over a week since Adam Yauch aka 'MCA' from the Beastie Boys passed away due to a losing battle with throat cancer. When I heard the news, I was very sad for some reason. Yes, I was one of many who have listened to Beastie Boys and couldn't get enough of their catchy songs. But there was seriously something different about this group, especially MCA which people will remember forever.
Adam Yauch was actually the founding member of the Beastie Boys in 1979. He actually directed many of the Beastie Boys music videos under the pseudonym 'Nathaniel Hornblower'. With that, he decided to open his recording studio and film distribution company under the names Oscilloscope Laboratories and Oscilloscope Pictures.
In 2009, he was diagnosed with cancer found in his parotid gland and lymph node making him unable to appear in music videos, appearances, and touring for the Beastie Boys' Hot Sauce Committee Part Two album. At the young age of 47, he leaves behind his wife Dechen Wangdu who he met while playing a vital role in the Tibetan Independence Movement, and 13 year old daughter Tenzin Losel. My prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.
When reading about Adam Yauch, it is so amazing to see the impact he has had on his group members and big people in the music industry. The Beastie Boys were like brothers, they literally called themselves family. Shaping the music industry with their gritty rhymes, sick beats, and a style like no other, this hip hop group which consisted of three white boys from New York expanded the genre of rap music forever.
Adam Yauch...
"was incredibly sweet and the most sensitive artist, who I loved dearly." - Russell Simmons
"stood for integrity as an artist." - Ben Stiller
"RIP yauch and thank u mike and adam n adam 4 all of your help, the tours, the bball games, n great times. a humanitarian a tru friend." - Q-Tip
"We looked up to the Beastie Boys a lot when we were starting out and how they maintained artistic control making wicked records but still were on a major label, and the Tibetan Freedom Concerts they organized had a very big influence on me personally and the way Adam conducted himself and dealt with it all impressed me a lot. He was a mellow and [very] smart guy. May he rest in peace." - Thom Yorke
"Adam Yauch brought a lot of positivity into the world and I think it's obvious to anyone how big of an influence the Beastie Boys were on me and so many others." - Eminem
“May a great musical pioneer rest in peace.” - Jay-Z
“Struggling to find words to describe the grief I feel over the passing of MCA.”
- Talib Kweli Greene
"As you can imagine, shit is just fkd up right now. But I wanna say thank you to all our friends and family (which are kinda one in the same) for all the love and support. I'm glad to know that all the love that Yauch has put out into the world is coming right back at him."
- Adam 'Ad-Rock' Horovitz
“I know, we should have tweeted and instagrammed every sad, happy and inspired thought, smile or tear by now. But honestly the last few days have just been a blur of deep emotions for our closest friend, band mate and really brother. I miss Adam so much.” - Michael 'Mike D' Diamond
You Just Do You, Imma Do Me
Camille
