Adam Yauch of The Beastie Boys, R.I.P.

The Beastie Boys: from left, Adam Horowitz (Ad-Rock), Adam Yauch (MCA) and Michael Diamond (Mike D).

Beastie Boys MC Adam Yauch – a.k.a. MCA – has died. He was 47 years old.

The Beastie Boys are one of the most important and influential hip-hop groups of all time. They were instrumental in making hip-hop a global, mainstream force. Formed in 1981 as a hardcore band, they combined punk and rap into a singular sound that grew increasingly broad over the years, encompassing a vast array of genres.

Yauch, Michael Diamond (Mike D), and Adam Horowitz (Ad-Rock) released several classic albums, including their debut album Licensed to Ill in 1986, Paul’s Boutique in 1989 and Ill Communication in 1994. Yauch was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, and the illness caused him to miss ceremonies last month in Cleveland, where The Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Adam Yauch obituary in Rolling Stone magazine

YouTube: “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)” by The Beastie Boys