Adam Yauch Dies: Beastie Boys MCA Leaves Lasting Legacy

By Vincent Funaro, Christian Post Reporter Friday, May 04, 2012

The hip-hop community lost a true pioneer today as Adam Yauch, better known as MCA of the rap group the Beastie Boys, died of salivary gland cancer.

Yauch who was just 47-years-old, made waves throughout the hip-hop community and was one of the first music video stars during MTV's beginning with his partners in rhyme Adam Horowitz, better known as Ad-Rock, and Michael Diamond, better known as Mike D.

The Beastie Boys arrived on the scene in 1986 with their debut album License to Ill that featured a plethora of hit records including 'No Sleep till Brooklyn,' 'Brass Monkey,' 'Fight for Your Right' (To Party) and many more.

The album went on to sell over 9 million copies and became the first hip-hop LP to top the Billboard 200. It also helped put Def Jam Records on the map.

After the success of License to Ill, the Beastie Boys left Def Jam and went on to sign with Capitol Records where they released one of the most critically acclaimed albums of all time Paul's Boutique in 1988 and followed it up with Check Your Head in 1992.

The two albums spawned even more hit singles including 'Hey Ladies', and 'So What'cha Want,' but did not achieve the same mainstream success they previously had with License to Ill.

The Beasties outlasted many of the acts they started with in the 1980s solidifying themselves as one of hip-hop's elite in the 1990s.

By the middle of the decade the group released one of their most popular records to date, 'Sabotage' from their fourth studio album Ill Communication.

The album debuted at number one on the Billboard charts in 1994 and 'Sabotage' became a hit on the modern rock charts and MTV as the Beasties returned to their original punk rock style for the song.

The Beasties went on to release four more studio albums including Hello Nasty in 1998, To the 5 Boroughs in 2004, The Mix-Up in 2007, and their final album Hot Sauce Committee Part Two in 2011.

Yauch enjoyed over 20 years of success with the Beastie Boys and will forever be remembered for his contributions to hip-hop.

WATCH VIDEO OF ADAM YAUCH'S CANCER ANNOUNCEMENT