The Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch is reported to have lost his battle with cancer, with showbiz website TMZ among the first confirming reports of the MC’s death.
The hip-hop group were founded back in in 1979 with Mike D, Mix Master Mike, and Ad Roc. The group are best known for their hits ‘Fight For Your Right (To Party)’ and ‘Sabotage’.
The Beastie Boys released a statement on their website and dedicated the frontpage to their bandmate. The opening says:
It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam “MCA” Yauch, founding member of Beastie Boys and also of the Milarepa Foundation that produced the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits, and film production and distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories, passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.
Yauch (pictured right) leaves behind his wife and their daughter.
Take a moment to remember the Beasties at arguably their very best, in the video for ‘Sabotage’ below:
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