Rolling Stone pays tribute to the late Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch by putting MCA on the cover of their magazine. The music publication spoke to the surviving members of the band, Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz and Mike “Mike D” Diamond, where they shared memories about working with Yauch, how his Buddhism affected his songwriting, and how they reacted when he revealed that he had cancer — and how they’re currently dealing with his passing. “My wife is like, ‘I want to make sure you’re getting it out,’” shares Ad-Rock. “But then I’m walking the dog and I’ll start crying on the street.” Read excepts below.

From Ad-Rock’s interview:

“Yauch was in charge. He was smarter, more organized. In a group of friends, you all come up with stupid shit to do. But you never do it. With Yauch, it got done. He had that extra drive to see things through. We each had our roles. One of his was the make-it-happen person.”

When Yauch told Horovitz he had cancer: “He said, ‘I’m gonna be okay.’ He’s been right about most shit so far. So I believe him. You would get swept up in his excitement and positivity. We recorded a few months ago. It wasn’t any different from before. We spent more time making fart jokes and ordering food, which was true to form. That’s why it always took so long for us to put records out.”

How Yauch’s songwriting changed when he became a Buddhist: “His lyrics became simple ideas about love and non-violence. It was a struggle for Adam to write those things. Basic feelings come off as very Hallmark. But we went through that change together. I wrote the lyrics for the song ‘Gratitude’ [on Check Your Head], and Adam was like, ‘I really like that.’ It made me happy and proud that I had made him happy.”

From Mike D’s interview:

“Yauch was a gifted MC. It was his flow on things, rather than specific lyrics, that first blew Adam [Horovitz] and I away. Early on, we were in the studio, amazed by how Yauch made it seem so effortless. Horovitz and I were maybe a little jealous. And Rick [Rubin] said to me, ‘No, this is good. This is where Yauch is at. You sound like you’re working hard. You’re the working rapper.’ [Laughs] I’m still not sure what to take away from that.”

On his Buddhism: “He abandoned the band for months in the winter to go snowboarding, on this very serious level. Then it wasn’t snowboarding. He would disappear for two months of teaching by his Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala. He gradually incorporated that into the music. He was the first to realize we had this soapbox, and we needed to do something with it.”

On making music without Yauch: I can see making music. I don’t know about a band format. But Yauch would genuinely want us to try whatever crazy thing we wanted but never got around to.

beastie boys through the years

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The tribute issue of Rolling Stone also includes interviews with and stories from Billy Corgan, Spike Jonze, Rick Rubin and more. Pick it up on newsstands May 25.

Before Cee Lo Green and his reunited Goodie Mob crew physically took to the MGM Grand Stage during their “Fight To Win” performance at the Billboard Music Awards, a one-legged dancer in military garb arrived on crutches and proceeded to wow the audience with jaw-dropping moves. Then a wall was lifted and the quartet, decked out in all white, belted out their new inspirational new single.

Afterwards — and keeping with the “fight” theme — Cee Lo yelled, “Yo, Billboard Awards — get your asses up and celebrate the life of MCA!” The group then launched into a rowdy cover of Beastie Boys‘ breakthrough hit “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)” as a tribute to the late Adam Yauch. (Really, it’s all about Carrie Underwood singing along to every word in the audience.)

Nelly Furtado wows in white on the red carpet

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Since Adam Yauch‘s death on May 4, tributes to both MCA and the Beastie Boys have rolled in, but this may be our favorite. James Winters, a Portland-based filmmaker, created a reenactment of the Boys’ Spike Jonze-directed “Sabotage” video, enlisting the help of his wife, kids and nephew in order to pay tribute to MCA.

Car chases and jumping off ledges, however silly they were portrayed in the original video, are a bit too dangerous for children, so this remake gets a few changes: high-rise buildings are replaced by playground equipment, a regular-sized pool is traded in for a kiddie pool, and a suitcase full of cocaine becomes a suitcase with a Pop Rocks wrapper. But what both clips have in spades is a childlike sense of joy — and donuts.

One week ago today, the music world lost Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch following his three-year battle with cancer. It was a major blow to fans of the trio whose music had soundtracked the past 26 years. Additionally, The Voice finally wrapped up Season 2 this week, but not without a few barbs coming from — and aimed at — Christina Aguilera. And along those lines, it seems Xtina isn’t the only former member of Mickey Mouse’s club who we’ll see in a judge’s chair on a TV singing competition. Head below to see how pop’s movers and shakers ranked on our weekly Pop & Fizz chart!

To see exactly how these artists entered the hype index, check below.

• Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch Dead At 47
• Britney Spears Reportedly Signs Deal With The X Factor
• No Doubt Announce Album Release Date
• Lady Gaga On The Simpsons: Watch A Preview
• Rihanna Gets Cheeky In Short Shorts For Terry Richardson
• Justin Bieber Performs “Boyfriend” On The Voice Finale: Watch
• Whitney Houston To Be Honored On VH1 Divas
• The Voice: Jermaine Paul Wins Season 2
• The Wanted Slam Christina Aguilera All Over Again
• The Voice: Christina Aguilera And Adam Levine Have “99 Problems” In The Finale

How did this week’s chart stack up for you? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments.

Carrie Underwood‘s fourth LP Blown Away becomes her third to blow to the peak position on Billboard‘s Top 200 this week. The album sold 267,000 copies out of the gate, putting it behind only Madonna‘s MDNA, which started with 358,000 last month, as far as biggest opening-week sales in 2012. Billboard also notes that Carrie joins Linda Ronstadt and Faith Hill as only the third female country artist to rack up three chart-topping albums on the Top 200.

Behind Blown Away, the Top 10 sees five other debuts this week: Norah Jones‘ Dangermouse-produced fifth album Little Broken Hearts (110,000) enters in the runner-up position, the 42nd NOW compilation (95,000) is #3, B.o.B‘s Strange Clouds (76,000) breezes in at #5, TV tie-in The Music Of SMASH (39,000) starts at #9 and Marilyn Manson‘s Born Villain (38,000) diabolically crashes in at #10.

Meanwhile, following the cancer-related death of Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch on Friday, the trio’s albums sold enough copies collectively (55,000) to make an impact on the Top 200 before Sunday’s weekly chart cut-off time. This week, Licensed To Ill re-enters at #18 (19,000), while the rest of the Boys’ catalog pops up in the following positions:

* Solid Gold Hits (#51)
* Paul’s Boutique (#56)
* Hot Sauce Committee Part Two (#107)
* Ill Communication (#109)
* Check Your Head (#124)
* Beastie Boys Anthology: The Sounds Of Silence (#141)

As far as the hip hop trio’s songs, Billboard notes that Beastie Boys sold 151,000 downloads last week, led by “Brass Monkey”.

The Top 10 Of Billboard’s Top 200 Chart

1. Carrie Underwood, Blown Away *new* *1 week*
2. Norah Jones, Little Broken Hearts *new*
3. Various, NOW 42 *new*
4. Adele, 21
5. B.o.B, Strange Clouds *new*
6. Lionel Richie, Tuskegee
7. Jack White, Blunderbuss
8. One Direction, Up All Night
9. Various, The Music Of SMASH *new*
10. Marilyn Manson, Born Villain *new*

In what has to be one of the worst-timed legal actions ever (not that there’s ever a good time to get sued, mind you), hip hop/R&B record label Tuf America filed a lawsuit against Beastie Boys last Thursday — one day before band member Adam Yauch lost his life to cancer —  in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The suit claims that two songs by the label’s artist Trouble Funk were illegally sampled on four Beastie songs from 1986 album Licensed To Ill and 1989′s Paul’s Boutique.

The site AllHipHop.com has obtained copies of the legal documents which show that the Trouble Funk songs in question are “Drop The Bomb” and “Say What”.  The former is said to have been used in Beastie Boys’ Licensed To Ill tracks “Hold It Now Hit It” and “The New Style”, as well as on “Car Thief” on Paul’s Boutique, while elements of the latter allegedly appear in Paul’s Boutique‘s “Shadrach” .

AllHipHop.com notes the following:

Tuf America said they did a thorough sound analysis of the tracks in question and concluded that the Beastie Boys illegally incorporated elements of the songs without permission.

To complicate the matter, Tuf America claims The Beasties and Capitol Records continue to profit off the album, by way of anniversary and commemorative releases of Licensed To Ill and Paul’s Boutique, which was released in 1989.

Below are Trouble Funk’s 1982 tune “Drop The Bomb” and Beastie Boys’ “The New Style”. Can you hear the sample?

Trouble Funk — “Drop The Bomb”

Beastie Boys — “The New Style”

In the days following Beastie Boys‘ Adam Yauch‘s death, it’s no surprise that his colleagues, friends and fans want to celebrate his life and career by singing cover songs, writing tributes, and even releasing unseen performances. Back in 2004, the group filmed a performance for the third season of Chappelle’s Show which remained unseen, as the third season of the Comedy Central show never aired. The clip remained unreleased until earlier today (May 7) when the show’s co-creator Neal Brennan uploaded the trio’s performance to YouTube.

Unfortunately, the video has since been pulled down after Viacom Inc. complained it had been posted without permission. Viacom (who owns Comedy Central) is currently in contact with EMI Publishing to figure out a way to get the video back online. And as soon as they do, we’ll have it right here for you.

The death of Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch, who passed away on Friday after a long battle with cancer, has caused practically everyone in entertainment to come out and pay their respects to the rapper, songwriter and filmmaker. Coldplay and fun. honored MCA by covering some of Beastie Boys’ classic songs live in concert, while Madonna and Mike D and Ad-Rock penned touching blog entries sharing their memories of Yauch. And the tributes have yet to slow down — head below for more examples of how loved Yauch and the Beastie Boys are by pretty much everyone.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers played an instrumental version of “So What’Cha Want” before launching into a cover of “Gratitude” during a concert in New Jersey on Saturday (May 5). “We lost a good man today,” frontman Anthony Kiedis told the crowd. “He left the world a lot of beauty. I hope you carry that flame. Adam was for real.”

Diplo spun “Intergalactic” at Mike D’s Transmission LA: AV Club exhibit at MOCA in Los Angeles on May 5.

Train covered “Fight For Your Right” during a show at Birmingham’s O2 Academy in the U.K.

The Roots‘ Questlove wrote a lengthy tribute to Yauch and the Beastie Boys, while Sonic Youth‘s Kim Gordon shared some fond memories of spending time with Yauch in Tokyo. New York magazine’s Vulture blog checked in with a variety of different entertainers — Santigold, Kurt Loder, David Cross, Billy Corgan, and many more — all discussing Yauch and the Beastie Boys’ influence on their lives.

Radiohead‘s Thom Yorke penned a brief but touching blog post saying kind words of Yauch and his band: “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 v smart guy. May he rest in peace.”

Head here for more tributes and memories of Adam Yauch.

adam yauch: life in photos

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Following artists such as Coldplay, Madonna and fun. paying tribute to Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch, who passed away on Friday at age 47 following a three-year battle with cancer, the late rapper’s bandmates Adam Horovitz (aka Ad-Rock) and Michael Diamond (Mike D) added their voices to those mourning Yauch’s loss. Horovitz chose to blog a short message on the Beasties’ tumblr, while Diamond put up a Facebook photo of MCA being projected on the big screens at Madison Square Garden and accompanied it with some heartfelt words. See what both of them wrote below.

Ad-Rock’s tumblr blog:

“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. thank you.”

Mike D’s Facebook post:

“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. He really served as a great example for myself and so many of what determination, faith, focus, and humility coupled with a sense of humor can accomplish. The world is in need of many more like him. We love you Adam. BTW this photo sent to me by a friend, (thanks Saslow) is just one awesome example of how NYC is such a unique place that amidst it’s huge size and frenetic pace it really opens up it’s heart in so many ways and on on so many levels in times like these. And though it makes me cry sometimes, it has been really amazing and moving to see.”

Beastie Boys’ most recent album was 2011′s Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, which produced the MTV VMA Video Of The Year-nominated song “Make Some Noise”. One question that may be on some fans’ minds is whether or not Horovitz and Diamond will carry on with Beastie Boys without Yauch — and at what capacity.

That’s a question that likely won’t be answered anytime soon, though, as, for now, the two appear to be very much so in mourning.

What do you think of Ad-Rock and Mike D’s words about their late bandmate? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter.

Over the weekend, as the music world at large became aware that Adam Yauch of Beastie Boys had passed away on Friday, musicians began paying tribute to the pioneering rapper who went by the stage name of MCA. One such artist was Madonna, who added Yauch and his Beastie bandmates as supporting act on The Virgin Tour in 1985. It was a year before their debut LP Licensed To Ill was released, and Madge gave the trio their first taste of life on the stage at a superstar level. Head below to read the words about Adam she posted on Facebook.

Madonna wrote on Saturday, “The Beastie Boys were one of a kind! And so was Adam! They were all an important part of my musical history and integral to the musical revolution that was happening at the time. I’m very sad to hear about Adam’s passing. God bless him and his family.”

The accompanying photo Madge posted shows her in leopard print shorts and a bra, running from the Boys as they spray her with water from squirt guns. It’s a cute and comical snapshot that highlights the playful nature between all involved during their short time on the road they spent together.

What do you think of Madonna’s tribute to Adam Yauch? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter.

fun. joined the chorus of artists saddened by the death of Beastie Boys‘ MC Adam Yauch, honoring the late music pioneer with a (one-verse) cover of the Beasties’ modern classic “Sabotage”. fun., riding high on the ascent of “We Are Young”, busted out the unexpected tribute as part of their encore in a performance at Washington D.C.’s 9:30 Club (one of a limited number of dates they’ll play before appearing at Lollapalooza). The show took place the night that Yauch died last week, and with fun.’s Nate Ruess on vocals, the band managed a passable impression of the real thing.

fun. set the world on fire live

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As with Coldplay’s cover of “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)”, “Sabotage” isn’t the sort of song we’d expected to hear from the band behind the anthemic, soaring “We Are Young”. Then again, fun. does cite a surprising diversity of influences (in a recent SPIN interview, Ruess shouted out Queen, alt-rock titans Smashing Pumpkins, Van Morrison and Kanye West’s acclaimed My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which of course was largely produced by Jeff Bhasker, the whiz behind fun.’s own chart-topping hit).

Fans at Friday night’s show tweeted that the band busted out the Beastie Boys tribute at the start of their encore. fun. hasn’t shied away from covering major artists — the night before Yauch died, the band rocked the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and a jokey stab at Santana’s hit “Smooth” at the same Washington D.C. venue. (You can hear them on the NPR webcast of the May 3 show).

How did fun.’s “Sabotage” cover stand up? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments.

A day after the tragic death of Beastie Boys‘ MC Adam Yauch, HBO broadcast last month’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, which featured a tribute to the band — with Travie McCoy, Kid Rock and Black Thought standing in for the trio. HBO, which decided Friday (May 4) to dedicate the show to Yauch, made late revisions to the broadcast, ending it with a photo of the late MC and on-screen text reading: “In Memory of Adam Yauch.”

The Beasties’ tribute performance, with Questlove of The Roots providing the beat, included renditions of all-time classics “No Sleep Till Brooklyn,” “So What’cha Want,” “Sabotage” and “The New Style” before an audience that knew all too well that Yauch was in the late stages of his battle with cancer. More details below.

Yauch was too ill to attend the event, which was recorded April 14 at the Rock Hall in Cleveland, and sent a letter of gratitude instead. Fellow Beasties Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz and Michael “Mike D” Diamond attended and collected their trophies, but — unlike other inductees — declined to perform. (Other artists inducted, such as Guns N’ Roses, performed despite missing one or more early members).

Yauch’s Rock Hall letter read:

I’d like to dedicate this award to my brothers, Adam and Mike, who’ve walked the globe with me.

To anyone who’s been touched by our band, who our music has meant something to, this induction is as much ours as it is yours. To Kate Schellenbach. To John Berry. To John Berry’s loft on 100th St. in Brooklyn where John’s dad would come busting in during our first practices screaming, “Would you turn that f***ing s*** off already!”…

To my loving and supportive parents, Noel and Frances Yauch, and to our home in Brooklyn where we used to practice on hot Brooklyn days after school, windows wide open to disturb the neighborhood…

But most of all I’d like to thank and dedicate this honor to my smart, beautiful and loving wife Dechen and our sweet, talented, loving daughter Tenzin. Never has a man felt more blessed than I to be able to spend my time with my two soulmates. I love you guys more than you know.

I wish I could name everyone who deserves to be named, but of course there’s too many names to name. You know who you are, and I sent my love out to all of you.

Your friend, Adam Yauch.

Watch Ad-Rock and Mike D’s Rock Hall acceptance speech:

Beastie Boys were officially inducted by hip-hop legends Chuck D and LL Cool J. When the band burst onto the scene in the early ’80s, “they brought a whole new look to hip-hop,” Chuck D said.

How will you remember the Beastie Boys and Adam Yauch? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments.

When does your mom throwing away your best porno mag take on an epic level of melancholy and despair? When it’s covered by Coldplay, of course! While many pop stars took to Twitter to mourn the loss of the Beastie Boys‘ Adam “MCA” Yauch, Coldplay delivered a more musical tribute with a cover of “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party),” which works about as well as it could when accompanied by mournful piano, which makes it sound more like you gotta fight for your right to cry alone in your room instead. (But an acoustic “Intergalactic” would probably be even more impossible.) Do you think it’s a fitting tribute?

adam yauch's finest moments

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It was an odd fit, to be sure, but also maybe a nod to the Beasties’ long track record of twisting punk, classic rock and hip-hop into something new. Martin did switch up the lyrics just a bit, singing “I said mom you’re just jealous, it’s the Beastie Boys / So we’re sending all our love to the Beastie Boys.” (It’s not a knock to say that Martin couldn’t improve on Yauch’s best verses).

What did you make of Coldplay’s tribute? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments.

Like millions of others in the music-verse, our hearts were broken by the grim news Friday (May 4) that Beastie Boys‘ Adam “MCA” Yauch had lost his long fight against cancer. Shortly following the announcement of his passing, Beasties songs began to flood Twitter’s trending topics — and for good reason.

Beyond giving us some of the most enjoyable albums over the last 20+ years, Adam directed music videos such as “Ch-Check It Out” and “Make Some Noise” as well as the group’s concert documentary Awesome; I F*ckin’ Shot That!, and used his fame as a platform to speak out on matters close to his heart: a free Tibet and a nonviolent resolution in the Middle East.

It’s hard to believe that we’ve lost another music great this year — 2012, what are you doing to us?! While we honor MCA with a long listen of our favorite Beastie Boy records, we invite you to remember Adam Yauch’s life in photos with a look back at the career of these “three bad brothers you know so well.”

We’re still reeling from the horrible news that “MCA” Adam Yauch of Beastie Boys is gone, especially after it seemed he’d turned a corner in his cancer treatment last year, around the release of the excellent Hot Sauce Committee Part Two. Back when Beastie Boys first emerged, Ad-Rock was the bratty star of the group and Mike D was the class clown. But MCA was the bad boy who always seemed a little more complex. Yauch added some endearing grit to their dynamic, he balanced out the playful snottiness. He may not have had a flow as rambunctious as Ad-Rock’s or as slick as Mike D’s, but his verses always felt a little more raw; they were the anchors that held their raps together. Like on “Pass The Mic” above, MCA sets the tone for the lyrical roundtable:

And this is me, y’all, I MC y’all / My name is MCA and I still do what I please / And now I’d like to introduce / I’ll pass the mic to D for a fist full of truth.”

We dug deep into our Beastie Boys collections to hear his immediately recognizable, raspy rhymes again. Here are nine more of our favorites, in no particular order.

1. “Paul Revere” (Licensed To Ill, 1986)

Now my name is MCA, I got a license to kill / I think you know what time it is, it’s time to get ill / Now what do we have here? An outlaw and his beer? / I run this land, you understand? I made myself clear”

2. “Flowin’ Prose” (Hello Nasty, 1998)
For two minutes, MCA is at his smoothest:

I’m flowing prose to cons and cons to pros / I’m scheming rhyme against reason like it was flow against know.”

3. “The New Style” (Licensed To Ill)

4 and 3 and 2 and 1 / And when I’m on the mic, the suckers run / Down with Adrock and Mike D and you ain’t / And I got more juice than Picasso got paint.”

4. “Posse in Effect” (Licensed To Ill)

I’m MCA, I’ve got nothin’ to prove / Pay attention my intention is to bust a move / I drink quarts and cans and bottles and sixes / Between the turntables keep the vodka and the mixes.”

5. “B-Boy Bouillabaisse” (Paul’s Boutique, 1989)

Take the microphone in hand as that I am a professional / Speak my knowledge to the crowd and the ed. is special / For I am a bard and I am the last one / I’m my own king and this is my castle.”

6. “3-Minute Rule” (Paul’s Boutique)

A lot of parents like to think I’m a villain / I’m just chillin’ like Bob Dylan / Yeah I smoke cheeba, it helps me with my brain / I might be a little dusted but I’m not insane / People come up to me and they try to talk shit / Man, I was making records when you were sucking your mother’s dick.”

7. “Long Burn The Fire” (Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, 2011)
Wherein MCA becomes the only rapper who could fit “pizzazz,” “analgesic” and one of the worst movies ever made all into one verse:

Jump out the window onto a parade balloon / My style is iller than the goblins in “Troll 2″ /Cuz I’m the type of MC with the most pizzazz / You’re stealin’ my book like I was Grandmaster Caz / Got rhymes about antihistamines and analgesics / Roll without expectorants, y’all don’t see it.”

8. “Professor Booty” (Check Your Head, 1992)
In which Adam absolutely dismantles MC Serch of 3rd Bass in what is arguably his most impressive verse:

I’m bad ass, move ya’ fat ass, cuz you’re wack son / Dancing around like you think you’re Janet Jackson / Thought you could walk on me to get some kinda walk on / I’ll pull a rug out from under your ass as I talk on / I’ll take you out like a sniper on a roof / Like an MC had the fever in the DJ booth.”

9. “Sure Shot“(Ill Communication, 1994)
One of the first hints at Yauch’s inherent maturity:

I want to say a little something that’s long overdue / The disrespect to women has got to be through / To all the mothers and sisters and the wives and friends / I want to offer my love and respect to the end.”

Which of your favorite MCA verses did we miss? Sound off in the comments, or on Twitter and Facebook.

Hours after the death of Beastie Boys‘ MCA (aka Adam Yauch), the band released a statement confirming his passing and recapping his contributions to music, fil, the cause of Tibetan freedom and the post-9/11 recovery. The official word comes after a massive outpouring of grief from across the cultural spectrum, including reactions from Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake and other artists who worked with, owed a debt to, or simply enjoyed Yauch’s music. Full statement below. 

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.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Yauch taught himself to play bass in high school, forming a band for his 17th birthday party that would later become known the world over as Beastie Boys.

With fellow members Michael “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Adrock” Horovitz, Beastie Boys would go on to sell over 40 million records, release four #1 albums–including the first hip hop album ever to top the Billboard 200, the band’s 1986 debut full length, Licensed To Ill–win three Grammys, and the MTV Video Vanguard Lifetime Achievement award. Last month Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with Diamond and Horovitz reading an acceptance speech on behalf of Yauch, who was unable to attend.

In addition to his hand in creating such historic Beastie Boys albums as Paul’s Boutique, Check Your Head, Ill Communication, Hello Nasty and more, Yauch was a founder of the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and activism regarding the injustices perpetrated on native Tibetans by Chinese occupational government and military forces. In 1996, Milarepa produced the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, which was attended by 100,000 people, making it the biggest benefit concert on U.S. soil since 1985′s Live Aid. The Tibetan Freedom Concert series would continue to stage some of the most significant benefit shows in the world for nearly a decade following in New York City, Washington DC, Tokyo, Sydney, Amsterdam, Taipei and other cities.

In the wake of September 11, 2001, Milarepa organized New Yorkers Against Violence, a benefit headlined by Beastie Boys at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, with net proceeds disbursed to the New York Women’s Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Association for New Americans (NYANA) September 11th Fund for New Americans–each chosen for their efforts on behalf of 9/11 victims least likely to receive help from other sources.

Under the alias of Nathanial Hörnblowér, Yauch directed iconic Beastie Boys videos including “So Whatcha Want,” “Intergalactic,” “Body Movin” and “Ch-Check It Out.” Under his own name, Yauch directed last year’s Fight For Your Right Revisited, an extended video for “Make Some Noise” from Beastie Boys’ Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, starring Elijah Wood, Danny McBride and Seth Rogen as the 1986 Beastie Boys, making their way through a half hour of cameo-studded misadventures before squaring off against Jack Black, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as Beastie Boys of the future.

Yauch’s passion and talent for filmmaking led to his founding of Oscilloscope Laboratories, which in 2008 released his directorial film debut, the basketball documentary Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot and has since become a major force in independent video distribution, amassing a catalogue of such acclaimed titles as Kelly Reichardt’s Wendy and Lucy, Oren Moverman’s The Messenger, Banksy’s Exit Through The Gift Shop, Lance Bangs and Spike Jonze’s Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait Of Maurice Sendak, and many more.

Yauch is survived by his wife Dechen and his daughter Tenzin Losel, as well as his parents Frances and Noel Yauch.

Adam "MCA" yauch: his life in photos

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How will you remember MCA? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments.

Adam Yauch, founding member of rap trio Beastie Boys, succumbed to a years-long battle with cancer Friday (May. 4). News of his passing sent an immediate shockwave through the music industry, as artists and fans took to social media to express their grief and to pay tribute to the hip-hop trailblazer. Five Beastie Boys albums quickly rose to top 10 trending topics on Twitter, alongside hashtag #RIPMCA and songs “Paul Revere” “Brass Monkey” and “No Sleep Till Brooklyn.” Head below to see the kind words Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dogg, Sky Ferreira, Wallpaper. and more had to say about the late MCA.

Justin Timberlake: Crushed to hear the news of Adam Yauch’s passing. A true pioneer of art. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones. #RIPMCA

Snoop Dogg: RIP MCA U are a Legend and a pioneer. #BeastieBoys4life

Chromeo: The Beastie Boys basically invented the concept of the cool white person. #RIPMCA

Jimmy Fallon: So sad to hear of the passing of Adam Yauch. He was a great performer, director, father, humanitarian and New Yorker. #RIPMCA

Michelle Branch: #ThatAwkwardMoment at the gym when they start blasting The Beastie Boys and you want to cry :( #RIPMCA

Common: God Bless the soul of Adam Yauch aka MCA of the Beastie Boys. RIP

Sky Ferreira: RIP MCA

Wallpaper.: My first live music experience was The Free Tibet Concert in Golden Gate Park to watch The Beastie Boys. I moshed. RIP Adam “MCA” Yauch

Ice T : TERRIBLE NEWS: MCA of the Beastie Boys has died at 47. http://www.tmz.com/2012/05/04/beastie-boys-adam-yauch-dead/ Another very sad day in Hip Hop. #MCARIP

One Republic: R.I.P Adam MCA. Beastie Boys remain untouchable

Steve Aoki: ahhh man… rest in peace to the one and only MCA. wow. terrible news

MC Hammer: R.I.P. Adam Yauch Beastie Boys #RIPMCA

Benji Madden: Thoughts and prayers out to the Beastie Boys and their friends and families #RIPMCA

Donald Glover: Adam Yauch was an amazing artist and one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. His music was some of my favorite. Truly saddened. RIP MCA.

Moby: i remember hearing this on wnyu in 1982. listening to it now and thinking of yauch. such a wonderful man. he is missed. http://bit.ly/dec2XM

‏Rev Run: R I P Adam… I’m devastated. Praying for Adam Yauch’s family from the legendary Beastie Boys. Youll be missed!

Randy Jackson: RIP to one of the greatest Adam Yauch

Gotye: Sad to hear of Adam Yauch’s untimely passing. Personal recollections from @mariekehardy were sweetly written http://bit.ly/J2G8Dd

Annie Lennox: So sad to hear the news that Adam Yauch has passed away… I had no idea that he’d been suffering from cancer for the last three years.
It’s cruelly heartbreaking to know that such a vital spark had to undergo that kind of pain and suffering.

Major Lazer: PEACE & LOVE ETERNALLY 2 #MCA

Penguin Prison: RIP MCA — wow so very sad — i saw the beastie boys in concert many times when i was growing up – http://fb.me/1QZBpfFGW

What did the Beastie Boys music mean to you? Tell us in the comments below, or on Twitter and Facebook.

As the news of the death of Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch begins to sink in, our minds will naturally turn to the pioneering alt-hip hop trio’s enduring legacy of music — their first LP, Licensed To Ill was released, believe it or not, 26 years ago — and their iconic visuals that cropped up in that time.

Yauch, who went by MCA in the band, eventually wound up directing several of the Beasties’ memorable music videos under his alias of Nathanial Hornblower. (His knack for filmmaking even lead him to create New York-based video production company Oscilloscope Laboratories.)

Below we highlight six of the most iconic Beastie Boys videos from their heavy catalog. Obviously we could sit here and wax from now till next week on all of their clips. But we sorted out the ones that, at the time of their respective releases, captured the imagination of music fans the world over, and became part of the cultural zeitgeist.

“(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)” (1987). Beastie Boys rode the growing rap wave and broke into the mainstream thanks to this Top 10 hit off their debut album Licensed To Ill, the rowdy, randy music video for which went into heavy rotation on MTV. Blink and you’ll miss cameos by the trio’s producer Rick Rubin and their Def Jam labelmate at the time, LL Cool J. And watch out for those pies!

“Hey Ladies” (1989). The guys kept tongues firmly planted in cheeks for their vid for “Hey Ladies”, the lead single off the band’s critically acclaimed sophomore LP Paul’s Boutique. Disco was way-dead by the late ’80s, but that didn’t stop Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock from cheekily paying homage to dance movie classic Saturday Night Fever in this clip.

“So What’cha Want” (1992). With a nod to sci fi/horror flick Predator — specifically, the jarring negative vision — Adam Yauch directed the video for this, the second single off Beasties’ album Check Your Head, under his Nathanial Hornblower alias. MCA spliced in clips of natural disasters to add to the chaotic effect of the clip.

“Sabotage” (1994). Here the Boys (in comically bad wigs and fake mustaches) and director Spike Jonze send up 1970s cop shows and serve up a campy clip that no doubt piqued up-and-comer Quentin Tarantino’s interest in early ’94. Look for MCA as both Sir Stewart Wallace and Nathan Wind.”Sabotage” was the first single off the New York trio’s fourth LP Ill Communication.

“Intergalactic” (1998). Nathanial Hornblower (aka Yauch) was behind the lens once again for “Intergalactic”. The video parodied cheesy Japanese sci fi films containing laughable special effects (dig that giant, menacing robot!), while the song itself, which was the first single off Hello Nasty, was a return to form for the Boys. “Intergalactic” gave them their first Top 40 hit in nearly a decade, and it went on to win the Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group the following year.

“Make Some Noise” (2011). A 2011 MTV VMA Video Of The Year nominee, Beastie Boys left no celeb un-cameo’d in this Adam Yauch-directed clip, which serves as a sequel to “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)”. Seth Rogen, Elijah Wood and Danny McBride play the boys in the epic NYC-set video that also features the likes of Will Arnett, Rainn Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson, Steve Buscemi, Chloe Sevigny, Kirsten Dunst, Orlando Bloom, Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, and Jack Black. Yauch also shot a 30-minute version of the video.

Have a favorite Beastie Boys video that we missed? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Twitter and Facebook!

Adam Yauch, a member and co-founder of the Beastie Boys, has died at the age of 47. Yauch, known in the group as MCA, was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and had been in treatment the last few years. He was optimistic about his prognosis, but stayed out of the spotlight upon the release of the band’s Hot Sauce Committee, Part Two, and did not attend the group’s induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame last month.

Born in Brooklyn in 1964, Yauch formed the Beastie Boys with Mike “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz in 1979. They were initially a hardcore punk band, but eventually changed their style to hip-hop. The trio had a breakout hit in 1986 with their first proper album Licensed To Ill, which included the smash single ”(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)”. The LP would become the first hip-hop album to top the Billboard 200, and the Boys would go on to win three Grammys and three MTV VMAs.

Yauch’s interests weren’t limited to writing and performing music. He directed many of the Beastie Boys’ music videos, using the psydonym “Nathanial Hörnblowér”. In 2002, he built Oscilloscope Laboratories, a recording studio and film production company that would release dozens of independent movies, including Yauch’s 2008 feature-film debut, basketball documentary Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot, and Banksy‘s critically-acclaimed street art doc, Exit Through The Gift Shop. Yauch, a practicing Buddhist, was heavily involved with the movement to free Tibet, and helped put on the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park 1996, which drew 100,000 people.

In 2009, which marked the thirtieth anniversary of the formation of the band, Yauch revealed he had a cancerous tumor in his left parotid gland. The band cancelled their tour and delayed recording their album Hot Sauce Committee, Part Two, so that Adam could go through treatment.

In April, the Beastie Boys became the third rap group to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Yauch was not able to attend due to his illness, but still had a strong presence at the ceremony: his bandmates read a letter he had written, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers dedicated their performance to Adam, and a special medley of Beastie Boys tunes was performed by The Roots, Kid Rock and Travie McCoy. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony airs this Saturday on HBO.

Because there were so many music videos to emerge in 2011, we have to give props where props are due. As it would be impossible to simply call one music video the “Best Music Video of 2011,” for the first time ever, we’re naming winners in a bunch of categories based on the major themes we saw in this year’s crop of clips. So, instead of one best music video of 2011, we’ve arrived at nine! See which videos really made a mark on 2011 below.

Best Music Video About A Doomed Relationship
NOMINEES: Rihanna, “We Found Love”; Katy Perry, “The One That Got Away”; Britney Spears, “Criminal”; JoJo, “Disaster”; Lana Del Rey, “Born To Die”
WINNER: The couple in “We Found Love” is the grittiest and most doomed of all. (Well, okay, Lana dies at the end of her video, but Rihanna’s relationship is much more fleshed out in her clip — probably because it was more than likely based on her own experiences.)

Best Music Video Featuring A Mythical Creature
NOMINEES: Lady Gaga as a mermaid in “You & I”; Ke$ha’s fancy unicorns in “Blow”; Katy Perry as an alien in “E.T.”
WINNER: Ke$ha’s “Blow”. We also consider a James Van Der Beek cameo on the same level as a Bigfoot sighting.

Video With Most Blatant Use Of Copyright Infringement
NOMINEES: Rihanna, “S&M”; Rihanna, “You Da One”; Beyonce, “Countdown”
WINNER: Though Beyonce got called out for lifting Belgian choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker’s choreography, we picked Rihanna’s “S&M”, since she actually got sued for cribbing David LaChapelle’s style. (But there’s still plenty of time for photographer Solve Sundsbo to file a lawsuit for her style being copied in “You Da One”.)

Video With Most Blatant Use Of Product Placement
NOMINEES: Britney Spears, “Hold It Against Me”; Jennifer Lopez, “Papi”; Dr. Dre, “I Need A Doctor”; Avril Lavigne, “What The Hell”
WINNER: Jennifer Lopez’s “Papi”, simply because that Fiat wouldn’t stop following J.Lo around.

Best Music Video Somehow Associated With Mick Jagger
NOMINEES: Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera, “Moves Like Jagger”, Cher Lloyd, “Swagger Jagger”, will.i.am, “T.H.E.”
WINNER: Maroon 5 and Xtina’s “Moves Like Jagger”, though it’s mostly a win by default.

Best Music Video Featuring People Impersonating Pop Stars
NOMINEES: Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera, “Moves Like Jagger”; Kaiser Chiefs, “Kinda Girl You Are”; Weird Al Yankovic, “Perform This Way”; Das Racist, “Michael Jackson”
WINNER: Weird Al Yankovic’s “Perform This Way”. We’re honestly surprised Gaga has yet to wear a beehive full of actual bees.

Best Music Video Focusing On Men’s Crotches
NOMINEES: LMFAO, “Sexy And I Know It”; Duck Sauce, “Big Bad Wolf”
WINNER: Though pretty much NSFL, Duck Sauce’s “Big Bad Wolf” made these dudes’ nether regions into actual characters. And man, were they in the mood to party.

Best Reason Not To Attempt Suicide In A Music Video
NOMINEES: Pink, “F**kin’ Perfect”; Eminem, “Space Bound”; Chloe Lattanzi, “Play With Me”
WINNER: Chloe’s “Play With Me”, by a mile. It’s also a good reason not to always encourage your children to follow your footsteps and attempt a singing career.

Best Celebrity Cameo(s) In A Music Video
NOMINEES: Katy Perry, “Last Friday Night (TGIF)” (Hanson, Darren Criss, Kevin McHale, Kenny G, Debbie Gibson, Corey Feldman, Rebecca Black); Ke$ha, “Blow” (James Van Der Beek); Cee Lo Green, “Cry Baby” (Jaleel White); The Throne, “Otis” (Aziz Ansari); Beastie Boys, “Make Some Noise” (every comedian on planet Earth)
WINNER:  Beastie Boys’ “Make Some Noise”, for sheer volume of celebrities alone.

What were your favorite music videos of 2011? Tell us on Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments below.