Total Bummer: R.I.P. Beastie Boys’ Adam “MCA” Yauch (1964-2012)
Truly terrible news this afternoon, as it appears that Adam Yauch, better known as MCA from the Beastie Boys, has passed away at the age of 47, presumably from his ongoing battle with cancer. The reports are not fully confirmed, but I can’t really imagine how else a rumor like this would start. Check back to this post later for an update on the situation and, if it is in fact true, some thoughts about this music legend. Today just got very, very sad.
UPDATE: It appears that the earlier reports are true, and that Adam Yauch has indeed passed away. I’m sort of still a little bit in shock about the whole thing, so apologies if this post isn’t up to the eloquence that MCA most certainly deserves. This is one of those situations where, at least in the early stages, the more time passes the more painful it becomes. Such is the breadth and quality of MCA’s lifes work. Whether it be the untouchable catalogue he put together with the Beastie Boys (one of the best of all time), his directing work as Nathaniel Hornblower, or his huge contribution to the independent film world through Oscilloscope Pictures. All the work he did that made people happy.
More than anything it hurts because it really and truly feels like it wasn’t supposed to happen. I’ve been talking with some friends who agree with me that, when MCA was originally diagnosed with cancer in 2009, the palpable sense of dread that accompanies something like that was conspicuously missing. It just didn’t seem possibly that the raspy voiced genius with the quiet, considering eyes could really go so young. It was inconceivable. Yet here we are, because life is a real shithead sometimes.
It’s easy to become very self centered when something like this happens. The Beastie Boys were such a huge, incredible thing (a true national treasure), a sound and attitude so captivating that almost everyone I know has gone through a period of deep obsession with them. And so with the death of MCA, so comes a little death of your own, as a very distinct and powerful set of memories are suddenly cast in shadow. These songs are accompanied by a certain sadness now. It’s selfish, sure, but that’s okay. Because grieving is weird and difficult. Especially for the people you love the most but never really knew.
I’m listening to Paul’s Boutique right now, and it sounds like the best rap album of all time. R.I.P. MCA.
- Whole Milk
May 4th, 2012 at 3:06 pm
Thanks for this, Milk.
May 4th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Here’s just some of how I feel (ripped from my Facebook page)
I think EVERY ONE of my high school friends can attest to the importance the Beasties had on our Generation (X.) The Beasties were the only common ground while we were all in high school. Everyone could get down with “Licensed to Ill.” Jocks could appreciate the cock rock of “Fight for Your Right,” burnouts liked the Sabbath and Zep samples, New Wave kids dug “Girls”… “Paul Revere” is notoriously the record that Eazy E patterned “Boyz n da Hood” after.. meaning they were instrumental in the formation of NWA. A few years later “Paul’s Boutique”‘s sampledelia pretty much invented Trip Hop…. I mean the list goes on.
As A&R people they nurtured the likes of Sean Lennon, Cibo Matto, Bis and At the Drive In, reintroduced people to Liquid Liquid and gave American audiences their first taste of Digital Hardcore.
A product of that magic moments in New York in the 80s where hip hop and punk rock collided into No Wave and Downtown Art madness, they transcended that by becoming THE most important band of our childhood.
Words really can’t explain it. This is pretty much a Don McLean moment in my life… the Beasties didn’t dictate culture to my generation, they were a part of it. They grew up with us. So many of us were little punk rock kids who grew up to appreciate their parents albums and love hip hop. We all discovered jazz and dub and soul, and while kids were raving in the front room we were playing to four people in some chill out” room located near a bathroom door or portapotty.
The Beasties just always have been those dudes. They neither faked the funk with self apology like 3rd Bass, nor did they parody themselves like a Paul Barman or Asher Roth… they were unashamed, and with good reason. They were (and 2/3 are still) THAT COOL!
May 4th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
And Whole… you go the PAULS demos right? Those and LOVE AMERICAN STYLE are pretty instrumental in understanding and appreciating that album. Basicallt the demos are rough versions of the trio rhyming over beats the Dust Brothers recorded basically to be bumpers on their college radio show… LAS is the instrumentals as they were before the Beasties were ever involved with them.
May 4th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
May 4th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
It feels unreal to say aloud: “One of the Beastie Boys is dead.”
In high school, 50% of my time was spent riding around town on my Mongoose with Paul’s Boutique in the walkman, knocking over trashcans.
Cancer is an asshole.
May 4th, 2012 at 7:32 pm
I agree with the article. MCA’s death really does feel like a slap in the face of a generation. I feel wronged that he was taken this early. Can’t really explain it. For a man who introduced me to Eastern religion and Tibet’s monklife, bad vibes off this one. The Beasties rocked Supreme decades before any other rapper caught on. Feels that way at least. Grand Royal mag was the first place I read about Lee Perry or Vincent Gallo. Maybe the best way to sum this up: MCA was like the first Internet for me and he had far more exquisite tastes. Cancer grabbed one of us today. Beastie Boys just ain’t supposed to die.
May 4th, 2012 at 11:08 pm
I guess now we know how people felt when Lennon was shot.
May 4th, 2012 at 11:23 pm
Bob Mack wrote that article on Lee Perry. Great guy and a true Article Don
May 5th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
If you know me at all, The Beastie Boys hold the number one spot for me. Favorite band and Paul’s Boutique being my favorite album of all time. Woke up to the news of Adam Yauch (MCA) passing away from cancer this morning. Seriously heartbroken. These guys changed my fucking life. These guys taught me how not to take life so seriously when the shit hit the fan. From the moment I heard them, I was hooked. MCA being the one I always singled out. He was the man with the deep voice, and the glide when he walked. Coolest MC around. Flowed and made it look easy. He was many things: A Buddhist. A humanitarian for Tibet. Bass player. Vegetarian. Avid Snow boarder. Director. Producer. Father. Husband. MC. God bless you, Adam. May you rest in peace. Thanks for making my life easier by having a relaxed outlook on life and never losing your cool.
” I’ve been coming to where I am, from the get go
Find that I can groove with the beat when I let go
So put your worries on hold
Get up and groove with the rhythm in your soul
And now I’d like to pass the mic to my brother Adrock
C’mon and shine like a light.” – Adam Nathaniel Yauch