LOS ANGELES — Adam Yauch, a co-founder of Grammy-winning hip-hop
giants the Beastie Boys, died Friday after a three-year battle with
cancer, the band's publicists said.The 47-year-old, better
known by his stage name MCA, died weeks after the pioneering white
hip-hop act were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, although
he was too ill to attend."It is with great sadness that we
confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam "MCA" Yauch
... passed away in his native New York City this morning after a
near-three-year battle with cancer," said a statement.The
Beastie Boys sold over 40 million records and released four number one
albums, including the first hip hop album ever to top the Billboard 200,
the band's 1986 debut full length, "Licensed To Ill."They
won three Grammys: two in 1998 — best rap performance and best
alternative music performance — and one in 2007, best pop instrumental
album, for "The Mix Up," according to the Grammys website.The
three-member band cancelled a tour in 2009 after Yauch announced he had
been diagnosed with cancer in a salivary gland. They have not appeared
live since the summer of that year, said Rolling Stone.Tributes
began pouring in even before his death was confirmed — on Twitter it
became the top trending discussion topic, under the hashtag #RIPMCA."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," said
actor-singer Justin Timberlake.British Culture Club star
and DJ Boy George said: "Such sad news about Beastie Boy Adam Yauch. A
fellow Buddhist and part of hip hop history!! R.I.P!"Born
in Brooklyn, 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.The rapper launched the band,
initially a hard-core punk outfit, in 1979 with Mike "Mike D" Diamond
and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horowitz, but they gradually moved towards hip hop,
making it big with their 1986 album "Licensed to Ill."Yauch
was also involved in support for Tibet, and helped organize charity
concerts for the cause in the 1990s. He recently became a vegan at the
recommendation of his Tibetan doctors, TMZ reported.He was also a founding member of film production and distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories.

Yauch
did not appear at a ceremony to induct the Beastie Boys into the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame in April, where Diamond and Horovitz read an
acceptance speech on his behalf.His treatments delayed the
release of the group's most recent album, "Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2."
The album has been expected to debut at number two on the Billboard
chart, but his death could boost it into the top spot, CNN said.Tributes continued to pour in after his publicists confirmed Yauch's death.

Def
Jam Recordings, one of his labels, tweeted: "Man . . . that one hurts.
Our prayers go out to Adam Yauch and his family. #MCA #BEASTIEBOYS Rest
Well."British pop hearthrobs Duran Duran said: ""Rest in
Peace Adam Yauch. Our condolences to your friends and family," while
indie star Moby added: "I'm very very sad to hear of adam yauch's
passing."He was a wonderful, generous, remarkable, and inspiring man and friend."

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



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