[Updated at 3:03 p.m. ET] Adam "MCA" Yauch, a founding member of the pioneering rap band the Beastie Boys, has died after a nearly three-year battle with cancer, the band's publicist said Friday. He was 47.
Yauch revealed in July 2009 that he had surgery for cancer in a salivary gland and a lymph node.
What is salivary gland cancer?
Yauch's death comes less than a month after the Beastie Boys were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Because of his fight with cancer, Yauch did not attend, Rolling Stone magazine reported.
The Beastie Boys – Yauch, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz and Michael "Mike D" Diamond – did not perform that night. But Horovitz read a letter from Yauch to the audience.
"I'd like to dedicate this to my brothers Adam and Mike," Yauch wrote, according to Rolling Stone. "They walked the globe with me. It's also for anyone who has ever been touched by our band. This induction is as much ours as it is yours."
Yauch's cancer delayed the release of the band's most recent album, "Hot Sauce Committee Part Two," for two years. It was supposed to come out in 2009 but instead was released in spring 2011.
The Beastie Boys' debut album, 1986's "Licensed to Ill" – featuring the singles "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)," "No Sleep Till Brooklyn," "Paul Revere" and "Brass Monkey" – was the first rap album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard album charts.
Yauch was a founding member of the group, which played for the first time at his birthday party in 1981, according to the band’s Facebook page.
He converted to Buddhism in the 1990s after visiting Nepal and hearing the Dalai Lama speak in Arizona, he told the Buddhist magazine Shambhala Sun in 1995.
As a Buddhist, Yauch became an advocate for Tibetan freedom, organizing concerts involving the Beastie Boys and other acts to raise money for the cause, including the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1996. Several similar concerts followed.
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Seen the Beasties every tour since License to Ill in '87. MCA, you will be missed.
B-Boy for life
One of the original grimy-tone MCs. R.I.P.
At least he didn't go out like Houston. RIP MCA
Yes he did. He stopped breathing...just like you will one day. Nothing matters after that.
Dam.
Sad day for the hip hop community.
True MC's.
Beastie Boys ROCK!
I still enjoy listening to their music and I'm 43. He was a great man who brought happiness to others through his music. My thoughts to his family.
You know, Yauch was a Buddhist and I wholeheartedly respect his belief that someday his soul will be reincarnated until he reaches enlightenment. If that is the case, then there is a small part of me that is happy for this new human being wherever he/she is. A beautiful soul deserves another chance. RIP MCA
Replace that inappropriate image of Adam Yauch on the CNN homepage.
Love you forever, MCA. Rest in Peace. xoxo
Pioneer group. Made REAL hip hop(not this garbage you hear on the radio now) come into the mainstream.
Much respect to the Beastie Boys and RIP MCA....
Awww...
Condolences to his family, friends, and fans.
They re-wrote a whole chapter of mainstream music....
"MCA, where have you been?"
Chillin' with the Dalai Lama for one... while other rappers bragged about their car's rims.
You're one of a kind Adam, RIP!
My god this is so sad
Wow, so sad to hear of this. Guess it's gonna be a Beasties kind of weekend as everyone is going to be blasting them out. So unique, so raw, so whatcha whatcha whatcha want? RIP MCA