After a three year battle with cancer it is with great sadness that yesterday morning legendary Beastie Boys co-founder Adam Yauch aka MCA passed away at the age of 47.

Beastie Boys arrived on the scene in the 80s gaining momentum through playing at underground clubs in hip hop’s capital New York City. Group members Michael ‘Mike D’ Diamond,  Adam “Adrock” Horovitz and Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch were under-estimated by critics who disregarded them as a one-hit wonder appealing to the frat boy demographic  when the single ” (You Gotta) Fight for your right (to Party!)” soared to #7  of the hit debut album License to Ill. Not only were they the first all white group to gain mainstream and underground popularity for their experimentation of punk rock and rap but the album was the first hip hop LP to top the Billboard 200 chart- an incredible achievement during the evolving hip hop movement.

Yauch was a force to be reckoned with as an MC, director and defender of human rights. He spoke out against muslim discrimination as far back as 1998 and as a practicing Buddhist he was also involved in the Tibetan independence movement through organising  the highly renowned Tibetan Freedom Concert.

With 25 years in the game Beastie Boys have proved their originality and longevity. They are one of those groups who even if you’re not familiar with their music you probably have heard it unknowingly anyway. They influenced many big names in the game from J Dilla, Outkast and Public Enemy to OFWGKTA, Limp Bizkit and Eminem including collaborations with the likes of Nas and Santigold. So here’s our tribute to the almighty pioneer,  Adam Yauch- R.I.P.

-Tayo Jisi @flavatv