Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch Dies

Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch - known as MCA - has died, age 47, after a long battle with cancer.

The LA Times reported that a representative of the world renown NY hip hop trio confirmed that Yauch "passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer."

Along with partners Mike D (Mike Diamond) and Ad-Rock (Adam Horovitz), Yauch transformed hip hop with their 1986 album Licensed To Ill. They continued developing their sound from party hop anthems to mature funk explorations with a string of albums from Paul's Boutique (1989) to the most recent Hot Sauce Committee Pt 2 (2011).

In April, the band was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame - an ailing Yauch was unable to attend the ceremony.

Away from the band, Yauch, a practising Buddhist, helped raise awareness for the Tibetan independence movement.

Yauch also co-founded Oscilloscope Pictures, which released the films Burma VJ and, the recent critics' favourite, We Need To Talk About Kevin.

UPDATE:

Tributes to Adam Yauch are being teweeted from hip hop and other music industry friends, fans and associates - movie industry celebrities are also  honouring the hip hop artist. Even Anonymous have paid tribute.

Ghostface Killah: My condolences to Adam "MCA" Yauch Family & the Beastie Boys. My brothers & I felt that pain before as well. Sad Day.

Tom Morello: Rip dear Adam Yauch. Words can't express the sadness and loss. Ur humor, talent & gentle soul are just irreplacable. Be at peace brother.

Perry Farrell: Adam Yauch was a guy who brought happiness and energy to so many. That is why the news of his passing- is so stifling. Bon Voyage Adam

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. 

Q-Tip: RIP yauch and thank u mike and adam n adam 4 all of your help, the tours, the bball games, n great times. a humanitarian a tru friend

Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino: 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.

Lucious Jackson: To our brother in friendship and music Adam Yauch we will miss you deeply. Peace.

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

Ice T: TERRIBLE NEWS: MCA of the Beastie Boys has died at 47. Another very sad day in Hip Hop

Silversun Pickups: Awful. R I P Adam Yauch (MCA). End of an era. Gonna listen to a lot of paul's boutique and check yo head today. Sad sad sad..._b

DefJam Recordings: Man...that one hurts. Our prayers go out to Adam Yauch and his family. Rest Well.

Diplo: Mca Adam Yauch RIP... Im sittin in the former g son studios.. Flying the flag half mast today.... Rap/punk hero, philanthropist, legend

Billy Corgan: Sad news about Adam Yauch's passing,a man of dignity + spiritual conviction. I always had great respect for him in times we met and talked

The Strokes: our thoughts are with the family & friends of Adam Yauch. thanks for your inspiration both on the mic & off. 

Warpaint: RIP Adam Yauch. Nothing short of genius. Thank you.

Kevin Smith: RIP Adam Yauch. You made my teenage years more fun and your art made it easier for me to do what I do. For a Beastie, you sure were a beaut.

Jonah Hill: I'm filled with so much sorrow to hear about the world losing Adam Yauch. He was such a beautiful person and artist. My heart is broken

Ben Stiller: So sad that Adam Yauch is gone. A truly great musician & filmmaker. He stood for integrity as an artist. What a loss. He was a very good man

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

Anonymous: Adam Yauch AKA MCA, peacefully restfully, sleeps in Brooklyn.

Dave Graney: so many tributes to #Adam Yauch/MCA. Touching that they got to so many people.RIP brother.

Bluejuice: Thank you MCA - we all owe you a lot (except for Stav, who was more in to Boyz 2 Men and Coolio).

Urthboy: Skateboards, ripped clothes, longnecks and Beastie Boys. Cheers for those years. RIP MCA.

Joelistics: RIP MCA. I am so fucking depressed. The Beastie Boys are one of the reasons I got in to rap. Today in the tour van we listen to beasties!

Chuck D: Adam &theBoys put us on our first tour 25 years&79 tours ago.They ARE essential to our beginning,middle and today.A very real cat R.I.P MCA

Hilltop Hoods: Rest in Peace MCA. Such a huge influence on the culture. So young. So very sad.

Gotye: Sad to hear of Adam Yauch's untimely passing.

Hermitude: RIP MCA. Sad news.

Weezer: We are so sorry to hear about the loss of the Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch (MCA) a true legend & inspirational to everyone in weezers generation

Krist Novoselic: Adam Yauch #RIPMCA Thank you for Sabotage bass riff and many other great grooves. Adam also worked for justice and peace consciousness.

Biz Markie: A VERY SPECIAL R.I.P. TO ADAM YAUCH FROM THE BEASTIE BOYS MY BROTHER YOU ARE GONNA BE TRULY MISSED MY HEART IS HEAVY.....

Boy George: Such sad news about Beastie Boy Adam Yauch. A fellow Buddhist and part of hip hop history!! R.I.P!

Vernon Reid: Last time I saw Adam Yauch, we were standing by the soundboard watching Andy Stackpole mix 1 of the last CBGB's Bad Brains shows. Cool dude.

Redman: R.I.P. ADAM "MCA" YAUCH... A TRUE HIPHOP LEGEND.... BEASTIE BOYS MUSIC WAS DEFINITELY A PART OF REDMAN SUCCESS IN THE GAME !!

Cut Copy: A true artist and gentleman. MCA.

Yeasayer: R.I.P MCA. A legend, an innovator... Listening to the B-Boys as a kid opened my eyes to a whole new world of music.

Ryan Adams: Dear Universe, Please take care of MCA. We wil miss him.

RZA: Its a deep physical lost to hip hop today. MCA. Wow. Thanks for the music bro. "Thru our seeds we all reach eternity" lyrics are like seeds.

Prince Paul: Am I hearing this correctly about MCA ? . one of the nicest , most talented dudes ever. .He's been nothing but kind to me. .. this hurts

Andrew WK: MCA PARTY HARD FOREVER

Colin Hanks: The thing about MCA is that he taught me so much about how to look at life...so much more than just some musician. He transcends everything

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

The Avalanches: Love and prayers to Dechen Tenzin Adam and Mike. Can't believe... RIP ADAM

DZ Deathrays: Tonight's show goes out to MCA. true party champion. RIP

Leave your tributes below.