Adam Yauch, 1964-2012 R.I.P. MCA

It is with great sadness that we note the passing of Adam Yauch, (aka MCA of the Beastie Boys).  As a founding member of that troop, he left a mighty imprint on not only hip hop and alternative music and movie culture, helping to found Oscilloscope Laboratories.

He also helped raise political awareness of the situation in Tibet with the co-founding of the Milarepa Fund,  hooking up a generation that was apathetic on a good day to politics of any sort.  He managed the act of growing up in public with grace.  Deepest condolences to his loved ones.

There are already many phenomenal appreciations out there, including excellent tributes from The New Yorker, New York Times, LA Times, NPR, and Rolling Stone. 

One of the more interesting tributes to appear Friday was the adoption of Beastie Boys songs for walk up music in that evening's game by the New York Mets, something Yauch surely would have appreciated.  Is it mere coincidence that the weekend saw the New York Knicks win their first playoff game in 11 years?

In closing, for Adam Yauch, the journey was the destination.  May he rest in peace.

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The fullest measure of the man was on display at an unexpected place, the MTV Music Video Awards (1998):

At this year's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremonies, the induction honors of the Beastie Boys were handled by none other than Chuck D, who lent his singular perspective to not only the honorees, but the industry at large:

Seems like there's never a bad time to air this one out:

and, as a bonus:

and, finally, their most moving testament: