[News] Beastie Boys' Ad-Rock and Mike D Respond to MCA's Passing

In the wake of Beastie Boys member MCA's unfortunate death this past Friday, Ad-Rock and Mike D, the other members of the famed New York group, have both issued statements regarding the loss of their friend and bandmate.

Ad-Rock took to the band's official website, saying, "As you can imagine, shit is just fkd up right now. But i wanna say thank you to all our friends and family (which are kinda one in the same) for all the love and support. i’m glad to know that all the love that Yauch has put out into the world is coming right back at him. thank you."

Mike D's reaction came on Facebook, where he wrote, "I know, we should have tweeted and instagrammed every sad, happy and inspired thought, smile or tear by now. But honestly the last few days have just been a blur of deep emotions for our closest friend, band mate and really brother. I miss Adam so much. He really served as a great example for myself and so many of what determination, faith, focus, and humility coupled with a sense of humor can accomplish. The world is in need of many more like him. We love you Adam."

Numerous other musicians gave statements in response to MCA's passing, including Jay-Z, Thom Yorke, and Madonna.

[Watch] Jimmy Fallon and The Roots Pay Tribute to MCA, Coldplay Covers "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)"

Following the devastating passing of Beastie Boys member Adam "MCA" Yauch last Friday, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots paid tribute on Friday's episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. After giving a brief statement, Fallon delivered a video montage honoring MCA, which gave footage from the Beastie Boys 2009 appearance on the show. Afterwards, The Roots performed covers of "Sure Shot," "Remote Control," and "Sabotage" throughout the show. After the jump, you can stream the entirety of Friday's episode (Fallon’s montage is at the 11:40, and The Roots’ cover of “Sure Shot” can be seen at the 4:15. The other covers performed by The Roots can be seen before and after each break) as well as the 2009 appearance of the Beastie Boys on the show.

Another tribute paid to the passing of MCA comes from Coldplay, who performed a cover of "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)" during their Friday night performance at the Hollywood Bowl. Watch the acoustic, piano-led cover after the jump.

The Beastie Boys' 2009 Appearance on Fallon:

Coldplay's Cover of "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)":

[News] Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch AKA MCA Dead At 47

It is with the heaviest of hearts and tears in our eyes that we report today that Adam Yauch, co-founding member of the legendary Beastie Boys has passed away at age 47. It was well known that he had been battling cancer for a long time and sadly the battle is over.

Cancer is such a sonofabitch. Seriously.

UPDATE: Beastie Boys members Mike D and Ad-Rock have released an official statement regarding Yauch's passing.

Adam Yauch | 1964-2012
It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam “MCA” Yauch, founding member of Beastie Boys and also of the Milarepa Foundation that produced the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits, and film production and distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories, passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, 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.

With fellow members Michael “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Adrock” Horovitz, Beastie Boys would go on to sell over 40 million records, release four #1 albums–including the first hip hop album ever to top the Billboard 200, the band’s 1986 debut full length, Licensed To Ill–win three Grammys, and the MTV Video Vanguard Lifetime Achievement award. Last month Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with Diamond and Horovitz reading an acceptance speech on behalf of Yauch, who was unable to attend.

In addition to his hand in creating such historic Beastie Boys albums as Paul’s Boutique, Check Your Head, Ill Communication, Hello Nasty and more, Yauch was a founder of the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and activism regarding the injustices perpetrated on native Tibetans by Chinese occupational government and military forces. In 1996, Milarepa produced the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, which was attended by 100,000 people, making it the biggest benefit concert on U.S. soil since 1985′s Live Aid. The Tibetan Freedom Concert series would continue to stage some of the most significant benefit shows in the world for nearly a decade following in New York City, Washington DC, Tokyo, Sydney, Amsterdam, Taipei and other cities.

In the wake of September 11, 2001, Milarepa organized New Yorkers Against Violence, a benefit headlined by Beastie Boys at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, with net proceeds disbursed to the New York Women’s Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Association for New Americans (NYANA) September 11th Fund for New Americans–each chosen for their efforts on behalf of 9/11 victims least likely to receive help from other sources.

Under the alias of Nathanial Hörnblowér, Yauch directed iconic Beastie Boys videos including “So Whatcha Want,” “Intergalactic,” “Body Movin” and “Ch-Check It Out.” Under his own name, Yauch directed last year’s Fight For Your Right Revisited, an extended video for “Make Some Noise” from Beastie Boys’ Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, starring Elijah Wood, Danny McBride and Seth Rogen as the 1986 Beastie Boys, making their way through a half hour of cameo-studded misadventures before squaring off against Jack Black, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as Beastie Boys of the future.

Yauch’s passion and talent for filmmaking led to his founding of Oscilloscope Laboratories, which in 2008 released his directorial film debut, the basketball documentary Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot and has since become a major force in independent video distribution, amassing a catalogue of such acclaimed titles as Kelly Reichardt’s Wendy and Lucy, Oren Moverman’s The Messenger, Banksy’s Exit Through The Gift Shop, Lance Bangs and Spike Jonze’s Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait Of Maurice Sendak, and many more."

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

Beastie Boys Unveil Album Artwork, Tracklisting

Screw you, cancer! Beastie Boys are baaaaccckkk! 

Now that Adam Yauch (aka MCA) has recovered from his battle with cancer, we will finally get to hear new Beastie music! What's more, we get album artwork, a release date, a track listing AND a song to check out! 

Since Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 1 was supposed to drop back in 2009 but was delayed indefinitely due to MCS's diagnosis, we now have Hot Sauce Committee Pt.2. What's interesting is that a lot of the songs that appear on this track listing were on HSCP1.

As you might have guessed, the album artwork is above. HSCP2 will drop on May 3rd, courtesy of Capitol Records. 

You can check out their collaboration with Nas called "Too Many Rappers" as well as the track listing after the jump!

Thanks Pitchfork for the heads up!

Beastie Boys ft. Nas: "Too Many Rappers":

Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2:

1. "Make Some Noise" – 3:30
2. "Nonstop Disco Powerpack" – 4:09
3. "OK" – 2:49
4. "Too
5. Many Rappers" [New Reactionaries version] (featuring Nas) – 4:52
6. "Say It" – 3:26
7. "The Bill Harper Collection" – 0:24
8. "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win" (featuring Santigold) – 4:11
9. "Long Burn the Fire" – 3:34
10. "Funky Donkey" – 1:56
11. "The Larry Routine" – 0:30
12. "Tadlock's Glasses" – 2:19
13. "Lee Majors Come Again" – 3:43
14. "Multilateral Nuclear Disarma
15. ment" – 2:54
16. "Here's a Little Somethin' for Ya" – 3:07
17. "Crazy Ass Shit" – 1:56
18. "The Lisa Lisa/Full Force Routine" – 0:49

Bonus tracks:

1. "Pop Your Balloon" (bonus track)
2. "B-Boys in the Cut" (bonus track)
3. "Make Some Noise (Passion Pit Remix)" (pre-order bonus download)