Musicians pay tribute to Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch
The announcement earlier today of Adam Yauch’s death at age 47 has prompted fellow musicians to share memories of the Beastie Boys rapper and reactions to his death. Rolling Stone has compiled their responses below:
Eminem, via a statement:
“Adam Yauch brought a lot of positivity into the world and I think it’s obvious to anyone how big of an influence the Beastie Boys were on me and so many others. They are trailblazers and pioneers and Adam will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, Mike D., and Ad-Rock.”
Madonna, via a statement:
“The Beastie Boys were one of a kind! And so was Adam! They were all an important part of my musical history and integral to the musical revolution that was happening at the time. I’m very sad to hear about Adam’s passing. God bless him and his family”
Chuck D, via a statement:
“Last night, I took a 14 hour flight to Sydney, Australia from LA, embarking on PE’s 80th tour in 25 years. I just landed to 65 texts with the news. Adam and the Boys put us on out first tour 25 years and 79 tours ago. They were essential to our beginning, middle and today. Adam especially was unbelievable in our support from then ’til now, even allowing me to induct them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I consider myself a strong man and my father says be prepared to lose many in your post-50 path of life. Still, I’m a bit teary-eyed leaving this plane.”
Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, via a statement:
“I was very sad to hear the news of Adam Yauch’s death yesterday. We looked up to the Beastie Boys a lot when we were starting out and how they maintained artistic control making wicked records but still were on a major label, and the Tibetan Freedom Concerts they organized had a very big influence on me personally and the way Adam conducted himself and dealt with it all impressed me a lot. He was a mellow and [very] smart guy. May he rest in peace.”
LL Cool J, via a statement:
“My condolences to Adams family, The Beastie Boys, their team, and their
millions of fans. It’s deeply painful to lose someone we grew up with. It seems like just yesterday they helped me break into the business. It hurts man. We must preserve his legacy by continuing to represent the culture he loved so much. May GOD bless your soul MCA. PS. Thank You”
Yauch is gone. fuck.
— Questo of The Roots (@questlove) May 4, 2012
Rip dear Adam Yauch. Words can’t express the sadness and loss. Ur humor, talent & gentle soul are just irreplacable. Be at peace brother.
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) May 4, 2012
God Bless the soul of Adam Yauch aka MCA of the Beastie Boys.RIP
— COMMON (@common) May 4, 2012
#restinpeaceMCA 1 of my favorite hiphop groups…hiphop raised a lot of us & now we have to wake up because are hero’s are dying too younge
— will.i.am (@iamwill) May 4, 2012
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. #RIPMCA
— Justin Timberlake(@jtimberlake) May 4, 2012
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
— QTip (@QtipTheAbstract) May 4, 2012
Adam Yauch Rest In Peace. I’ll miss you very very much.
— Sean Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) May 4, 2012
R I P Adam… I’m devastated.Praying for Adam Yauch’s family from the legendary Beastie Boys. Youll be missed!
— Rev Run (@RevRunWisdom) May 4, 2012
Adam Yauch #RIPMCA. Thank you for Sabotage bass riff and many other great grooves. Adam also worked for justice and peace consciousness.
— Krist Novoselic (@KristNovoselic) May 4, 2012
NEXT: Santigold, Duran Duran, Travis Barker
and More on Adam Yauch
Santigold, via a statement:
“Though I’ve been a fan of The Beastie Boys since I was 12 years old (there is a lost tape of me performing “Fight for Your Right to Party” with my friends at the mall), I got to know Adam when I had the opportunity to work with The Beastie Boys on the song “Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win” for the Hot Sauce Committee Part Two album. Adam was what I call an instant friend. He was someone whose warmth, honesty and generosity were felt immediately. As an artist, he is a legend. He is the kind of artist I’ve always aspired to be like; he was the epitome of a new kind of cool, he was hilarious, a visionary, talented on so many different levels from music to film, he was socially conscious, spiritually aware, an activist, and he was always humble and down to earth. It was such an honor to have known him, and I will miss him. This is such a monumental loss, not just for the music and film communities, but for the whole world. “
Nas, via a statement:
“One of my greatest moments in music was when I worked with the Beastie Boys … Now today I’m hearing our brother is gone. I prayed this would not happen … MCA was so cool, man. We had great talks about what it was like for them in the beginning, getting into the rap game. I’ll never forget that experience for the rest of my life. MCA is true legend who influenced me. God bless his soul and his loved ones.”
President of Def Jam Recordings Joie Manda, via a statement:
“It’s impossible to measure the influence Adam Yauch and The Beastie Boys have had on me personally, on hip-hop culture as a whole, and on rock and roll in general. His legacy here at Def Jam is nothing short of iconic – he was one of the pioneering artists of this great label and family. We are filled with a sense of loss today… the Def Jam flag is at half mast. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones.”
Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy
“As a co-founding member of the three-time Grammy-winning Beastie Boys, Adam Yauch was part of one of the most groundbreaking trios in hip-hop. The group’s music crossed genres and color lines, and helped bring rap to a wider audience. A rapper, musician and director, Yauch was an immense talent and creative visionary, and an instrumental force in the group’s career for more than three decades. In addition to his music and artistry, he was a philanthropist who devoted much of his energy to his passionate support for freedom of expression. The music world has lost a true trailblazer, and our deepest sympathies are with his family, friends and fans throughout the world.”
My deepest condolences 2 the family of Adam yauch & the beastie boys. Adam was the coolest dude ever & will b missed but memory will live on
— B_Real Cypress Hill (@B_Real420) May 4, 2012
PEACE & LOVE ETERNALLY 2 #MCA
— Major Lazer (@majorlazer) May 4, 2012
R.I.P. Adam Yauch Beastie Boys #RIPMCA
— MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) May 4, 2012
TERRIBLE NEWS: MCA of the Beastie Boys has died at 47. tmz.com/2012/05/04/bea… Another very sad day in Hip Hop.#MCARIP
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) May 4, 2012
Much love & respect, Adam Yauch. Our best to the #BeastieBoys family.
— 311 (@311) May 4, 2012
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.
— Donald Glover (@DonaldGlover) May 4, 2012
Rest on peace Adam Yauch. Beastie Boys were always the “coolest whiteboys” when I was growing up. They erased color lines the opposite way
— marlon wayans (@MARLONLWAYANS) May 4, 2012
Brass Monkey was the worst tasting liquor ever. And we drank it anyway. Cuz the song was so jamming. RIP MCA. #BeastieBoys4Life
— Bun B (@BunBTrillOG) May 4, 2012
RIP MCA
— Asher Roth (@asherroth) May 4, 2012
We’re very saddened by the passing of Adam Yauch. RIP MCA. You’ll be missed.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdJ5e7…
— Jimmy Eat World (@jimmyeatworld) May 4, 2012
Such sad news about Beastie Boy Adam Yauch. A fellow Buddhist and part of hip hop history!! R.I.P!
— boygeorge (@BoyGeorge) May 4, 2012
We’re sad to learn about the death of MCA. Our condolences to the Beastie Boys and Adam’s family.
— Linkin Park (@linkinpark) May 4, 2012
sending energy and light to Adam Yauch’s loved ones…..#RIPMCA
— Mandy Moore (@TheMandyMoore) May 4, 2012
I’m very very sad to hear of adam yauch’s passing. He was a wonderful, generous, remarkable, and inspiring man and friend.
— moby (@thelittleidiot) May 4, 2012
Our most loving thoughts are with Adam Yauch and his family
— Edward Sharpe (@EdwardSharpe) May 4, 2012
RIP Adam Yauch. One of the only people in this music world worthy of hero worship.
— Damian Abraham (@leftfordamian) May 4, 2012
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…..
— BIZ MARKIE (@BizMarkie) May 4, 2012
To our brother in friendship and music Adam Yauch we will miss you deeply. Peace.instagr.am/p/KNpn1rrOQ3/
— LusciousJackson (@LusciousJckson) May 4, 2012
wow. rest in peace adam yauch.
— atmosphere (@atmosphere) May 4, 2012
Rest in Peace Adam Yauch. Our condolences to your friends and family: rollingstone.com/music/news/bea…
— Duran Duran (@duranduran) May 4, 2012
A very sad day indeed. Adam YauchRIP.
— Fred Durst (@freddurst) May 4, 2012
Rest In Peace Adam Yauch /MCA. 4ever somebody i looked up to & had the pleasure of meeting. Damn this bums me out, we lost one of the best
— Travis Barker (@travisbarker) May 4, 2012
RIP MCA
— Gregg Gillis (@girltalk) May 4, 2012
“In times of doubt I can think on the dharma and the enlightened ones who graduated samsara” #RIPMCA
— Ezra Koenig (@arzE) May 4, 2012
oh no. SAD RT @questloveYauch is gone. fuck.
— superchunk (@superchunk) May 4, 2012
RIP Adam Yauch. thanks for the amazing music,continual inspiration youtube.com/watch?v=Sts5Zr…
— Chemical Brothers (@ChemBros) May 4, 2012
RIP to one of the greats. MCA, Adam Yauchof the Beastie Boys. Through music u can live forever.
— MxPx (@mxpx) May 4, 2012