Adam Yauch
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| '''Adam Nathaniel Yauch''' (August 5, 1964 – May 4, 2012) was an [[Americans|American]] [[rapper]], [[songwriter]], and [[film director]]. He was best known as a founding member of [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] trio the [[Beastie Boys]], started in 1979 in [[New York City]]. He was frequently known by his stage name, '''MCA''', and sometimes worked under the [[pseudonym]] '''Nathanial Hörnblowér'''. | '''Adam Nathaniel Yauch''' (August 5, 1964 – May 4, 2012) was an [[Americans|American]] [[rapper]], [[songwriter]], and [[film director]]. He was best known as a founding member of [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] trio the [[Beastie Boys]], started in 1979 in [[New York City]]. He was frequently known by his stage name, '''MCA''', and sometimes worked under the [[pseudonym]] '''Nathanial Hörnblowér'''. | ||
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| - | ==Early life== | ||
| - | Yauch was born an only child in [[Brooklyn, New York]], the son of Frances, a social worker, and Noel Yauch, who is a painter and architect.<ref>http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/adam-yauch-dies-at-47-beastie-boy/bc75e8598d8129c6da6b0dedbd4663cd</ref> His father was [[Catholic]] and his mother was [[Jewish faith|Jewish]], and he was raised in a non-religious home.<ref>{{cite web|author=By Anthony DeCurtis |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/adam-yauch-on-his-spiritual-journey-i-dont-care-if-somebody-makes-fun-of-me-20120504 |title=Adam Yauch on His Spiritual Journey: 'I Don't Care If Somebody Makes Fun of Me' | Music News |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=1998-05-28 |accessdate=2012-05-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/33391865.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+26%2C+1998&author=Joan+Anderman%2C+Globe+Correspondent&pub=Boston+Globe&desc=From+Beastie+Boy+to+a+man+of+the+spirit&pqatl=google|work=Boston Globe|first=Joan|last=Anderman|title=From Beastie Boy to a man of the spirit|date=August 26, 1998}}</ref> | ||
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| - | Yauch attended [[Edward R. Murrow High School]] in the [[Midwood, Brooklyn|Midwood neighborhood]] of Brooklyn. In high school, he taught himself to play the bass guitar.<ref name=time/> Yauch formed the Beastie Boys with John Berry, [[Kate Schellenbach]], and [[Mike D|Michael Diamond]].<ref name=usatoday>{{cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2012/05/beastie-boys-adam-yauch-dies-at-age-47/1?csp=hf#.T6RtJVKyOSo |title=Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch dies at age 47 |publisher=Content.usatoday.com |date= |accessdate=2012-05-05}}</ref> They played their first show — then still a [[hardcore punk]] band in the vein of [[Reagan Youth]] — on his 17th birthday. He attended [[Bard College]] for two years before dropping out.<ref name=boston/> | ||
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| - | ==Career== | ||
| - | When Yauch was 22, the Beastie Boys, now performing as a hip hop trio, released their first album ''[[Licensed to Ill]]'' on [[Def Jam|Def Jam Records]]. Under the [[pseudonym]] "Nathanial Hörnblowér", Yauch directed many of the Beastie Boys' [[music video]]s.<ref name=boston/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oscilloscope.net/bios/bio_hornblower.html |title=Nathanial Hornblower bio |publisher=oscilloscope.net}}</ref> | ||
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| - | In 2002, Yauch built a recording studio in New York City called [[Oscilloscope Laboratories]]. He began an [[independent film]] distributing company called Oscilloscope Pictures.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/movies/09yauc.html|title=Offstage, a Beastie Boy Enters the World of Independent Film|first=Melena|last=Ryzik|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 8, 2008|accessdate=May 4, 2012}}</ref> Yauch directed the 2006 Beastie Boys concert film, ''[[Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!]]'', although in the DVD extras for the film, the title character in "A Day in the Life of Nathanial Hörnblowér" is played by [[David Cross]]. He also directed the 2008 film ''[[Gunnin' For That No. 1 Spot|Gunnin' For That #1 Spot]]'' about eight [[high school]] [[basketball]] prospects at the Boost Mobile Elite 24 Hoops Classic at [[Rucker Park]] in [[Harlem]], New York City. Yauch produced ''[[Build a Nation]]'', the comeback album from hardcore/punk band [[Bad Brains]]. Oscilloscope Laboratories also distributed Adam Yauch's directorial film debut, basketball documentary ''[[Gunnin' for That No. 1 Spot|Gunnin' For That #1 Spot]]'' (2008) as well as Kelly Reichardt's ''[[Wendy and Lucy]]'' (2008) and Oren Moverman’s ''[[The Messenger (2009 film)|The Messenger]]'' (2009).<ref name=newsday/> | ||
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| - | The Beastie Boys had sold 40 million records worldwide by 2010.<ref name=boston>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2012/05/04/simmons_adam_yauch_of_the_beastie_boys_dead_at_47/ |title=Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys dies at 47 |publisher=Boston.com |date=2008-05-02 |accessdate=2012-05-04}}</ref> In April 2012, the group was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]. Yauch was inducted in absentia due to his illness.<ref name=time>{{cite news|last=Gray|first=Madison|url=http://entertainment.time.com/2012/05/04/adam-yauch-mca-of-the-beastie-boys-dies-after-cancer-battle/?xid=gonewsedit&google_editors_picks=true|title=Adam Yauch, MCA of the Beastie Boys, Dies After Cancer Complications|publisher=Entertainment.time.com|accessdate=2012-05-04}}</ref> His bandmates paid tribute to Yauch; a letter from Yauch was read to the crowd.<ref>{{cite web|author=By WENN.com |url=http://www.lfpress.com/entertainment/music/2012/04/15/19634311.html |title=Yauch misses Hall of Fame ceremony | Music | Entertainment | London Free Press |publisher=Lfpress.com |date= |accessdate=2012-05-04}}</ref> | ||
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| - | In 2011, Yauch received the Charles Flint Kellogg Award in Arts and Letters from [[Bard College]], the college he attended for two years. The award is "given in recognition of a significant contribution to the American artistic or literary heritage."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bard.edu/catalogue/index.php?aid=10819&sid=669146|title=Academics – Bard College Catalogue|publisher=Bard.edu|accessdate=May 4, 2012}}</ref> | ||
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| - | ==Personal life== | ||
| - | Yauch was a practicing [[Buddhist]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,987164,00.html|work=Time Magazine| date=October 13, 1997|title=Buddhism in American|first=David|last=Van Biema|first2=Jeanne|last2=McDowell}}</ref> He became an important voice in the [[Tibetan independence movement]]. He created the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization devoted to Tibetan independence, and organized several benefit concerts to support the cause, including the [[Tibetan Freedom Concert]].<ref name=time/><ref name=newsday/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=Tibet+supporter+Yauch+of+Beastie+Boys+fights+with+cancer&id=25182 |title=Tibet supporter Yauch of Beastie Boys fights with cancer |publisher=www.phayul.com |date=2009-07-21 |accessdate=2012-05-04}}</ref> | ||
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| - | He and his wife, Dechen Wangdu, had a daughter, Tenzin Losel, in 1998.<ref name=time/><ref name=hp>{{cite news|title=Adam Yauch Dead: Beastie Boys' MCA Dies After Battling Cancer|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/04/adam-mca-yauch-dead-beastie-boys-dies-battling-cancer_n_1477863.html|accessdate=4 May 2012|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=4 May 2012}}</ref> | ||
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| - | ==Illness and death== | ||
| - | In 2009, Yauch was diagnosed and treated for a [[Parotid cancer|cancerous parotid gland]] and a lymph node and underwent surgery and radiation therapy delaying the release of ''[[Hot Sauce Committee Part Two]]'' and the subsequent tour.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/20/beastie-boy-adam-yauch-ha_2_n_241325.html|title=Beastie Boy Adam Yauch has 'very treatable' cancer|date=July 20, 2009|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=January 11, 2012|first=Katherine|last=Thomson}}</ref><ref>{{Youtube|u7CH3M7cECI|Yauch Announcement}}</ref> He was unable to appear in music videos for the album.<ref name=time/><ref name=newsday>{{cite news|author=2:08 PM By Rafer Guzman|url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/pet-rock-1.811972/beastie-boys-rapper-adam-yauch-dead-at-47-1.3699038|title=Beastie Boys rapper Adam Yauch dead at 47|publisher=Newsday.com|accessdate=2012-05-04}}</ref> Yauch became a [[vegan]] under the recommendation of his Tibetan doctors.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8296304.stm|work=BBC News|title=Beastie Boy 'hopeful' over cancer|date=October 8, 2009}}</ref> At the time, Yauch described the cancer as "very treatable".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j3PVFQybkQNQLZ-TdbhC9K60huQA?docId=a84b1c66db6143409c50bdc12d7f18cd |title=The Associated Press: Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys dies at 47 |publisher=Google.com |date= |accessdate=2012-05-04}}</ref> | ||
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| - | Yauch died at age 47 on May 4, 2012.<ref name="Rolling Stone Death">{{cite news|title=Beastie Boys Co-Founder Adam Yauch Dead at 47|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/beastie-boys-co-founder-adam-yauch-dead-at-48-20120504|accessdate=4 May 2012|newspaper=Rolling Stone|date=4 May 2012}}</ref><ref name=pf>{{cite web|title=R.I.P. Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys|url=http://www.pitchfork.com/news/46406-rip-adam-yauch-of-the-beastie-boys/|work=[[Pitchfork Media]]}}</ref> The cause of death was not immediately known.<ref>{{cite web|author=By Jim HarringtonOakland Tribune |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_20549990/adam-yauch-member-groundbreaking-hip-hop-band-beastie?source=rss |title=Adam Yauch, member of groundbreaking hip-hop band Beastie Boys, dies at age 47 – San Jose Mercury News |publisher=Mercurynews.com |date= |accessdate=2012-05-04}}</ref> Upon his death, [[Russell Simmons]] of Def Jam Records" said that Yauch "was incredibly sweet and the most sensitive artist, who I loved dearly." [[Ben Stiller]] [[Twitter|tweeted]] that Yauch "stood for integrity as an artist."<ref name=boston/> [[Joel Madden]] of [[Good Charlotte]] said of the Beastie Boys: "We wanted to dress like them, talk like them, and we wanted to make music like them."<ref name=usatoday/> | ||
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Adam Nathaniel Yauch (August 5, 1964 – May 4, 2012) was an American rapper, songwriter, and film director. He was best known as a founding member of hip hop trio the Beastie Boys, started in 1979 in New York City. He was frequently known by his stage name, MCA, and sometimes worked under the pseudonym Nathanial Hörnblowér.
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Adam Yauch" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
