Adam Yauch
Adam Nathaniel Yauch (/jaʊk/ YOWK; August 5, 1964 – May 4, 2012), also known by the stage name MCA,[1] was an American rapper, bassist, filmmaker and a founding member of the hip hop group Beastie Boys. Besides his musical work, he also directed many of the band's music videos and did much of their promotional photography, often using the pseudonym Nathaniel Hörnblowér for such work.
Adam Yauch
Adam Nathaniel Yauch
- MC Adam
- MCA
- Nathanial Hörnblowér
- Bloach
- Abednego
August 5, 1964
New York City, U.S.
May 4, 2012 (aged 47)
New York City, U.S.
- Musician
- rapper
- songwriter
- filmmaker
- Vocals
- bass
1979–2012
Yauch founded Oscilloscope Laboratories, an independent film production and distribution company based in New York City. As a Buddhist, he was involved in the Tibetan independence movement and organized the Tibetan Freedom Concert.[2] He died in 2012 from parotid cancer,[3] after which Beastie Boys disbanded.
Early life and education[edit]
Born in Brooklyn, New York City, Yauch was an only child. His father Noel was an architect,[4] and his mother Frances was a social worker.[5][6][7][8] Yauch's mother was Jewish and his father Catholic, but he had a non-religious upbringing[6] in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn.[9]
Yauch attended Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn's Midwood neighborhood. In high school, he taught himself to play the bass guitar[10] and formed Beastie Boys from hardcore punk band, Young Aborigines, with John Berry, Kate Schellenbach, and Michael Diamond.[11] They played their first show—while 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.[12]
His stage name, MCA, is an initialism for "Master of Ceremonies Adam."[13][14][15]
Other independent work[edit]
He directed the 2008 film 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 (2007), the comeback album from hardcore/punk band Bad Brains. When Bad Brains released Into the Future (2012), the band dedicated the album to Yauch, their longtime friend and backer, who had died several months previously.[20]
In addition, Oscilloscope Laboratories also distributed Kelly Reichardt's Wendy and Lucy (2008), Oren Moverman's The Messenger (2009),[21] and Lynne Ramsay's We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011).
with Beastie Boys
Interviews