Remembering Adam Yauch

This past week the world of music lost one of its beloved members. Adam Yauch, also known as MCA, died of cancer at the age of 47. As member of the Beastie Boys, MCA was one of the most influential members of one of the most influential hip-hop groups of all time. The Beastie Boys are definitely not for everyone, but it cannot be denied that they changed the face of hip-hop, punk rock, and even the spin-off genre, rap-metal.

Many articles were published following MCA's death, perhaps one of the most touching written by the managing editor of Consequenceofsound.com, Jeremy D. Larson. Larson artfully crafts a statement concerning the sad loss of Adam Yauch. I encourage everyone to read the brief, yet touching article. Larson comments that he never knew Yauch very well but he really wishes that he had. He writes about the specific moments when he first heard the Beastie Boys' ground breaking albums, like License to Ill and Paul's Boutique. If anything, Larson's article brings about a nostalgia for every reader. I remember the first time I heard The Beastie Boys. It was loud, raw, and uncomfortable, evoking the angst that comes about in every boys life. It was pure freedom. The Beastie Boys were the voice of independence and anarchy for a generation.

Now, I was well acclimated to the Beastie Boys as I awkwardly stumbled into middle school. The Beastie Boys never really had a "height" of their career, rather they reached new heights with each new album. I got to experience a couple in my lifetime. But what about all those kids, about five years younger than I that barely missed the Beastie Boys? As sad as the death of anyone is, sometimes the death of someone famous brings new light to their career. Of course, the world be a better place if it still had one more person in it, but now so many people who never got to experience the Beastie Boys will discover them. There have been many cases of this in recent past. After Michael Jacksons death he suddenly became famous for his music, and no longer his court cases amongst young generations. After the death of Whitney Houston just a few months ago, people who had never even thought to listen to her suddenly became her biggest fan. My hope is that the same will happen for Adam "MCA" Yauch, and the Beastie Boys. His innovations and contributions to the music world are ones that should be recognized and awarded. according to everyone close to him, Yauch was just a great guy. Kind, smart, funny, loving, respectful, and compassionate.

I've never really met anyone famous, but like Larson, I too wish I had known Adam Yauch, or least been a fly on the wall when the Beastie Boys assembled to make their first album. May MCA and all his accomplishments be forever immortalized in his music.

RIP Adam "MCA" Yauch

Read the article here: http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/05/cos-remembers-adam-yauch-mca-of-the-beastie-boys/

Watch "Sabatoge" by The Beastie Boys