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Adam Yauch, aka MCA, has passed away at the young age of 47. Most likely of cancer, but the news is still coming out:

The Beastie Boys are one of the most important and influential hip-hop groups of all time. They were instrumental in making hip-hop a global, mainstream force. Formed in 1981 as a hardcore band, they combined punk and rap into a singular sound that grew increasingly broad over the years, encompassing a vast array of genres. Yauch, Michael Diamond (Mike D), and Adam Horowitz (Ad-Rock) released several classic albums, including their debut album Licensed to Ill in 1986, 1989's Paul's Boutique, and 1994's Ill Communication.

For all you hip-hop fans and aficinados, this is a really big deal, as he and the Beastie Boys were there at the beginning, helping to create an entirely new type of music. He was also one of the few white rappers who have broken through over the years.

A sad day in the hip-hop world, indeed.

Here's the NY Times Obit.

Here are a few vids from that era:

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