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Beastie Boys Albums Storm iTunes Following Adam Yauch’s Death

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In what has become a modern digital mourning ritual, fans of the Beastie Boys swarmed onto iTunes over the weekend to snatch up copies of the trio’s albums in honor of the passing of member Adam “MCA” Yauch.

The rapper, who died on Friday
 at age 47, left behind a legacy of eight studio albums with partners Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz
 and Michael “Mike D” Diamond. With everyone from Madonna
, to the B-Boys’ longtime DJ, Mix Master Mike and Justin Timberlake
 paying homage, as well as in-concert shout-outs from Coldplay, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and fun. over the weekend, Yauch’s memory was clearly on the minds of his peers.

But fans were feeling nostalgic as well, since all of the trio’s studio albums featuring their intricate rhymes rocketed onto the iTunes charts since the news broke friday. As of press time on Monday morning (May 7), the group’s 1986 debut, Licensed to Ill moved up to the #3 position on the iTunes album chart, with the sample-thick 1989 follow-up, Paul’s Boutique, on the chart at #13. A 1999 anthology charted at #26, followed by 1994′s Ill Communication at #27, 1992′s rock and rap hybrid Check Your Head (#38), their final studio effort, last year’s Hot Sauce Committee Part Two (#42), the Boutique re-issue (#83), 2004′s To the 5 Boroughs (#174) and the Head re-issue (#184).

The sales surge followed the pattern of rush buying that accompanied the recent deaths of Whitney Houston
, Amy Winehouse
, Etta James and Michael Jackson
.

It’s likely that a number of the albums will make it onto the Billboard 200 chart this week as well when it is released on Wednesday.

Share your memories of Adam on Twitter using the hashtag #RIPMCA.

Beastie Boys’ Ad-Rock Pays Tribute To Adam Yauch

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Two days after losing his life-long friend and band mate of 30 years, Adam “MCA” Yauch
, Beastie Boys rapper Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz posted a heartfelt note on the band’s Tumblr page about his late comrade.

“As you can imagine, s— is just fkd up right now,” he wrote in the blog, which was accompanied by a picture of a hand with the message, “PWR 2 MCA” in front of a bank of CDs. “But I wanna say thank you to all our
friends and family (which are kinda one in the same) for all the love and support.
I’m glad to know that all the love that Yauch has put out into the world is coming right back at him.”

Yauch, who died at age 47 on Friday after a three-year battle with cancer, was shouted out by many of his friends, admirers and acts he’d influenced over the weekend. Fun. threw in a verse of “Sabotage” as part of their encore at Washington D.C.’s 9:30 Club on Friday night and “Saturday Night Live” played a clip of the group’s 1994 performance of “Sure Shot” on the show featuring Rihanna
 as a musical guest. HBO dedicated the broadcast of last month’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony into its broadcast of the proceedings, where the B-Boys were inducted as only the third rap group to enter the the Hall.

Among the luminaries weighing in was exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama, who released a statement in which he said, “Adam had helped us raise awareness on the plight of the Tibetan people by organizing various freedom Tibet concerts and he will be remembered by his holiness and the Tibetan people.” Yauch, a Buddhist who was behind the landmark all-star Tibetan Freedom concerts
 of the late 1990s, was blessed by the Dalai Lama last year.

MTV News also took to the airwaves to express our appreciation for the influential artist with the one-hour special “Adam Yauch: Remembering a Beastie Boy,”
during which we reflected on the legendary MC’s career and the indelible mark he made on music as a whole, as well as on society.

Kim Gordon, former bassist for Sonic Youth, who were big supporters of the Tibetan Freedom shows, issued a statement to England’s New Musical Express, in which she praised Yauch’s lyrical abilities, “He told me once that he really liked the lyrics to [Sonic Youth's] ‘Bull In The Heather’. It surprised me that he had even listened to it. It meant a lot to me that he went out of his way to tell me that, coming from such a great rapper and lyricist.”

Another Tibetan Freedom supporter and performer, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, posted a remembrance on the band’s website, in which he wrote, “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 v smart guy. May he rest in peace.”

The tributes followed earlier ones from the likes of Madonna
, the B-Boys’ longtime DJ, Mix Master Mike and Justin Timberlake
 as well as in-concert shout-outs from Coldplay and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Share your memories of Adam on Twitter using the hashtag #RIPMCA.

Adam Yauch, Beastie Boys Remembered By ‘Fight For Your Right’ Director

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Adam Yauch’s fans will certainly remember him through the Beastie Boys‘ extensive catalog, but “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)” and “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” are two of the group’s most legendary releases. Ric Menello directed the videos for both singles, along with co-director Adam Dubin back in the 80s’ and he had plenty of fond memories to share of his time with the Brooklyn boys.

Beastie Boys’ Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch Tributed By Madonna, Mix Master Mike

While attending graduate school for film at NYU back in the ’80s, Menello befriended a young Adam Yauch, Ad-Rock and Mike D, who kept him company at his part-time job as a desk clerk, talking about movies and music into the wee hours of the morning. “I wrote the movie ‘Tougher Than Leather,’ which the Beastie Boys appeared in, then Rick Rubin suggested I would be a good director for ‘Fight for Your Right’ because I had new ideas and it was better to fail at a new idea than to succeed with a crappy old idea,” Menello explained. And although he was hesitant to take on the job, for fear of “ruining their careers,” he eventually enlisted the help of Adam Dubin to co-direct, adding that he “needed someone to blame if it stunk.”

Once he accepted the job, they collectively brainstormed ideas and set to work. “We originally had an idea we couldn’t use, which was them disrupting a high-society, classy party at a gallery — because at that point, we didn’t know too many people who were classy or high-society,” he explained. “I came up with the plot, Rick Rubin and Adam added to it, and then Rick, Adam and I directed it. The Beastie Boys definitely had creative input, and I recall Adam being the ringleader. They were friendly, cooperative, enthusiastic and creative guys, especially Adam.”

Menello admits that he never could’ve predicted how legendary the clip would become. “It was kind of a dumb video, but it was done in a very sophisticated way visually. I often say the style of the video is ‘stupidity done in an intelligent way,’ ” he said. “The concept was infantile rebellion, and they were good actors for that. It wouldn’t have worked if not for Yauch, Rock and Mike D being pretty good actors and being funny. The whole point was for it to be comical as well as musical.

“Adam Yauch, at that point, was the ringleader — he had a very dry sense of humor, a little different than everyone else’s. He was also enthusiastic to do anything, which came in handy on that video and when we did ‘No Sleep Till Brooklyn,’ ” Menello continued. “If something had to be done that was the least bit risky, he volunteered immediately. There was a television set that we had to smash with a sledgehammer and it was very important that it didn’t look like a fake TV, so we made a hole in the video tube, which meant that there might have been an explosion — but he didn’t care! He was like, ‘I’m gonna smash the TV!’ All throughout the video, he was like, ‘I gotta do it, it’s gonna be great, we have to have that shot!’ And he stepped right up to do it. He was always into doing the craziest stuff, but he was a keen guy, very smart and quick to learn, so it didn’t surprise me that a few years later, he started directing his own music videos.”

The fun didn’t stop with ‘Fight for Your Right,’ though, as the boys teamed up with Menello once again for “No Sleep Till Brooklyn.” “My favorite moments in the ‘No Sleep Till Brooklyn’ video were when Yauch was called upon to be Bugs Bunny and he got the face just right for that. He also had to figure out how to open the safe they were robbing during the concert, and he figured out the best way to open up the safe was to slam his head on top of it. So he smacked his head on top of the safe and it opened, and I thought that was hysterically funny. Usually when people try to open a safe they use tools, but he said, an exact quote, ‘My generation smashes its head onto it. That’s what my generation does to open a safe.’

“Even when they were worried if something might not work, they always gave their all. We really helped make it work,” Menello added, as a final thought. “It didn’t surprise me when later, besides comedy and satire, their music became more complicated, and they got into social issues.”

Share your memories of Adam on Twitter using the hashtag #RIPMCA.

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Mike D On Adam Yauch: ‘I Miss Adam So Much’

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While some groups stay together for the money, the fans or the music, the Beastie Boys kept it going for nearly 30 years for something a bit less tangible: brotherhood.

The three lifelong friends toured the world, landed the first #1 rap album in history in 1987 with Licensed to Ill and sold more than 20 million albums in the SoundScan era (which began in 1991). The success was a bonus, but the sense you got at the end of the day is that Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz and the late Adam “MCA” Yauch just really loved hanging out together, making music and each other laugh.

Yauch, who died at age 47
 on Friday after a three-year battle with cancer
, had been making music, videos and associated nonsense with Diamond and Horovitz since the three were snot-nosed punk teens.

That might explain why the message posted by Diamond on the Beastie Boys‘ Facebook page on Monday (May 7) morning felt like a brother struggling to come to terms with the passing of someone who was more than just his partner in rhyme.

“I know, we should have tweeted and instagrammed every sad, happy and inspired thought, smile or tear by now,” write D in the post that came a short time after a similarly emotional message from Horovitz. “But honestly the last few days have just been a blur of deep emotions for our closest friend, band mate and really brother. I miss Adam so much.

“He really served as a great example for myself and so many of what determination, faith, focus, and humility coupled with a sense of humor can accomplish. The world is in need of many more like him. We love you Adam.”

The post was accompanied by a photo of the scoreboard at Madison Square Garden emblazoned with a photo of Yauch this weekend, one of dozens of tributes
 to the New York native rapper that came in the days following his death.

“This photo … is just one awesome example of how NYC is such a unique place that amidst it’s huge size and frenetic pace it really opens up it’s heart in so many ways and on so many levels in times like these,” Diamond wrote. “And though it makes me cry sometimes, it has been really amazing and moving to see.”

Share your memories of Adam on Twitter using the hashtag #RIPMCA.

Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch’s Films: What’s Next?

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With the news Friday that Beastie Boy Adam Yauch lost his battle with cancer, distraught fans turned up “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)” and remembered the rapper’s incredible musical accomplishments. But those of us with an eye on movies remember MCA‘s contributions to the film industry as well.

With countless Beastie songs featured on movie soundtracks, including J.J. Abram’s “Star Trek” and Marvel’s “Iron Man 2,” there’s no doubt the group as a whole had success in film. But Yauch took it a step further when he dove into directing documentaries and shorts, including “Fight for Your Right Revisited,” his 2011 Sundance Film Festival debut that acted as a sequel to the hip-hop trio’s 1987 music video.

Most notably, however, Yauch launched the indie production and distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories. With Yauch’s death, some are wondering what will become of the company’s future. A statement on the Oscilloscope website reads, “Adam’s legacy will remain a driving force at Oscilloscope — his indomitable spirit and his great passion for film, people and hard work — always with a sense of humor and a lot of heart.”

Here’s what films are in store for Oscilloscope as it carries on Yauch’s memory:

“Shut Up and Play the Hits”
A year ago, LCD Soundsystem played their final show to an audience of thousands at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden. James Murphy, LCD‘s frontman and the co-founder of DFA Records, decided to jump ship at the height of the group’s career, which — while ambitious — proved to pay off. The show sold out almost instantly and the band left the music industry on top. As fans, friends and family gathered to witness the end of one of the most popular bands of its generation, the cameras were rolling to capture every moment of the unforgettable performance. The film closely follows Murphy as he deals with the positive and negative effects of his decision.

“Wuthering Heights”
Director Andrea Arnold offers a distinctly new take on the classic love story by Emily Brontë that follows the passionate love that grows between the mysterious Heathcliff and outgoing Catherine. The romance stirs envy within Catherine’s brother, Hindley, and ultimately leads to misery for Heathcliff. Oscilloscope describes Arnold’s version as “a beautiful and evocative visual masterpiece that brings out the powerful emotions at the heart of Brontë’s classic novel, resulting in a viscerally affecting love story.” “Skins” breakout star Kaya Scodelario is portraying the adult version of Catherine.

“Hello I Must Be Going”
This Todd Louiso-directed project was selected as the opening-night film for Sundance 2012. It follows Amy (“Up in the Air” actress Melanie Lynskey), a woman who returns to her parents’ home in Connecticut after divorcing her husband. As she begins a love affair with a 19-year-old actor (“Girls” actor Christopher Abbott), her once-dormant passion surfaces, helping her discover a newfound sense of worth and purpose. Lynskey’s breakout role is enhanced by Blythe Danner, who plays her mother suffering from empty-nest syndrome. The sex- and humor-filled love story is described by Oscilloscope as an “endearing and nuanced depiction of both the comic and tragic avenues of an existential crossroads.” It arrives in theaters August 17.

“28 Hotel Rooms”
Directed and penned by Matt Ross, the film focuses on an intense sexual affair that begins as a one-night stand and accelerates into a relationship. The story follows a man (Chris Messina) and a woman (Marin Ireland) away on a business trip who sleep together despite the fact that she’s married and he’s dating someone. One night couldn’t possibly hurt, right? When they spot each other months later, in another city at another hotel, they decide to hook up a second time and keep seeing each other. A threatening love blossoms as they form a profound relationship and deal with the ramifications of loving more than one person.

“Samsara”
The word Samsara means “the ever turning wheel of life” and is the focal point of the movie for award-winning “Baraka” filmmakers Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson. In the documentary, Fricke and Magidson search for the underlying current that links the individual lives of humanity. The project was quite an ambitious one filmed over the course of five years on five continents in 25 countries and shot entirely on 70mm film. The movie is meant to be a sensory experience full of stunning images and music that encourage the audience to interpret the meaning behind it. “Samsara” is set to hit theaters August 24.

Share your memories of Adam on Twitter using the hashtag #RIPMCA.

Tibetan Freedom Concert Part Of Adam Yauch’s Legacy

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The news of Adam Yauch‘s untimely death on Friday continues to reverberate throughout the world and especially the music industry. From the multitude of reactions and expressions of sympathy from celebrities to the emotionally charged words from fans, Yauch’s death has many in mourning.

MTV News took to the airwaves to express our appreciation for the influential artist with the one-hour special “Adam Yauch: Remembering a Beastie Boy,” during which we reflected on the legendary MC’s career and the indelible mark he made on music as a whole, as well as on society.

One of the more poignant aspects of the 60-minute tribute was a look back at Yauch’s involvement in founding the Tibetan Freedom Concert, the first of which drew influential acts like the Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against the Machine and raised $800,000 to help support Tibetan social-justice causes.

MTV News once spoke to Yauch about why he chose to get involved in promoting awareness for social issues.

“Whatever involvement I’m able to put in it, it definitely makes me feel good to be able to help with that,” Yauch said about the Tibetan Freedom Concert. “It’s really everyone working together. It’s all the artists who put in their time and all the people who come down to the show that actually care about it, people involved in putting it on.

“One thing Buddhism teaches is the only thing that brings us lasting happiness, that really makes us happy, is when we do things to benefit other people,” he explained. “Trying to make money, buy cool sneakers, those things don’t lead to any lasting happiness.”

Yauch said what made him happiest was being able to use his fame in a positive way.

“When you do things to benefit people from a pure place in your heart, that’s a feeling that lasts no matter what happens,” he said. “It’s given some meaning to me to be famous and be able to make music if I can use that attention to help other people — that gives some meaning to that.”

Share your memories of Adam on Twitter using the hashtag #RIPMCA.

Run-DMC Share Fond Memories Of Adam Yauch, Beastie Boys

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By Nadeska Alexis (@neweryork)

The Beastie Boys joined Run-DMC  on the infamous Raising Hell Tour back in ’86 and the two groups found synergy immediately. Reverend Run and DMC tell MTV News that they shared a close bond with Adam Yauch and the Beastie Boys, and they were happy to share their fondest memories of the trio to commemorate Yauch ‘s life. 

Reverend Run

Developing a Bond: “When I first met [the Beastie Boys], they came to the [Def Jam] office and they were really good rappers, but more than that, they were funny. They were not only friendly, but they were just so funny, it was amazing. Their rhymes were funny and they were funny, so out of everything I can think of, everything with them was fun and humorous, and that was what attracted me to them. One time, on tour, I actually abandoned my bus because I was so intrigued and was so friendly with them that I went and hung on their bus for a night, so that was really cool. I’d never tried anything like that before, so it was kinda crazy, but I wanted to be with them, so I was like, ‘Y’all got an extra bunk?’ I left my bus and I went and hung on their bus. It was the funnest thing in the word, if ‘funnest’ is a word.”

Their Effect on Hip-Hop: “I think they were blowing people’s minds. I was out on tour right before I met them, and when they came along, it was just amazing. I ended up actually writing songs with them, like ‘Paul Revere.’ And then they took one of our songs ‘Slow and Low’ — we left a tape in the studio and they did it over — so I was really kinda involved with them in a little bit of production, along with Rick Rubin. They actually picked up Dr. Dre as a DJ for a while, which was really cool. So they had Dre DJing, and in my mind, they were just so dope on the mic — especially Adam Yauch. He had a really incredible style of rhyme, and I was like, ‘This dude is amazing.’ Just like everybody else that ended up falling in love with them, that’s what was happening to me — I was like, ‘Wow, these white kids could rap.’ And Adam Yauch has this special type of rasp in his voice that made him incredible to me, so he stood out as a real vintage type of incredible MC. It was intriguing to see white guys rapping like that, being so cool, plus sticking to their roots, so they were true to themselves.”

Remembering Adam Yauch with Beastie Boys’ Essential Hits

Fondest Memory: “Them taking the Mercedes-Benz emblems [and wearing them around their necks] or hearing that kids were taking the Mercedes-Benz emblems off of cars. I remember getting to London and the press was so scared of what might happen, because the Beastie Boys were there. It was a phenomenon when I got overseas, to hear what the press was thinking about what the Beastie Boys might do. All of that stuff was just really shocking to me. The press loved Run-DMC, but it was a different type of thing that they thought the Beastie Boys were gonna bring to town with them.”

Recent Memories: “A couple years ago, me and a couple of people that were working on filming ‘Run’s House’ on MTV went to their show in Brooklyn, and I came out on onstage and waved to the audience right before ‘No Sleep Till Brooklyn.’ I did so much with them over the years that I just want to keep the love alive. My tribute to them is just to tell them that I love them and what they did for hip-hop culture is legendary.”

DMC

Developing a Bond: “It was instant. Right away, they drank Budweiser and we drank 40 ounces of Olde English. We wore gold chains and Cadillac emblems, and they took the emblems right off Volkswagens and put them on their necks. The thing that worked with us was it was the same feeling but different expression. Their sneakers could be dirty and muddy and they could’ve had them since fifth grade, and our sneakers had to be clean, but we both rocked the music, the presentation. The personality was expressed from the same heart, with the same heart and feeling. We lived together, we toured the world together, we played together, we got drunk together, we laughed together, we cried together. You know what was good about them? It wasn’t an act. It wasn’t white rappers trying to be black — they were themselves, and we respected that. Real recognized real. At times you thought you were in a movie, but it wasn’t like they were just doing it to just to do it. It’s really them: energetic, exciting, spontaneous and very creative too.”

Their Effect on Hip-Hop: “The Beastie Boys are one of the greatest groups, and I’m not just talking hip-hop — the Beastie Boys are one of the greatest groups in history. You could call them the Ramones of hip-hop. Even greater than that, they were a great rock and roll band. They made it possible for Eminem, Vanilla Ice and all these other white rappers that came up to have a place to be. They made it acceptable.”

Fondest Memory: “On the Together Forever Tour, we were over in Europe, and the stage got really, really wet, because they were opening cans of beer and spraying it everywhere, so the stage was like a danger zone. We were on the side of the stage watching their show, thinking, ‘One of them is going to bust they ass,’ and MCA slipped and flew about 20 feet up in the air, came down real hard and we thought he was dead … but then he got up and they just kept going. It was the craziest thing ever.”

Recent Memories: “I saw them constantly over the years. If I go to New York, I’ll see them. If I’m in L.A., I see ‘em. If I go to a Rage Against the Machine show, I see ‘em. If I go to a radio show, if I go to a movie premiere, I see ‘em. If I walk by the basketball courts in the Village, I see them out there playing. I would always see them. It was cool, because you would always see them doing the things that they rapped about, that they said they did, and in the places they said they did. They were always at the skateboard park. They were always in the studio. They were always at the club where some new indie band was premiering.”

Tune in to MTV tonight at 8 p.m. for “Adam Yauch: Remembering a Beastie Boy,” an hour-long special hosted by Sway celebrating the life and career of Adam “MCA” Yauch, including his biggest moments and remembrances from his friends and peers. Share your memories of Adam on Twitter using the hashtag #RIPMCA.

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Adam Yauch Promised To Bring ‘Rock And Roll Back’ In 1986

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“I’d just like to say that we, the Beastie Boys, are putting rock and roll back into rock and roll, and doing just what you, the listeners, want to hear! Yeah!”

That’s the promise Adam Yauch made to MTV News back in 1986, and it’s a promise the Beastie Boys have followed through on ever since. The news of Yauch’s death meant the passing of a rock and hip-hop legend, and MTV News has spent the day honoring and remembering a man who has given us so much.

Our hour-long special “Adam Yauch: Remembering a Beastie Boy” took viewers back to 1986, to a time when the Beastie Boys had just released License to Ill to international critical acclaim and commercial success. MTV News caught up with Yauch, Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz — better known as MCA, Mike D and Ad-Rock — on New Year’s Eve at MTV‘s sixth annual Rock and Roll Ball. They were riding high, and they promised that the next year would be even better.

“In 1987, the Beastie Boys are going to be taking over America!” MCA promised. “America, watch out, because we’ve got a new show … “

” … And lots of stuff!” Ad-Rock added, before all three of them started yelling, “Yeah!” and banging their heads together.

The Boys were gushing about their upcoming shows and how they were going to treat their fans to the performances of their lives. It’s funny now hearing them talk about opening for Madonna, because they have since become such an important act that we can’t imagine them opening for anyone.

When asked how their show in Iowa was going to go over, Yauch answered, “Well, I think our show’s going to go over … “

” … Very good!” Horovitz piped up.

“Very well, thank you!” Diamond finished.

As they promised, 1987 was a big year for the Beastie Boys, and 1988 was even bigger. They put out their second album, Paul’s Boutique, that year, and it’s since been considered one of their strongest records.

With each passing year, the Beastie Boys became bigger and bigger, and they likely would still be making music today had Yauch not tragically been diagnosed with cancer in 2009. He was unable to attend the group’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony last month, which sparked concerns about his health. He died after a lengthy battle with cancer of the parotid salivary gland and leaves behind his wife, Dechen Wangdu, and daughter, Tenzin Losel.

Share your memories of Adam on Twitter using the hashtag #RIPMCA.

Adam Yauch: Remembering A Beastie Boy’s Life And Career

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With the world still reeling from the news of Adam Yauch’s death on Friday (May 4), MTV News took to the airwaves with the one-hour special “Adam Yauch: Remembering a Beastie Boy” to honor the life and impact of the influential artist, one of the founding members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted rap trio.

MTV‘s own Sway Calloway began the tribute by reading celebrity reactions to Yauch’s death from artists including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Travis Barker, Weezer and Jack Black, all of whom expressed feelings of sadness and respect for the influential MC.

“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,” Em said in a statement to MTV News. “They are trailblazers and pioneers, and Adam will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, Mike D., and Ad-Rock.”

The tribute then turned toward Yauch’s indelible impact on the music industry, beginning with a look at one of the Beastie Boys‘ most famous and critically acclaimed music videos, “Sabotage,” directed by Spike Jonze, followed by the group’s festive performance of “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)” on MTV‘s New Year’s Eve show in 1986. Other clips featured in the 60-minute special included their 1998 VMA performance of “Intergalactic,” the year the group took home the Video Vanguard award, as well as more of their iconic music videos, including “Hey Ladies.”

Sway touched on the evolution of Yauch’s spirituality throughout his career, which led to his founding of the Tibetan Freedom Concert, the first of which drew influential acts like the Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against the Machine. We dug through our archives to find the Beastie Boys‘ performance of “Root Down” at the 1996 concert in San Francisco, followed by their star-studded, 2011 VMA-nominated music video “Make Some Noise,” which earned Yauch an award for Best Director. The tribute closed with a few more celeb tribute tweets and the Boys’ 2004 MTV Movie Awards performance of “Ch-Check It Out.”

Share your memories of Adam on Twitter using the hashtag #RIPMCA.