Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch Dies at 47

Adam Yauch, founder of the hip hop trio The Beastie Boys, has died. He was 47.

The rapper, known to fans as MCA, passed away Friday morning (May 4) “after a long bout with cancer,” Global Grind reported.

“Adam was incredibly sweet and the most sensitive artist who I loved dearly. I was always inspired by his work. He will be missed by all of us,” Russell Simmons, co-founder of Beastie Boys label Def Jam, said in a statement.

Adam was treated for a cancerous parotid gland and a lymph node and underwent surgery and radiation therapy in 2009.

He is survived by his wife, Dechen Wangdu, and his daughter Tenzin Losel.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Adam‘s family during this difficult time.