TMZ is reporting Beastie Boys rapper MCA, real name Adam Yauch, has died at the age of 47.
The rapper has been battling cancer since diagnosed with cancer in the parotid gland and a lymph node in 2009.
There are no reports yet as whether Yauch’s death was caused by the cancer.
In 1979, Yauch was one of the founding members of Beastie Boys along with rapper Mike “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horowitz.
When the Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this yea, Yauch was unable to attend.
“Beastie Boys regret that Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch will be unable to join Mike ‘Mike D’ Diamond and Adam ‘Adrock’ Horovitz at the band’s induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in April,” Beastie Boys said in a statement this April. “Mike, Adam and Adam are truly grateful for the honor but with only two of the three Beastie Boys attending, they will unfortunately not be able to perform at the ceremony.”
He is survived by his wife Dechen and daughter Tenzin Losel Yauch.
