Tagged: Adam Yauch (MCA)

Early in my career, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to write for Grand Royal, also known as the Beastie Boys' magazine — and also the name of their record label. When I heard Adam Yauch had died on Friday, it felt natural to reach out to some of my old friends from the Grand Royal days — and their friends and their friends. So many of us got our start thanks to them. Here are a few of our memories of Adam:

Transcript

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

A famous trio has lost a member. Whether you knew him as Adam Yauch, Nathanial Hornblower or MCA, he brought a distinct sound to a genre-bending band.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG)

BEASTIE BOYS: (Singing) ...if what you get is what you see, c'mon...

SIMON: MCA was a founding member of the Beastie Boys, a band that helped make hip-hop mainstream. Now, before they rapped, the Beastie Boys were just punks.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "TIME FOR LIVIN' ")