R.I.P. Nathanial Hornblower: MCA's Hilarious Response to a Bad New York Times Review

In 2004, The New York Times' Stephanie Zacharek negatively reviewed the video for the Beastie Boys' new single "Ch-Check It Out." MCA a.k.a. Adam Yauch, who died today at the age of 47, had directed the video under his pseudonym Nathanial Hornblower. He didn't take kindly to Zacharek's review, and let her know in a letter to the Times demanding, among other things, that she send him a goat. Read more »

Beastie Boys Founding Member Adam 'MCA' Yauch, Dead at 47

In 2009 Yauch announced that he was being treated for a cancerous tumor in his salivary gland. In 2011, Yauch posted an update on the Beastie Boys' website telling friends and fans he was not cancer-free as reported, but was "staying optimistic and hoping to be cancer free in the near future." Read more »

Here's Jay-Z's 2009 Tribute to Adam Yauch and the Beastie Boys

Back in summer 2009, the Beastie Boys were forced to pull out of their scheduled headlining performance at the All Points West music festival in Jersey City, N.J. as Yauch sought treatment for his cancer. Jay-Z gamely stepped in for the gig, and paid tribute to the other boys from Brooklyn. Read more »

Elsewhere: MCA's obituary at BeastieBoys.com | Mark Richardson at Pitchfork | Cord Jefferson at Good | Mary Elizabeth Williams at Salon | Amos Barshad at Grantland