MCA, founding member of The Beastie Boys made his transition on May 4th after a three year struggle with salivary gland cancer. Today, on his birthday, August 5th, we pay homage to a legend.
MCAs' first introduction to Rap Music occurred when he was living in Brooklyn. He found a Spoonie G record in a stack of records that someone was throwing in the garbage in the early 80s'. After listening to Spoonie G, MCA knew he found a genre of music that resonated with him. Since then MCA and The Beastie Boys had respect for True School Rap music.
The Beastie Boys began their career as a Punk group. They released their first record in 1982. It was a 7 inch vinyl with 8 songs on it. They began doing shows in The New York City area opening up for Bad Brains. The Beastie Boys released their first 12 inch vinyl record in that same period called "Hard Rock". Giving listeners an early taste of their style. A few years later The Beastie Boys released their first rap record called "Cookie Puss"- a prank record similar to The Jerky Boys. At that point they began to look past Punk Music with an eye towards Rap Music. They spit Old School rhyme schemes over big drums and heavy guitar riffs. Their approach caught the attention of white music fans.
Before The Beastie Boys, white people didn't even pay attention to Rap Music. White kids had no interest in Rap Music until The Beastie Boys released their first full length album called "License To Ill". Their subject matter appealed to young white audiences because their themes were very sophomoric in nature. The Beastie Boys followed "License To Ill" with classics like "Pauls' Boutique", "Check Your Head" and "Hello Nasty". The Beastie Boys eventually matured and evolved into social activists and became deeply committed to The Tibetan Independence Movement. The Beastie Boys also laid the ground work and paved the way for artists like Limp Biscuit, P.O.D. and even Poppa Roach.
The Beastie Boys were discovered by Rick Reuben who also signed L.L. Cool J to Def Jam Records after Ad Rock found L.L.s' demo tape in Rick Reubens' dorm room at New York University. L.L. was rhyming to a metronome with no music saying "I need a beat". That was the start of L.L.s' career which has lasted for decades.
MCA, who was raised by a Christian father and a Jewish mother was a practising Buddhist. He directed a number of The Beastie Boys videos and founded OscillsScope Laboratories which produced and distributed independent films. He Will Always be remembered as one-third of the legendary ground breaking Beastie Boys. Salute to MCA on his birthday!