MCA Day to Be Celebrated in NYC Saturday to Honor Late Beastie Boys Star

Earlier this month, the death of Adam Yauch– better known as MCA to Beastie Boys fans worldwide- at the age of 47 was a massive loss to music, culture and New York City.

Along with fellow Beastie Boys Adrock and Mike D, MCA rocked New York and the rest of the world for nearly three decades with infectious, crossover alternative rap that proved popular in many genres. There’s no doubt the Beastie Boys were loved worldwide, and MCA’s death was mourned across the globe as well.

No one seemed as moved by the loss of MCA as those who live here in New York, the home turf of the Beastie Boys and where the band grew up and rose to fame. So it is clearly fitting that the city is set to celebrate a day honoring the legendary rapper on Saturday, May 19th- which is officially MCA Day in the five boroughs.

Officially, you say? Yes, via Spin, below is the text of a very lawmakery-sounding resolution to legitimize MCA Day through the proper channels- which was “ceremonially accepted” on the state’s congressional floor, owing to MCA’s cultural contributions to New York State.

A Facebook page organizing MCA Day informs fans that a gathering of those celebrating the newly-minted remembrance event will convene at Union Square by the Washington statue at 11 AM to commence honoring the late emcee.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of famed rapper and activist Adam “MCA” Yauch:

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay tribute to those individuals whose commitment and creative talents have contributed to the entertainment and cultural enrichment of their community and the entire State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Adam Yauch, also known as MCA, the rapper, musician, activist, film director and founder of the pioneering New York hip-hop group the Beastie Boys, died on Friday, May 4, 2012, in Manhattan at age 47;and

WHEREAS, Adam Nathaniel Yauch was born on August 5, 1964, and raised in Brooklyn Heights; he was the son of Frances Yauch, a social worker, and Noel Yauch, an architect and painter, and attended Edward R. Murrow High School in Midwood; and

WHEREAS, Adam Yauch taught himself the bass guitar while growing up and joined the Beastie Boys, originally a hardcore punk outfit, playing his first show with the group when he was just 17 years old in 1981; and

WHEREAS, The Beastie Boys became well-known in the innovative music scene in Manhattan’s East Village and Lower East Side with a sound and a style all their own; and

WHEREAS, The album “Licensed to Ill” was the first hip-hop album to top the Billboard chart; and

WHEREAS, The music and message of the Beastie Boys evolved over the years, but they can’t, they don’t, they won’t stop changing the face of hip-hop, of music, and of our culture; and

WHEREAS, The Beastie Boys exemplified New York through a period in which grassroots creativity and a community of iconoclastic artists helped redefine and rejuvenate a city on the ropes, with iconic imagery from Brooklyn to Ludlow Street; and

WHEREAS, Having consistently produced multi-million selling albums and receiving Grammy awards, in April 2012 the Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but Adam Yauch was unable to attend due to deteriorating health; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his contributions to music, Adam Yauch was an activist and founder of the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness about abuses in Tibet and against Tibetans, and later in life became a successful filmmaker, founding Oscilloscope Laboratories, an independent film distribution company; and

WHEREAS, A man of colossal talent and charisma, Adam Yauch is survived by his wife, Dechen Wengdu, and their daughter, Losel; he will be missed by his family, his fans and all who knew him; his dedication to his music, his activism, and his heritage leaves an indelible legacy of inspiration for all other artists; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to mourn the death of famed rapper and activist Adam “MCA” Yauch; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the family of Adam Yauch.