Better known as MCA, Adam Yauch, a rapper and founder of the pioneering and multimillion-selling hip-hop group the Beastie Boys, died on Friday in Manhattan. He was 47. Yauch had spent the last three years battling cancer of the salivary gland (New York Times).

To call the Beastie Boys hip hop pioneers may well be an understatement. To understand their role in hip hop history, start with this New York Times article. After that, enjoy the videos below.

You MUST know this track…