Adam Yauch
Encyclopedia
Adam Nathaniel Yauch (born August 5, 1964), is a founding member of hip hop
trio the Beastie Boys
. He is frequently known by his stage name, MCA, and other pseudonyms such as Nathanial Hörnblowér.
band in the vein of Reagan Youth
— on his 17th birthday, while still attending Edward R. Murrow High School
in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn. He attended Bard College
for 2 years before dropping out. Two years later, when Yauch was 22, the Beastie Boys, now performing as a hip hop trio, released their first album Licensed to Ill
on Def Jam Records.
"Nathanial Hörnblowér", Yauch has directed many of the Beastie Boys' music video
s. Yauch made his televised debut as Hörnblowér at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards
as he stormed the stage in costume to protest after R.E.M.
won the award for Best Direction over the Spike Jonze
directed Beastie Boys video "Sabotage". He also directed the 2006 Beastie Boys concert film Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!
, though in the DVD extras for the film, the title character in "A Day in the Life of Nathanial Hörnblowér" is played by David Cross
. He also directed the 2008 film Gunnin' For That #1 Spot
about eight high school
basketball
prospects at the Boost Mobile Elite 24 Hoops Classic at Rucker Park
in Harlem
, New York City.
In 2002, Yauch built a recording studio in NYC called Oscilloscope Laboratories and produced Build a Nation
, the comeback album from hardcore/punk band Bad Brains
. Oscilloscope Laboratories also distributed Adam Yauch's directorial film debut, basketball documentary Gunnin' For That #1 Spot
(2008) as well as Kelly Reichardt's Wendy and Lucy
(2008) and Oren Moverman’s The Messenger
(2009).
MCA, along with fellow Beastie Boys members Adrock and Mike D appeared in the 2005 streetball game NBA Street V3
as an unlockable team wearing New York Knicks
#00 jerseys and caps. MCA later appeared in the 2007 skating game Tony Hawk's Proving Ground
as an unlockable skater wearing the black suit MCA occasionally wears. Most recently; MCA appears alongside his musical compatriots as a playable character in EA's
NBA Jam (2010)
. This is seen by many as a homage to his original appearance along Adrock and Mike D in Midway's
original NBA Jam
, circa 1993 as secret characters. In NBA Jam 2010, the Beastie Boys team can be unlocked through the use of a cheat code or by defeating them in game.
, Yauch is currently a practicing Buddhist.
In 2009, Yauch was treated for a cancerous parotid gland
and a lymph node and underwent surgery and radiation therapy delaying the group's album release and tour. Yauch became a vegan under the recommendation of his Tibetan doctors.
Interviews
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
trio the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
. He is frequently known by his stage name, MCA, and other pseudonyms such as Nathanial Hörnblowér.
Early life
Adam Yauch was born an only child in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Noel Yauch, is a painter and architect. In high school he taught himself to play the bass guitar, and formed Beastie Boys. They played their first show — then still a hardcore punkHardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band in the vein of Reagan Youth
Reagan Youth
Reagan Youth is an American punk rock band formed by singer Dave Rubinstein and guitarist Paul Bakija in Queens, New York in early 1980. They are known for introducing the style of hardcore punk to the East Coast punk scene, but were also a part of the peace punk movement...
— on his 17th birthday, while still attending Edward R. Murrow High School
Edward R. Murrow High School
Edward R. Murrow High School, is located in the Midwood section of Brooklyn, New York City, New York and is part of the New York City Department of Education....
in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn. He attended Bard College
Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
for 2 years before dropping out. Two years later, when Yauch was 22, the Beastie Boys, now performing as a hip hop trio, released their first album Licensed to Ill
Licensed to Ill
In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Sources 100 Best Rap Albums.It is still the only album by a white hip-hop act to receive the coveted 5 mics from The Source....
on Def Jam Records.
Career
Under the pseudonymPseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Nathanial Hörnblowér", Yauch has directed many of the Beastie Boys' music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s. Yauch made his televised debut as Hörnblowér at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
as he stormed the stage in costume to protest after R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
won the award for Best Direction over the Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
directed Beastie Boys video "Sabotage". He also directed the 2006 Beastie Boys concert film Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!
Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That!
Awesome; I Fuckin' Shot That! is a 2006 concert film of the Beastie Boys. It was created by giving camcorders to 50 audience members of a sold out concert at Madison Square Garden on October 9, 2004. The audience members were instructed to keep the cameras rolling at all times...
, though in the DVD extras for the film, the title character in "A Day in the Life of Nathanial Hörnblowér" is played by David Cross
David Cross
David Cross is an American actor, writer and stand-up comedian perhaps best known for his work on HBO's sketch comedy series Mr...
. He also directed the 2008 film Gunnin' For That #1 Spot
Gunnin' For That No. 1 Spot
Gunnin' For That #1 Spot is a 2008 documentary directed by Adam Yauch, founding member of the Beastie Boys. The movie premiered at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival in April 2008 and opened in theaters June 27, 2008.-Cast:...
about eight high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
prospects at the Boost Mobile Elite 24 Hoops Classic at Rucker Park
Rucker Park
Rucker Park is a basketball court in the Harlem neighborhood of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located at 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard across the street from the former Polo Grounds site...
in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, New York City.
In 2002, Yauch built a recording studio in NYC called Oscilloscope Laboratories and produced Build a Nation
Build a Nation
Build a Nation is the eighth proper full-length studio album by hardcore punk pioneers Bad Brains. Released on June 26, 2007, it was produced by Adam Yauch of Beastie Boys, a longtime friend of the band. This album also celebrates the 30th anniversary of the band.Along with being available on CD,...
, the comeback album from hardcore/punk band Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
. Oscilloscope Laboratories also distributed Adam Yauch's directorial film debut, basketball documentary Gunnin' For That #1 Spot
Gunnin' For That No. 1 Spot
Gunnin' For That #1 Spot is a 2008 documentary directed by Adam Yauch, founding member of the Beastie Boys. The movie premiered at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival in April 2008 and opened in theaters June 27, 2008.-Cast:...
(2008) as well as Kelly Reichardt's Wendy and Lucy
Wendy and Lucy
Wendy and Lucy is a 2008 American drama film directed by Kelly Reichardt. Reichardt and Jon Raymond adapted the screenplay from his short story "Train Choir". The film stars Michelle Williams and Will Patton...
(2008) and Oren Moverman’s The Messenger
The Messenger (2009 film)
The Messenger is a 2009 war drama film starring Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Steve Buscemi, Jena Malone, and Samantha Morton. It is the directorial debut of Oren Moverman, who also wrote the screenplay with Alessandro Camon....
(2009).
MCA, along with fellow Beastie Boys members Adrock and Mike D appeared in the 2005 streetball game NBA Street V3
NBA Street V3
NBA Street V3 is the third game in the NBA Street series. It is the sequel of NBA Street Vol. 2. It was released for PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox, along with a PlayStation Portable port of V3 called NBA Street Showdown....
as an unlockable team wearing New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
#00 jerseys and caps. MCA later appeared in the 2007 skating game Tony Hawk's Proving Ground
Tony Hawk's Proving Ground
Tony Hawk's Proving Ground is a video game developed by Neversoft for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles; by Page 44 Studios for the PlayStation 2 and Wii; and by Vicarious Visions for the Nintendo DS...
as an unlockable skater wearing the black suit MCA occasionally wears. Most recently; MCA appears alongside his musical compatriots as a playable character in EA's
EA Canada
EA Canada is a video game developer located in Burnaby, British Columbia. The development studio opened in January 1983 and is EA's largest and oldest studio...
NBA Jam (2010)
NBA Jam (2010 video game)
NBA JAM is a basketball video game developed by EA Canada and published by EA Sports. It is the latest installment in the NBA Jam video game franchise and it was released on October 5, 2010...
. This is seen by many as a homage to his original appearance along Adrock and Mike D in Midway's
Midway Games
Midway Games, Inc. is an American company that was formerly a major video game publisher. Following a bankruptcy filing in 2009, it is no longer active and is in the process of liquidating all of its assets. Midway's titles included Mortal Kombat, Ms.Pac-Man, Spy Hunter, Tron, Rampage, the...
original NBA Jam
NBA Jam
NBA Jam is a basketball arcade game developed by Midway in 1993. It is the first entry in the NBA Jam series, and was written entirely in assembly language. The main designer and programmer for this game was Mark Turmell...
, circa 1993 as secret characters. In NBA Jam 2010, the Beastie Boys team can be unlocked through the use of a cheat code or by defeating them in game.
Personal life
Born JewishJudaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, Yauch is currently a practicing Buddhist.
In 2009, Yauch was treated for a cancerous parotid gland
Parotid gland
The paired parotid glands are the largest of the salivary glands. They are each found wrapped around the mandibular ramus, and secrete saliva through Stensen's ducts into the oral cavity, to facilitate mastication and swallowing and to begin the digestion of starches.-Location:The parotid glands...
and a lymph node and underwent surgery and radiation therapy delaying the group's album release and tour. Yauch became a vegan under the recommendation of his Tibetan doctors.
Oscilloscope Laboratories releases
- Gunnin’ For that #1 SpotGunnin' For That No. 1 SpotGunnin' For That #1 Spot is a 2008 documentary directed by Adam Yauch, founding member of the Beastie Boys. The movie premiered at the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival in April 2008 and opened in theaters June 27, 2008.-Cast:...
– Dir. Adam Yauch (USA) - FLOW: For Love of WaterFlow: For Love of WaterFlow: For Love of Water is a 2008 documentary film directed by Irena Salina produced by Steven Starr and co-produced by Gill Holland and Yvette Tomlinson . The film features interviews with water and community activists Maude Barlow, Peter Gleick; and, scientists Ashok Gadgil, Rajendra Singh, and...
– Dir. Irena Salina (FRANCE) - Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about his Father – Dir. Kurt Kuenne (USA)
- Wendy and LucyWendy and LucyWendy and Lucy is a 2008 American drama film directed by Kelly Reichardt. Reichardt and Jon Raymond adapted the screenplay from his short story "Train Choir". The film stars Michelle Williams and Will Patton...
– Dir. Kelly Reichardt (USA) - Frontrunners - Dir. Caroline Suh (USA)
- Not Your Typical Bigfoot Movie – Dir. Jay Delaney (USA)
- Treeless MountainTreeless MountainTreeless Mountain is a 2008 South Korean drama film written and directed by So Yong Kim. It stars Hee Yeon Kim, Song Hee Kim, Soo Ah Lee, Mi Hyang Kim, Boon Tak Park. It premiered on September 5, 2008 at the Toronto International Film Festival...
- Dir. So Yong Kim (KOREA) - Scott Walker: 30 Century ManScott Walker: 30 Century ManScott Walker: 30 Century Man is a 2006 documentary film about Scott Walker. The film gets its title from the Scott 3 song "30 Century Man". It is directed and co-produced by Stephen Kijak, with Grant Gee serving as director of photography...
– Dir. Stephen Kijak (USA) - KissesKissesKisses is a 2008 Irish drama film directed by Lance Daly. The film is a coming of age drama about two ragamuffin preadolescents, next door neighbors each from dysfunctional families living in a poor area in the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland, who run away together one Christmas holiday.-Plot:Early in...
– Dir. Lance Daly - The GardenThe Garden (2008 film)The Garden is a 2008 American documentary film directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy. It tells the story of the now demolished South Central Farm; a community garden and urban farm located in Los Angeles, California. The Garden details the plight of the farmers who organized and worked on the farm...
– Dir. Scott Hamilton Kennedy (USA) - The Law (La Loi)The Law (1959 film)The Law is a 1959 Italian film directed by Jules Dassin.-Cast:* Gina Lollobrigida - Marietta* Pierre Brasseur - Don Cesare* Marcello Mastroianni - Enrico Tosso, the Engineer* Melina Mercouri - Donna Lucrezia* Yves Montand - Matteo Brigante...
– Dir. Jules Dassin (USA) - Burma VJBurma VJBurma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country is a 2008 documentary film directed by Anders Østergaard. It follows the September 2007 uprisings against the military regime in Burma. Some of it was filmed on hand-held cameras, and the footage was smuggled out of the country...
– Dir. Anders Østergaard (DENMARK) - Unmistaken ChildUnmistaken ChildUnmistaken Child is a 2008 independent documentary film, which follows a Tibetan Buddhist monk's search for the reincarnation of his beloved teacher, the world-renowned lama Geshe Lama Konchog . The filming, which began in October 2001, spans a time frame of five and a half years...
– Dir. Nati Baratz (ISRAEL) - The Paranoids – Dir. Gabriel Medina (ARGENTINA)
- No Impact ManNo Impact ManNo Impact Man is a 2009 American documentary film directed by Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein. The film, which premiered September 4, 2009, follows Colin Beavan and his family during their year-long experiment to have sustainable zero impact on the environment.-See also:* Appropriate technology*...
– Dir. Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein (USA) - The Thorn in the Heart (L’Epine dans le Coeur) – Dir. Michel Gondry (FRANCE)
- Terribly Happy (Frygtelig lykkelig)Terribly HappyTerribly Happy is a 2008 Danish film directed by Henrik Ruben Genz, based on Erling Jepsen's novel of the same name from 2004....
– Dir. Henrik Ruben Genz (DENMARK) - The MessengerThe Messenger (2009 film)The Messenger is a 2009 war drama film starring Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Steve Buscemi, Jena Malone, and Samantha Morton. It is the directorial debut of Oren Moverman, who also wrote the screenplay with Alessandro Camon....
– Dir. Oren Moverman (USA) - Beautiful LosersBeautiful Losers (film)Beautiful Losers is a 2008 documentary feature film by director Aaron Rose and co-directed by Joshua Leonard. It was produced by Sidetrack Films in association with BlackLake Productions, and stars several artists including Harmony Korine, writer of independent cult films Kids and Gummo.It...
– Dir. Aaron Rose (USA) - Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love - Dir. Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
- The Maid (La Nana)The Maid (2009 film)The Maid is a 2009 comedy-drama film, directed by Sebastián Silva and co-written by Silva and Pedro Peirano. It has won numerous awards since its premiere at the 25th Annual Sundance Film Festival...
– Sebastián Silva (CHILE) - Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak – Dir. Lance Bangs & Spike Jonze (USA)
- The Exploding Girl – Dir. Bradley Rust Gray (USA)
- Bananas! – Dir. Fredrik Gertten (SWEDEN)
- A Film UnfinishedA Film UnfinishedA Film Unfinished is a 2010 documentary film by Yael Hersonski, which re-examines the making of an unfinished 1942 Nazi propaganda film of the Warsaw Ghetto two months before its liquidation in a Nazi operation known as the Grossaktion Warsaw...
– Dir. Yael Hersonski (ISRAEL) - HowlHowl (film)First Howl is an upcoming horror film directed by David Flores and written by Clint Morris and stars Parisse Boothe, Eric Stoltz and Kristina Anapau...
– Dir. Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Freidman (USA) - William S. Burroughs: A Man Within – Dir. Yony Leyser (USA)
- I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John CazaleI Knew It Was YouI Knew It Was You is a 2009 American documentary film about actor John Cazale, directed by Richard Shepard and produced by Brett Ratner, Stacey Reiss, and Richard Shepard.-Background:...
– Dir. Richard Shepard (USA) - Monogamy - Dir. Dana Adam ShapiroDana Adam ShapiroDana Adam Shapiro is an American film director, best known for his directorial work on the 2006 Academy Award nominated documentary Murderball.-Career:...
(USA) - The UnlovedThe UnlovedThe Unloved is a British television drama starring Molly Windsor, Susan Lynch and Robert Carlyle. It is about an eleven year old girl called Lucy growing up in a children's home in the UK's care system, and shown through her perspective...
- Dir. Samantha MortonSamantha MortonSamantha Jane Morton is an English actress and film director. She began her performing career with guest roles in television shows such as Soldier Soldier and Boon before making her film debut in the 1997 drama film This Is the Sea, playing the character of Hazel Stokes...
(UK) - Meek's CutoffMeek's CutoffMeek's Cutoff is a 2010 western film directed by Kelly Reichardt. The film was shown in competition at the 67th Venice International Film Festival...
- Dir. Kelly ReichardtKelly ReichardtKelly Reichardt is a screenwriter and film director working within American indie cinema. Her debut film River of Grass was released in 1994. It was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards, as well as the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. In 1999, she completed her sophomore...
(USA) - Exit Through the Gift ShopExit Through the Gift ShopGuetta happily accepts the assignment, adopting the name "Mr. Brainwash", putting up street art in the city and six months later, re-mortgaging his business to afford renting copious equipment and a complete production team to create pieces of art under his supervision...
- Dir. BanksyBanksyBanksy is a pseudonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist, film director, and painter.His satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine irreverent dark humour with graffiti done in a distinctive stencilling technique...
(USA) - Who Took The Bomp? Le TigreLe TigreLe Tigre is an American electroclash band, formed by Kathleen Hanna and Johanna Fateman in 1998. It also featured Sadie Benning from 1998 until 2001, and JD Samson for the rest of the group's run...
On Tour - Dir. Kerthy Fix (USA) - Rare Exports: A Christmas TaleRare Exports: A Christmas TaleRare Exports: A Christmas Tale is a 2010 Finnish fantasy film directed by Jalmari Helander about people living near the Korvatunturi mountain who discover the secret behind Santa Claus...
- Dir. Jalmari Helander (FINLAND) - TBA
- Dark Days - Dir. Marc Singer (USA)
- Compassion in Emptiness (USA)
- If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front - Dir. Marshall CurryMarshall CurryMarshall Curry is a documentary filmmaker. His first feature-length film, Street Fight, was nominated for an Academy Award and a News and Documentary Emmy. His second film, Racing Dreams, won Best Documentary and was runner up for the Audience Award at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2009...
(USA) - We Can't Go Home AgainWe Can't Go Home AgainWe Can't Go Home Again is an experimental feature film directed by Nicholas Ray in collaboration with his film students at SUNY Binghamton. Ray and the students play fictionalized versions of themselves....
- Dir. Nicholas RayNicholas RayNicholas Ray was an American film director best known for the movie Rebel Without a Cause....
(USA) - BellflowerBellflower (film)Bellflower is a 2011 American film written and directed by Evan Glodell. It was produced on a shoestring budget in Ventura, California and premiered in January 2011 at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival....
- Dir. Evan Glodell (USA) - RebirthProject RebirthProject Rebirth, Inc. is a U.S. 501 non-profit organization created to support victims and early responders to catastrophic events through documentary footage recording the rebuilding at the site of World Trade Center following the September 11 attacks and seven years in the lives of people...
- Dir. Jim Whitaker (USA) - The Other F Word - Dir. Andrea Blaugrund Nevins (USA)
- We Need To Talk About KevinWe Need to Talk About Kevin (film)We Need to Talk about Kevin is a 2011 British-American drama thriller film adapted and directed by Lynne Ramsay from American author Lionel Shriver's 2003 novel of the same name. A long process of development and financing began in 2005 and filming eventually commenced in April 2010, with Tilda...
- Dir. Lynne Ramsay (UK)
External links
Interviews
- Interview in Shambhala SunShambhala SunThe Shambhala Sun is an independent, bimonthly magazine that offers a nonsectarian view of 'Buddhism, Culture, Meditation, and Life.' Presented are teachings from the Buddhist and other contemplative traditions, with an emphasis on applying the principles of mindfulness and awareness practices to...
- Audio interview on the.LIFE Files
- Interview on "Gunnin' For That #1 Spot" at IFCIndependent Film ChannelThe Independent Film Channel is an American cable TV network that airs independent film and related programming. IFC programming includes commercially interrupted feature-length films, original documentaries, shorts, animated series, original series, acquired series, and content exclusively for...
, June 2008