Moments after news broke of the death of Adam Yauch (a/k/a MCA) from The Beastie Boys, one of his Hip Hop peers released a statement to HipHopDX. Iconic emcee Rakim released his debut album with Eric B., Paid In Full within a year of the Beasties’ debut, Licensed To Ill. Both Rakim and the Beasties have remained active in music-making and performing to this day.

The fellow New Yorker remember Yauch is saying, “There have been a lot of people who have molded the face and history
of Hip Hop over the years, but no one can deny that my three dudes from New York City were paramount in taking it from a local thing and breaking it world wide. Last saw my man at the [Vh1] Hip Hop Honors Awards and he was upbeat, gracious and spiritual as always. R.I.P. to MCA…see you in the next one, brother.”

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