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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Adam Nathaniel Yauch |
| Also known as | MCA Nathaniel Hörnblowér |
| Born | August 5, 1964 |
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Hip hop, punk rock, rap rock |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, Musician, Songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Rapping, vocals, bass guitar, keyboards |
| Years active | 1979—present |
| Label(s) | Def Jam Records Grand Royal Records Capitol Records |
| Associated acts | Beastie Boys |
| Website | www.beastieboys.com |
Adam Nathaniel Yauch (pronounced IPA /jaʊk/), better known as MCA and Nathaniel Hörnblowér, (born August 5, 1964), is a founding member of hip hop trio the Beastie Boys.
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Biography
Early life
Yauch, an only child, was born in Brooklyn, New York. He is of Jewish descent. He learned to play the bass, and played his first show with the Beastie Boys — then still playing hardcore punk 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 before dropping out. By the time Yauch was 22, producer Rick Rubin had taken the Beastie Boys under his wing and they had released their first album on Def Jam Records as a hip hop trio.
Bad Brains
In 2007, Yauch went to work on Build a Nation, the comeback album from hardcore punk band Bad Brains. Yauch has stated that Bad Brains had great influence on his musical career.
Personal life
Religion
Although he has Jewish roots, Yauch has accepted Buddhism.[1]
Activism
He is actively involved with the Free Tibet movement, an organisation created to put pressure on the People's Republic of China to respect human rights in Tibet. Funds for the cause were also generated from the royalties to Buddhist-inspired Beasties tracks like "Bodhisattva Vow". In 1996, Yauch helped organize the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco, California.
Hobbies
In addition to his work with the Beastie Boys, Yauch is also an avid snowboarder and skateboarder. He is featured in the video game Tony Hawk's Proving Ground as an unlockable character.
Discography
Videography
Under the pseudonym "Nathanial Hörnblowér"[2], Yauch has directed many of the Beastie Boys' music videos. 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.
Oscilloscope Laboratories
Yauch founded Oscilloscope Laboratories, a NYC-based recording studio, film production and distribution company, and post-production facility. Oscilloscope Pictures’ recently released Gunnin For That #1 Spot, and their theatrical lineup includes Irena Salina’s Flow (September 12, 2008), Caroline Suh’s Frontrunners (October 15, 2008), and Kelly Reichardt's Wendy and Lucy. Oscilloscope is also distributing Scott Hamilton Kennedy's Academy Award nominated documentary, 'The Garden'.
References
External links
- Beastie Boys at MySpace
- Interview in Shambhala Sun Magazine
- Audio interview on the.LIFE Files
- Interview on "Gunnin' For That #1 Spot" at IFC.com
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