[Edited 5/4/12 22:10pm]

Jay-Z's Life&Times di...for Yauch.

http://gawker.com/5907763/rip-nathanial-hornblower-mcas-hilarious-response-to-a-bad-new-york-times-review

By Max Read

GAWKER

R.I.P. Nathanial Hornblower: MCA’s Hilarious Response to a Bad New York Times Review

In 2004, The New York Times' Stephanie Zacharek negatively reviewed the video for the Beastie Boys' new sin...k It Out." MCA a.k.a. Adam Yauch, who died today at the age of 47, had directed the video under his pseudonym Nathanial Hornblower. He didn't take kindly to Zacharek's review, and let her know in a letter to the Times demanding, among other things, that she send him a goat.

His letter:

One Goat, on Account

To the Editor:

I had the great pleasure of reading your unsolicited critique of the "Ch-Check It Out" music video ["Licensed to Stand Still" by Stephanie Zacharek, May 16]. It took some time to get to me, as it had to be curried (sp?) on goatback through the fjords of my homeland, the Oppenzell. And in the process the goat died, and then I had to give the mailman one of my goats, so remember, you owe me a goat.

Anyway, that video is big time good. Pauline Kael is spinning over in her grave. My film technique is clearly too advanced for your small way of looking at it. Someday you will be yelling out to the streets below your windows: "He is the chancellor of all the big ones! I love his genius! I am the most his close personal friend!"

You journalists are ever lying. I remember people like you laughing at me at the university, and now they are all eating off of my feet. You make this same unkind laughter at the Jerry Lewis for his Das Verruckte Professor and now look, he is respected as a French-clown. And you so-call New York Times smarties are giving love to the U2 because they are dressing as the Amish and singing songs about America? (Must I dress as the Leprechaun to sing songs about Ireland so that you will love me? You know the point I make here is true!)

In concluding, "Ch-Check It Out" is the always best music film and you will be realizing this too far passing. As ever I now wrap my dead goat carcass in the soiled New York Times - and you are not forgetting to buy me a replacement! Please send that one more goat to me now!

NATHANIAL HORNBLOWER

Manhattan

The writer, whose real name is Adam Yauch, is a member of the Beastie Boys. He directs their music videos under the pseudonym Nathanial Hornblower.

Yauch, besides being a pretty funny guy, was a film buff. His film distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories, which he founded in 2002, released last year's We Need to Talk About Kevin, the Oscar-nominated Banksy documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop, Kelly Reichardt's Meek's Cutoff and Wendy and Lucy, as well as dozens of other foreign, independent, out-of-print and documentary movies. Criterion asked him to select ten films from their collection; here are the results. ("Sometimes I get free DVDs from Criterion, but not always. I wanted to get one of each, you know, like the whole collection, but they said, 'No, Adam, we don't do that.'")

Zacharek admits that she still owes him a goat, but, to her credit, is not shouting out "He is the chancellor of all the big ones! I love his genius! I am the most his close personal friend!"

Russell Simmons, a longtime friend of the Beasties, said on his Global Grind website, "Adam was incredibly sweet and the most sensitive artist, who I loved dearly. I was always inspired by his work. He will be missed by all of us."

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong (@BJAofficial) tweeted, "Lollapalooza94 talked to Yauch almost everyday He was full of wisdom & encouragement for a freaked out kid like I was. Thank you MCA. LoveBJ"

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea (@flea333) said, "Prayers and all the love I could ever muster for Adam Yauch. What a beautiful man. God bless his beautiful soul. A class act all the way"

His bandmate Chad Smith (@RHCPchad) added, "Wow, lost another brother..sail on MCA.."

In a statement posted online, Michael Stipe and R.E.M. said, "We've lost one of our greats. A true gentleman with the strongest resolve, humor, and energy to spin the world on its axis...and that is exactly what he did. Let's not forget he did it with panache and style and beats and in various costumes. Even while dressed as a Swiss mountain climber. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Beasties and to Adam's family and fans."

Drummer Travis Barker (@travisbarker) said, "Rest In Peace Adam Yauch /MCA. 4ever somebody i looked up to & had the pleasure of meeting. Damn this bums me out, we lost one of the best"

Linkin Park (@LinkinPark) tweeted, "We're sad to learn about the death of MCA. Our condolences to the Beastie Boys and Adam's family"

Brandon Boyd of Incubus (@mybrandonboyd) - "The Beastie Boys and MCA were a big source of inspiration to @IncubusBand Our love and thoughts are with them"

NBC late night host Jimmy Fallon (@jimmyfallon) wrote, "So sad to hear of the passing of Adam Yauch. He was a great performer, director, father, humanitarian and New Yorker. #RIPMCA"

Gregg "Opie" Hughes of Opie & Anthony (@OpieRadio) wrote, "#RIPMCA - I guess you finally made it to Brooklyn. #SadNews"

Tegan & Sara (@teganandsara) tweeted, "RIP Adam Yauch. Our hearts go out to Adam's family and friends. http://www.beastieboys.com"

Nick Hexum of 311 (@NickHexum) wrote, "Sad to hear about MCA. A huge influence. Rest peacefully."

Stefan Lessard of Dave Matthews Band (@SLessard) - "My heart broke reading the Adam Yauch has passed away. One of my favorite MC's that I have been so inspired by time and time again."

Amanda Palmer (@amandapalmer) tweeted, "R.I.P. Adam Yauch - Beastie Boys. We've lost a visionary artist. Sitting in Brooklyn and feeling the impact like a black cloud."

Director/writer/podcaster Kevin Smith (@ThatKevinSmith) said, "RIP Adam Yauch. You made my teenage years more fun and your art made it easier for me to do what I do. For a Beastie, you sure were a beaut."

Capitol Records' Howard Petruziello (@originalhowardp) tweeted, "The Beasties created their own culture, groundbreaking music, Grand Royal magazine....they got so much right and did it their way.#RIPMCA"

KYSR/Los Angeles morning host Kennedy (@KennedyNation) - "That is so sad for the world #AdamYauch is gone. What a beautiful soul and always the most mackinest MC."

KROQ's Stryker ( @TedStryker) wrote, ""Born & bred Brooklyn, U.S.A. They call me Adam Yauch but I'm M.C.A" RIPAdamYauch My condolences to his #BeastieBoys family and the Yauchs"

Actor/rapper Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino (@DonaldGlover) wrote, "Adam Yauch was an amazing artist and one of the nicest people I've ever met. His music was some of my favorite. Truly saddened. RIP MCA."

WWE Champion CM Punk (@CMPunk) tweeted, "MCA. Everybody is a Beastie Boys fan. That's hard to do. A great life."

San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson (@BrianWilson38) said, "MCA was a legend in the music industry. Much love to the family, friends and fans of the Beastie Boys during this time of need. #license2ill"

Barenaked Ladies (@barenakedladies) said, "Adam Yauch and The Beastie Boys were a defining influence on how @Barenakedladies approached everything. It's a sad day. #RIPMCA"

Those pics from the 80s made me tear up

RIP, MCA. Gone too soon. This is my favorite Beastie Boys' track of all time:

It's so damn catchy and cute.

RIP MCA

NDRU said:

This is one of my fav....Paul´s Boutique is a classic album!!

So sad....

Gunsnhalen said:

SuperFurryAnimal said:

This is seriously an amazing album, i got interested cause Miles Davis & Chuck D Both said it was one of there favorite albums. I was like no way! I mean i thought License To Ill was good but this was a whole next level. Plus the way they sampled on here was really creative.

I know some people HATE the fact people sample, but if they listen to that album. They can't tell me there's some real thought put into it.

I love, love, love PB. One of my maybe top ten favorite albums of all time. For me I thought they may be a fad during ill period but for me PB cemented them as great. They sampled things in new ways on that album and you can go back and will hear sampling you didn't hear before. The album is pure magic.

I didn't want to like this, but I ended up doing so anyway. Nice tribute.

Ya'll realize Ad Rock and Mike D. can't be the Beasties anymore without MCA.

JabarR74 said:

Ya'll realize Ad Rock and Mike D. can't be the Beasties anymore without MCA.

I don't think anyone is expecting that. Like Run DMC said they weren't going to continue as a group after Jam Master Jay passed.

JabarR74 said:

Ya'll realize Ad Rock and Mike D. can't be the Beasties anymore without MCA.

That's part of why it's so sad. I'm sure there will be some albums of unreleased/live material let loose posthumously - if for no other reason than to be sure Yauch's wife and daughter are well taken care of - but there will definitely be no tours, performances or new material recorded under the Beastie Boys name.

I was thinking about it lastnight, too. I'm guessing this wasn't a huge shock to them. At first they were going to hold back Hot Sauce Committee until MCA was "better". Then, after a VERY long wait, they went ahead and released it, but did no touring and not a whole lot of promotional work beyond the longform video (directed by Yauch). At the RRHOF induction they accepted their awards, but chose not to perform without Yauch. In hindsight, it seems like they probably knew this wasn't going to end well long before the rest of us.

The Black Keys dedicated the song "Lonely Boy" to Adam at their show in Oakland last night, same venue I saw The Beastie Boys at back in 1986.

RIP MCA

RIP

The New York Times - ADAM YAUCH, 1964-2012

rip

R.I.P. Adam - you were a big part of my latch-key childhood days.

And thanks for Cerebus, MickyDolenz and everyone for making this a wonderful thread respectful and touching memorial.

I'm confused-how was Lyor interviewed right after MCA's death-was this interview just about his passing?

Beastie Boys Thank Fans for Support After Adam Yauch's Death

Ad-Rock and Mike D write messages to fans in wake of bandmate's passing

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/beastie-boys-ad-rock-thanks-fans-for-support-after-adam-yauchs-death-20120507

Beastie Boys rapper Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz thanked the group's fans for their support in the wake of his bandmate Adam "MCA" Yauch's death on Friday in a post on the band's official Tumblr.

"As you can imagine, shit is just fkd up right now," Horovitz wrote. "But i wanna say thank you to all our friends and family (which are kinda one in the same) for all the love and support. i’m glad to know that all the love that Yauch has put out into the world is coming right back at him. thank you."

Horovitz posted this comment along with a photograph of a hand with PWR2MCAI❤U drawn on with magic markers.

Earlier this morning, fellow Beastie Boy Mike "Mike D" Diamond offered his own words of gratitude to fans on Facebook. "I know, we should have tweeted and instagrammed every sad, happy and inspired thought, smile or tear by now. But honestly the last few days have just been a blur of deep emotions for our closest friend, band mate and really brother," Diamond wrote. "I miss Adam so much. He really served as a great example for myself and so many of what determination, faith, focus, and humility coupled with a sense of humor can accomplish. The world is in need of many more like him. We love you Adam."

Yauch passed away on Friday after a three-year battle with cancer. Fans and peers have been paying their respects to the late rapper all weekend, including a brief memorial clip on Saturday Night Live, concert tributes from Red Hot Chili Peppers and Coldplay and an outpouring of grief on Twitter.