Adam Nathaniel Yauch (/jaʊk/ YOWK; August 5, 1964 – May 4, 2012), also known by the stage name MCA,[1] was an American rapper, bassist, filmmaker and a founding member of the hip hop group Beastie Boys.

Yauch founded Oscilloscope Laboratories, an independent film production and distribution company based in New York City.

In high school, he taught himself to play the bass guitar[10] and formed Beastie Boys from hardcore punk band Young Aborigines, with John Berry, Kate Schellenbach, and Michael Diamond.

[12] Beastie Boys, a hip-hop trio, released their first album Licensed to Ill on Def Jam Records when Yauch was 22.

[16] He 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.

When Bad Brains released Into the Future (2012), the band dedicated the album to Yauch, their longtime friend and backer, who had died several months previously.

[17] In addition, Oscilloscope Laboratories also distributed Kelly Reichardt's Wendy and Lucy (2008), Oren Moverman's The Messenger (2009),[18] and Lynne Ramsay's We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011).

[10][18][21] In 1995, while attending a speech by the Dalai Lama at Harvard University, he met his wife, Tibetan American Dechen Wangdu.