Rolling Stone reports Adam Yauch, one-third of the pioneering hip-hop group the Beastie Boys, has died at the age of 48, Rolling Stone has learned. Yauch, also known as MCA, had been in treatment for cancer since 2009. The rapper was diagnosed in 2009 after discovering a tumor in his salivary gland.

Yauch sat out the Beastie Boys' induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April, and his treatments delayed the release of the group's most recent album, Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2. The Beastie Boys had not performed live since the summer of 2009, and Yauch's illness prevented the group from appearing in music videos for Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2.

Yauch co-founded the Beastie Boys with Mike "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horowitz in 1979. The band started off as a hardcore punk group, but soon began experimenting with hip-hop. The band broke big with their first proper album, Licensed to Ill, in 1986, and further albums Paul's Boutique, Check Your Head and Ill Communication cemented the band as a true superstar act.

In addition to his career with the Beastie Boys, Yauch was heavily involved in the movement to free Tibet and co-organized the Tibetan Freedom Concerts of the late Nineties. In 2002, he launched the film production company Oscilloscope Laboratories.

Read more at Loudwire and Spinner

Check out the official statement at Loudwire

Check out their Rolling Stone cover.  Read what others had to say at Blabbermouth, Loudwire, Ultimate Classic Rock, Rolling Stone, Classic Rock and Spinner  Check out his best music moments at Rolling Stone and Spinner What is your favorite Beastie Boys song, take the poll at Rolling Stone

Read what Yauch said about his spirituality at Rolling Stone and what his mother has to say at Spinner

Read what Perry Farrell had to say at Loudwire and Rolling Stone  Check out what Justin Timberlake said at People

Check out tributes from The Red Hot Chili Peppers at Rolling Stone and Loudwire plus Coldplay at Rolling Stone and Spinner & Kid Rock at Loudwire

Check out the top 10 Classic Rock Beastie Boy samples at Ultimate Classic Rock

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/beastie-boys-co-founder-adam-yauch-dead-at-48-20120504#ixzz1tvEKFktI