Adam Yauch, a founding member of the pioneering Beastie Boys hip hop group, died Friday at the age of 47 of cancer.

Yauch, who also was known as MCA, helped start the group in 1979 when it was a hardcore punk bank. But as its music evolved, the Beastie Boys produced some of hip-hop's celebrated albums, including Licensed to Ill, Paul's Boutique, Check Your Head and Ill Communication. Yauch was a vocalist and bass player.

The group has not performed live since 2009, but was inducted last month into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Beastie Boys said Yauch died from a cancerous tumor in his saliva gland that was first discovered in 2009.