This feeling was very similar in October when I heard Steve Jobs had died. Though inspirations in many different (yet similar) ways, Adam Yauch (also known as MCA) of the Beastie Boys was one of my heroes. Both died of cancer.I couldn't help but be in tears when I heard about Adam's passing. Like many of my friends, I have been listening to the Beastie Boys every since I was a kid. I've never lived in a world without the Beastie Boys. The first song I vividly remember is No Sleep Till Brooklyn, which was the song that inspired me to want to live there someday. I now live in Brooklyn.There are so many memories of the Beastie Boys, such as getting up at 5am for basketball practice in high school playing my tape of Ill Communication in my mom's van. I listened to that every day, especially Get it Together. MCA was always my favorite Beastie Boy because I loved his lyrics and unique voice.Even though I'm not a musician, I always felt the Beastie Boys inspired me so much as an artist and designer, particularly in the idea of mixing and remixing...sampling...the idea of taking something and giving it new content/context. The longevity of their genius is something I will continue to look up to. Some can be great for a short period of time, but these guys have spanned so many decades, continued to do their thing and change their style in success.You can bet every time I'm designing, I am listening to Paul's Botique.Rest in Peace, Adam Nathaniel Yauch. There will always be a castle in Brooklyn, where you dwell. I will miss you so much.
“I think every person has the ability to effect change. I think we’re often led to believe that it’s just celebrities [who] have some ability to effect change, but I think that what’s important for us to realize is that everyone of us affects the world constantly through our actions, through our every smallest action, through our every thought, our every word, the way that we interact with other people… we’re constantly affecting the world.”—Adam Yauch
