Since bursting upon the scene in as a hardcore punk band in the early 1980s, the Beastie Boys were the holy trinity of underground music that powered New York for over 30 years.

On Friday, part of that unmistakable trio sadly left us. Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch passed away at 47 after a long battle with cancer of the salivary gland. MCA, Mike D and Ad-Rock’s legacy will stretch on for the ages as they’ve influenced younger artists to embrace creativity and reject the commercial nature of modern hip-hop.

The Beastie Boys never bowed to selling their musical soul. They achieved fame by keeping their ears to the streets and discovering a style that no group could ever duplicate.

More from Sean Hartnett on Yauch’s Legacy at CBSNewYork.com.

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