The late Beastie Boy's legacy is remembered in resolution that celebrates his life, music and love for New York City.
By James Montgomery
Adam Yauch
Photo: Bertrand Guay/ Getty Images
Adam Yauch was, in almost every sense of the term, a true New Yorker — born in Brooklyn, raised on the music of the Village and the Lower East Side, representing the eclectic energy and vibrant multiculturalism of NYC itself through his films and social causes — so it's fitting that, earlier this week, the New York State Senate passed a resolution honoring the late Beastie Boy's achievements.
The resolution — officially known as J4637 — was written by State Senator Daniel Squadron (who represents the district of Brooklyn Heights, where Yauch was born) and celebrates Yauch's many accomplishments and contributions, including raising the profile of New York City in a time when many thought its best days were behind it, noting:
"The Beastie Boys became well-known in the innovative music scene in Manhattan's East Village and Lower East Side with a sound and a style all their own ... [they] exemplified New York through a period in which grassroots creativity and a community of iconoclastic artists helped redefine and rejuvenate a city on the ropes, with iconic imagery from Brooklyn to Ludlow Street."
Squadron also paid tribute to Yauch's activism, including his Milarepa Fund (which raised awareness of the abuses in Tibet) and his Oscilloscope Laboratories, which produced films like the Yauch-directed "Gunnin' For That #1 Spot," about high-school basketball prospects competing in a tournament at Harlem's historic Rucker Park.
J4637 also works in a nod to the Beastie's 1994 hit "Sure Shot" ("The music and message of the Beastie Boys evolved over the years, but they can't, they don't, they won't stop changing the face of hip-hop, of music and of our culture") and allowed the Senate to "pause in its deliberations" to remember Yauch, "a man of colossal talent and charisma."
"Adam Yauch is survived by his wife, Dechen Wengdu, and their daughter Losel," the resolution concludes. "He will be missed by his family, his fans and all who knew him; his dedication to his music, his activism and his heritage leaves an indelible legacy of inspiration for all other artists."
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