Reports have started to come in been confirmed that Adam Yauch, of the Beastie Boys, has died aged 47.

Global Grind claim to have confirmation of the news, which we’re currently tracking. This doesn’t appear to have been confirmed by any other sources yet, so bear with us. Update: TMZ have sadly confirmed the news.

Yauch, better known as MCA, had been diagnosed with cancer, but recent reports suggested that he’d beaten the illness. As well as being a member of one of the most influential hip-hop groups of all time, Yauch had a keen interest in films. He directed several Beastie Boys videos (as Nathaniel Hornblower), and eventually started a film production and distribution company, Oscillate Pictures, recently handing the North American rights of LCD Soundsystem documentary Shut Up and Play the Hits.