Behold an unaired performance of The New Style by Adrock, Mike D, and the *sigh* late MCA (with Mix Master Mike on the wheels of steel) from the incomplete third season of Chappelle’s Show, uploaded by co-creator/writer/exec-producer Neal Brennan.
Beastie Boys are a part of my soul (they’re in my personal TOP 3 all-time favourite bands). And due to countless great memories related to their music, I’m having considerable difficulty dealing with MCA’s untimely departure (hence my being a little late to post anything about it). Of course, I never knew the man personally. But I just had to say something on my tumblelog to honour the awesomely raspy-voiced performer, knowledgeable filmmaker/cinephile, and Buddhist/humanitarian that was the great Adam Yauch. I also realize that this dope rough cut is a depressing reminder that we now live in a world of entertainment where Beastie Boys and Chappelle’s Show are long gone, never to return. But at least we now know that these 2 great tastes that go great together did in fact cross paths for one brief and ill-tastic moment on a boat during a chilly day in New York City.
As indicated by the marker at the very beginning of the vid, this was filmed on December 4, 2004: exactly 24 days after I finally got to see these music legends/hall of famers perform live in what was their first and ultimately last appearance in my hometown of Ottawa, Ontario. And from behind the front row centre barricades (which I was happily leaning over all night long), while the Beasties were getting the crowd to rap the lyrics to Paul Revere, I actually got to slap hands with none other than the super chill MCA who was walking through the vicinity (very true story). It was an absolute thrill then and is a fond and bittersweet memory now.
Mr. Yauch, you and your cool grey hair are incredibly sorely missed. My thoughts remain with Adam, Mike, and all of your family and friends. Namaste.
Edit: I wrote this post late last night when the embedded video was still working and published it via my queue. So I wasn’t aware that the inhuman toolboxes at Viacom have been yanking every copy out there due to non-ill licensing issues (really? The man is DEAD, you assholes!). So here’s a working link in the mean time (DL the vid here and keep it forever). And as an apropos placeholder, I embedded a live performance of Sabotage from the Beasties famed 1999 concert in Glasgow, Scotland. So fuck Viacum (and may the Internet continue to set this Watergate straight).
(Source: reddit.com)
