Adam Yauch, the gruff-voiced rapper, musician and video auteur known as MCA in the groundbreaking hip hop trio The Beastie Boys, has died after a lengthy illness, Billboard has confirmed. He was 47. The band's rep confirmed that Yauch passed away in his native New York City Friday morning after a three-year battle with cancer.

Yauch underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in his salivary gland in July 2009. Treatment included radiation therapy, and in December of that year, he sent a email message to fans to share that we was feeling "healthy, strong and hopeful" he'd beaten the disease. The exact cause and place of death wasn't immediately known.

MCA, Ad-Rock & Mike D • SLIDESHOW: Beastie Boys 101 • Adam Yauch: 1964-2012 • 10 Awesome MCA Lyrics • The Beasties Made Chart History • Music Stars React on Twitter The Beasties' lineup of Michael "Mike D" Diamond, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz and Yauch came together in Brooklyn in 1983; the group's debut album, 1986's "Licensed To Ill," was produced by Rick Rubin and featured iconic singles like "No Sleep Til Brooklyn," "Brass Monkey" and "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)."

After touring the world behind "Ill," the Beastie Boys changed up their sound with 1989 album "Paul's Boutique," a critically lauded, sample-heavy record that featured production from the Dust Brothers.

"Adam was incredibly sweet and the most sensitive artist who I loved dearly. I was always inspired by his work. He will be missed by all of us," said Russell Simmons, whose Def Jam Recordings released the group's multi-platinum debut "Licensed to Ill" in 1986.

The Beasties continued to collect hits in the 90s, with songs like "So Whatcha Want," "Sabotage" and "Intergalactic" coming from 1992's "Check Your Head," 1994's "Ill Communication" and 1998's "Hello Nasty," respectively. The group went on a hiatus before returning with 2004's "To The 5 Boroughs," a post-9/11 tribute to New York City that included the hit single "Ch-Check It Out." 

After releasing an instrumental album, "The Mix-Up," in 2007, the Beasties had announced a Sept. 15, 2009 release date for their eighth album, "Hot Sauce Committee Part 1." But Yauch's cancer diagnosis forced the group to push back the album and scrap headlining dates at festivals like Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits in 2009. revised version of "Hot Sauce Committee" was released in 2011, but Yauch's health prevented the trio from touring behind the record.

In January of 2011, Mike D told the BBC that the group was "really happy" about Yauch's improved health, a statement that led to reports that Yauch was cancer-free. A spokesperson for the group told Billboard at the time that "Mike did not say that" and Yauch released a statement thanking fans for their support.

"While I'm grateful for all the positive energy people are sending my way, reports of my being totally cancer free are exaggerated," said Yauch. "I'm continuing treatment, staying optimistic and hoping to be cancer free in the near future."

The nine Beastie Boys albums released in the SoundScan era (including two greatest hits packages and one archive release, "Same Old Bullshit") have sold 10.2 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month, but did not attend the April 14 ceremony.