Eminem & Nas Pay Homage To Late Beastie Boys Member

Grammy-winning rapper Eminem and Nas showed how much of an impact yesterday's passing of Beastie Boys member Adam "MCA" Yauch had on them by speaking on the late music pioneer's legacy.

Speaking via a statement, Em detailed how much of an impact MCA's loss has on him.

Eminem noted the impact MCA and the Beasties had on his career. "Adam Yauch brought a lot of positivity into the world and I think it's obvious to anyone how big of an influence the Beastie Boys were on me and so many others," Em said in a statement to MTV News. "They are trailblazers and pioneers and Adam will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, Mike D., and Ad-Rock." (MTV)

Rap veteran Nas credited his time alongside the Beastie Boys as one of his most favorite music experiences.

Nas -- who worked with the group on the track "Too Many Rappers," which eventually appeared on the band's last album, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two -- opened up about recording with the legends to MTV News. "One of my greatest moments in music was when I worked with the Beastie Boys. ... Now today I'm hearing our brother is gone. I prayed this would not happen. MCA was so cool, man. We had great talks about what it was like for them in the beginning, getting into the rap game. I'll never forget that experience for the rest of my life. MCA is a true legend who influenced me. God bless his soul and his loved ones." (MTV)

Reports of MCA's untimely death emerged online Friday (May 4) afternoon.

Multiple media outlets are reporting this afternoon that New York native and Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch has died at the age of 47. Yauch, also known as "MCA", had been in treatment for cancer. He was diagnosed in 2009 and was unable to attend The Beastie Boys induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. Yauch along with Mike Diamond and Adam Horowitz formed the brooklyn group in 1979. They are known for songs including "Fight for your right to party" "No Sleep 'til Brooklyn" and "Sabotage." (New York 1)

Since 2009, the late group member had been undergoing cancer treatment.

Yauch sat out the Beastie Boys' induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April, and his treatments delayed the release of the group's most recent album, "Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2." The Beastie Boys had not performed live since the summer of 2009, and Yauch's illness prevented the group from appearing in music videos for "Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2." (MSNBC)