Adam Yauch: The Videos of Nathaniel Hornblower
The Beastie Boys rapper was a secret video auteur
Adam “MCA” Yauch was essential in developing the Beastie Boys’ unique style in music videos. The rapper was always heavily involved in that aspect of the trio’s career, and he directed many of their classic videos himself under the pseudonym Nathaniel Hornblower. Yauch’s videos were always funny, colorful and ambitious.
His final clip for the band, a long form video built around their 2011 single “Make Some Noise,” featured a small army of comedians and actors, including Will Ferrell, Seth Rogen, Elijah Wood, Jason Schwartzman, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Zach Galifianakis, Jack Black and John C. Reilly. Yauch also made the most of his Hornblower alter ego, famously turning up in character on the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards.