Dalai Lama leads tribute to 'Beastie Boys' rapper Adam Yauch

London, May 5 (ANI): Dalai Lama, along with several members of the entertainment industry reacted with sadness and came forward to express their condolences following the death of ' Beastie Boys' rapper Adam Yauch on Friday. He was 47.

The hip hop star, also known as MCA, passed away after a long battle with cancer.

The Buddhist monk met with Yauch several times, most recently in July.

Yauch, who was born to a Catholic father and Jewish mother, had long practised Tibetan Buddhism after converting in 1994.

"Adam had helped us raise awareness on the plight of the Tibetan people by organizing various freedom Tibet concerts and he will be remembered by his holiness and the Tibetan people," the Daily Mail quoted a spokesperson for the Dalai Lama as saying.

The rapper 's later musical works were influenced by his new-found religion and Yauch set up and donated generously to the Milarepa Fund which he set up to support Tibetan independence.

He is survived by his wife Dechen Wengdu, an American-born daughter of prominent Tibetan activists, and his 14-year-old daughter, Tenzin Losel Yauch.

Justin Timberlake was just one of a number of celebrities who took to Twitter to pay tribute to him.

"Crushed to hear the news of Adam Yauch's passing. A true pioneer of art. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.#RIPMCA (sic)," he tweeted. (ANI)