Residents in Brooklyn Heights celebrated "MCA Day" Saturday to honor the life of Adam Yauch, of the Beastie Boys. 

The rapper died five years ago from a rare cancer.

Mike Kearney organized the celebration, which included Tibetan peace flags hanging up in Adam Yauch Park. Yauch was known to shine a spotlight on atrocities in Tibet, among other issues. 

"When he said, 'to all the mothers and the sisters and the wives and friends, I want to offer my love and respect to the end,' that wasn't something a lot of MCs and rappers were doing at the time, lifting up the women and the strong females who were supporting them," says Kearney. 

People at the event told News 12 that the Beastie Boys were like their cooler, older brothers from the city who taught them about life.