NEWSBeastie Boy ‘Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot’
June 26 2008, Published 1:00 p.m. ET
Beastie Boy Adam Yauch turns his attention toward directing the basketball documentary Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot, which hits select theaters Friday.
The three-time Grammy winner has been in showbiz since 1981, having opened for Madonna on her Like A Virgin tour, but calls becoming a father his proudest moment.
“I have a daughter,” the soft-spoken 43-year-old rapper/director tells me at the New York premiere held at Magic Johnson Theatre in Harlem. “I don’t know that proud is the right word. But most psyched moment. It was right up there when she was born.”
Adam and wife Dechen couldn’t be more thrilled with their Tenzin, 9.
“She’s a great kid. I love hanging out with her, spending time. She’s into playing soccer and drawing.”
The Beastie Boys have enjoyed a slew of hits including Fight For Your Right, No Sleep Till Brooklyn, Brass Monkey, She's Crafty, Hey Ladies, Intergalactic and Ch-Check It Out. What advice would he give young celebrities on maintaining longevity in showbiz?
“Just keep doing what you’re doing,” he tells me.
He remembers a wacky prized possession from the Beastie Boys heyday.
“We still have the giant hydraulic p**** in storage,” he tells me. “We have that in case we ever need it. We were actually thinking about mailing it to the White House in Washington, D.C., to George Bush as a gift, but we haven’t gotten around to it yet. I suppose if we’re going to do it, we don’t have that much time left.”
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Unlike tourmate Madonna, Justin Timberlake doesn't make his list of dream collaborations on the Beastie Boys next disc.
“I’d be happy to work with Adam and Mike,” he says. “I like working with them.”
NBA Draft hopeful Kevin Love, who appears in the film, tells me he was starstruck when he first met Adam.
“He’s a normal, laidback guy who goes under the radar a bit, but when he goes out and raps, he’s making the scene.”
Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot hits theaters Friday.
The film follows eight of the country’s hottest basketball players on the fast track to the NBA. It’s perfect timing as the draft announcement takes place today.
