Santigold on Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys: "The epitome of a new kind of cool"

Last year, Philadelphia-reared avant-pop singer Santigold - a.k.a. Santi White - guested on "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win," the lead single off the Beastie Boys album Hot Sauce Committee, Part Two. She also starred as a black Barbie superbabe version of herself along in the 11 minute long Spike Jonze-directed Adam Yauch-written video for the song.

Yauch, the Beastie known as MCA, died on Friday at age 47. Here's what White had to say about him in a statement she released over the weekend. Watch the "Don't Play" video below. Santigold's Master Of My Make Believe came out last week, and she plays the Trocadero on Tuesday.

"Though I've been a fan of The Beastie Boys since I was 12-years old (there is a lost tape of me performing "Fight For Your Right to Party" with my friends at the mall), I got to know Adam when I had the opportunity to work with The Beastie Boys on the song "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win" for the Hot Sauce Committee Part Two album. Adam was what I call an instant friend. He was someone whose warmth, honesty, and generosity were felt immediately. As an artist, he is a legend. He is the kind of artist I've always aspired to be like. He was the epitome of a new kind of cool, he was hilarious, a visionary, talented on so many different levels from music to film. He was socially conscious, spiritually aware, an activist, and he was always humble and down to earth. It was such an honor to have known him, and I will miss him. This is such a monumental loss, not just for the music and film communities, but for the whole world. "

Previously: They Got Mad Hits Like Rod Carew: A Beastie Boys video playlist Follow In The Mix on Twitter