During the 1980s and early 1990s, the Force M.D.’s (f/k/a Force M.C.’s) were at the frontier of bridging Hip-Hop with R&B and New Jack Swing. The popular New York City outfit which has included a number of members since its 1981 Rap inception would find greater success with hits such as 1985’s Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis-composition/production “Tender Love” and 1987’s “Love Is A House,” both released on Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records.

The M.D.’s are also among Staten Island’s Hip-Hop pioneers, creating a way for The UMC’s, Wu-Tang Clan, and others. Last month, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony performed “Days Of Our Livez,” a song that heavily samples “Tender Love” during their Verzuz with Three 6 Mafia.

Force MD’s Member Trisco Pearson Has Passed Away

Late Tuesday (January 4), the Force M.D.’s confirmed that Jessie D has passed away. On Facebook, they praised him as “one hell of an entertainer” with a strong passion for music. He was believed to be 57 years old. Born Jessie Lee Daniels, he was an uncle to the three Lundy brothers—Stevie, Antoine, and Khalil. Trisco Pearson and Charles “Mercury” Nelson also joined the group. No cause of death has been made public.

In September 2016, Trisco Pearson died after a bout with stage 4 cancer. Past M.D.’s members T.C.D. and Mercury had previously passed. Charles “Mercury” Nelson died from heart attack in 1995. Antoine “TCD” Lundy battled ALS before his 1998 death. One of the group’s DJs, DJ Dr. Rock died, reportedly due to natural causes, in 1996.

The Force M.D.’s Tell Their Story In One Of Trisco’s Last Interviews (Video)

The Force M.D.’s reconnected with their Hip-Hop roots care of three vocal appearances on Ghostface Killah’s 1996 solo debut, Ironman. The group last released 2000 album The Reunion. Online, The Roots’ Questlove praised Force M.D.’s in tribute of Jessie. The Grammy Award-winning musician also pointed out that the M.D.’s offered a lone highlight to the film Rappin, with their performance of Itchin’ For A Scratch.”

Last month, another New York Hip-Hop legend, U.T.F.O.’s Kangol Kid, passed away. Like the M.D.’s, U.T.F.O. has experienced multiple deaths over the years. During 2021, Tommy Boy sold its catalog to Reservoir Music for a reported $100 million. That collection of music includes their seminal mid-1980s album Chillin’, their debut Love Letters, and Touch and Go.

U.T.F.O. Member Kangol Kid Has Passed Away

Ambrosia For Heads extends condolences to the family of Jessie D, the Force M.D.’s, and their fans.