Many people in the mature age range of their 40s and 50s were deeply saddened by the news that another member of the pioneering hip-hop act, Force M.D.’s, had become an ancestor Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. Later that day, DJ Marley Marl played a tribute to Trisco on his WBLS program, “Golden Era Radio.” Also that day, Force M.D.’s Facebook Fan Page posted the disheartening announcement:
“R.I.P TRISCO PEARSON (FORCE M.D.’s)
Brothers & Sisters and our Friends in Music. It is with the deepest regret that we announce that One of Our own Trisco Pearson of the Beloved Group, The Force M.D.’s has passed and finally went home with no more pain. Trisco was truly our Brother, coming from Staten Island, New York to transport talents that reached around the world. We will miss him but know he joins our Brothers TCD and Mercury on the Heavenly concert stage.
The Force M.D.’s & The Pearson Family Greatly Appreciate Your Love & Support, As We Come Together for our Dear Brother. May he Rest in Peace.”
Reports stated that Pearson passed after battling stage 4 cancer. He now joins three other group members who preceded him. Charles “Mercury” Nelson suffered a fatal heart attack in 1995, DJ Dr. Rock (Roger Daniels) died of natural causes in 1996 and Antoine “T.C.D.” Lundy lost his battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease in 1998.
During hip-hop music’s formative years, when artists strove for creativity and to be as diverse and unique as possible, Force M.D.’s stood out from the rest.
Initially known as The Force M.C.’s, the Staten Island natives gained citywide fame from their legendary 1983 battle against another pioneering hip-hop act, The Cold Crush Brothers, in the Bronx.
Later known as Force M.D.’s—short for Musical Diversity—they fused soulful harmonizing vocals over banging hip-hop tracks. They could regularly be seen in Times Square and on the Staten Island Ferry entertaining spectators until WBLS’ DJ Mr. Magic was impressed after witnessing them sing on the ferry one day in 1984 and got them signed to Tommy Boy Records shortly thereafter.
For the next decade-plus Force M.D.’s produced a number of classic baby-making tunes, including “Tender Love,” “Tears,” “Here I Go Again” and “Love Is a House,” among others.
As the commercialization of hip-hop expanded by the mid-80s Force M.D.’s popularity grew, and they went on to sell millions of records and packed nightclubs across the country.
They appeared in the 1985 urban classic motion picture, “Krush Groove,” with their single “Tender Love” featured on the movie’s soundtrack. Also that year they performed their song “Itchin’ for a Scratch” in the feature film “Rappin’,” which also included the recording on its soundtrack.
Force M.D.’s appeared on several tracks on Ghostface Killah’s 1996 debut album, “Ironman,” and were slated to release new material on fellow Staten Islanders Wu-Tang’s record label Razor Sharp, which never happened. However, they did release an album titled “Reunion” in 2000.
Surviving group members Khalil Lundy, Stevie D. Lundy and Jesse Lee Daniels are hosting a fundraiser concert at Eve Ultra Lounge, Saturday, Oct. 1, at 10 p.m., 2354 Arthur Kill Rd., Staten Island, N.Y.
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ForceMds/.