De La Soul‘s Posdnuos has shared a story that reveals a head injury is to thank for the group’s 1988 single, “Plug Tunin’.”
Art Official Intelligence Radio with De La Soul on Apple Music 1 is a special five-episode series hosted by Posdnuos and Maseo. While recalling the song and his clever wordplay on the show’s first episode with guests Prince Paul and Queen Latifah, Pos explained its unlikely origins.
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“The cadence of ‘Plug Tunin’,’ it came from me just sitting in my room one day. I had sat down by my bed and hit my head,” he explained. “Dead up. I hit my head and I was like [to the beat], ‘Ow ow ow ow.’ Bing! Dead up. I made the cadence from me just being hurt. And you know we don’t have no tape recorder. I just grabbed the pen and [wrote it down].”
He continued: “The first words of ‘Plug Tunin” is me just using the words to hold up the cadence that I did. [raps] Those first two lines were just me trying to make sure I remembered the cadence.”
February marked one year since the passing of De La Soul’s Trugoy The Dove, and Posdnuos shared a heartfelt message dedicated to the late artist (real name David Jude Jolicoeur) on the anniversary.
On February 12, the 54-year-old MC took to Instagram to reflect on his friendship with the departed pioneer despite knowing that he didn’t like such tributes.
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“I feel conflicted posting this on this date,” he began. “Dave disliked when people were publicly remembered on the day they were lost….The day they transitioned but I’m sure he also respected how people chose to remember those they love and have lost.”
He continued: “So on this day I will stand alongside all the people who cherish him as well as kept @wearedelasoul in their prayers but to be clear I miss him in the physical everyday, rep for him everyday & will talk to someone about him everyday.#Thankyou #Dave.”
Trugoy died at the age of 54 on February 12, 2023. The cause of death is still unknown, but the Hip Hop community paid tribute to him with touching messages that honored his contributions to the craft.
Prince Paul, Queen Latifah, LL COOL J, Fat Joe, Chuck D, Black Thought, Redman, Bun B and Rapsody were just some of the names who honored the De La Soul wordsmith upon hearing the tragic news.
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Weeks later, the two surviving members of the group gathered in New York City for a show that both honored Trugoy and celebrated the fact that De La Soul’s music had finally arrived on streaming services. Dubbed The D.A.I.S.Y. Experience, the bittersweet event took place at Webster Hall with some of rap’s biggest stars stopping by to pay their respects.
