Kelvin Mercer (born August 17, 1969), also known by his stage name Posdnuos, Plug 1 and occasionally Pos, is an American rapper and record producer from East Massapequa, New York, best known for his work as one third of the hip-hop trio De La Soul. Through his work with the group, Mercer is considered to be one of the most consistent and underrated MCs of all time. Beginning with the highly acclaimed 3 Feet High and Rising in 1989, Mercer has gone on to release nine albums with De La Soul.
Early life Mercer was born on August 17, 1969, in The Bronx, New York City, U.S..
Cameos and album appearances
Year Artist Album Track With 2000 Rawkus Records Hip Hop for RespectOne Four Love (Part 1) Various Artists2002 Mint Royale Dancehall PlacesShow Me2006 Oh NoExodus into Unheard RhythmsSmile a Lil Bit 2007 LA SymphonyUnleashedUniversalDJ Jazzy JeffThe Return of the MagnificentLet Me Hear U Clap 2008 Jake OneWhite Van MusicOh Really Slug of Atmosphere J-LiveThen What HappenedThe Upgrade Oddisee 2009 Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip(single) Thou Shalt Always Kill Master Ace and Edo GArts and EntertainmentGood Music 2010 Slum VillageVilla ManifestoScheming Phife Dawg, J Dilla and Vice Verse 2011 DJ ShadowThe Less You Know, the BetterStay the Course Talib Kweli Mac Miller(remix)Of the SoulRaekwon 2013 Statik SelektahExtended PlayGame Break Lecrae and TermanologyMarco Polo PA2: The Director's CutGlory (Finish Hard)A.G., Masta Ace and Dion Jenkins WrekonizeThe War WithinChurch Road Yancey BoysSunset Blvd.Beautiful Botni Applebum2014 Statik SelektahWhat Goes AroundGod KnowsBun B and Jared Evan 2015 Slum VillageYesRight Back Hot ChipWhy Make Sense?Love Is the Future 2018 The Black Eyed PeasMasters of the Sun Vol. 1All Around the World Phife Dawg and Ali Shaheed Muhammad 2019Grand Analog(single) Mutations 2020 Potatohead PeopleMellow FantasyBaby Got Work Kapok 2022 Robert GlasperBlack Radio IIIEverybody LoveMusiq Soulchild Phife DawgForever2 Live ForeverLittle Brother and Darien BrockingtonDiamond DThe Rear ViewFlyin' High Ibrahim MaaloufCapacity to LoveQuiet CultureWildchildOmowaleFather's DayBig Daddy Kane2023Planet HempJARDINEIROS: A COLHEITANUNCA TENHA MEDOStatik SelektahRound TripRound Trip (for Dave)2024Ana TijouxVidaTu saeTalib KweliCommon & Pete RockThe Auditorium Vol. 1When the Sun Shines AgainBilal1999 Write the Futurehella (˃̣̣̥╭╮˂̣̣̥) ✧ ♡ ‧º·˚LONG in the tOOthThe Budos Band2025Talib Kweli, J. Rawls & Javotti MediaN.ANative Sons Part IIMaseo, Black Thought, Mike Gee, Afrika Baby Bam & Busta RhymesSean Kuti & Egypt 80Heavier Yet Lays the Crownless HeadStand Well Well (Grand Stand Version)
Aliases All three members of De La Soul have used a number of aliases. The following are Mercer's most significant:
Posdnuos/Pos – Pronounced "poss-duh-noose" (). The name may be a combination of the reversed words sop, meaning "gift," and sound, a name Mercer went by while acting as a high school DJ. According to some sources, the fact that the words spelled backward are "sounds op [i.e., operative]" is intentional. Plug One – An early concept for 3 Feet High and Rising involved music being transmitted from Mars by three microphone plugs (each one representing a member of the group). Though this idea was abandoned, the titles "Plug One", "Plug Two" and "Plug Three" still became relevant on the album. Mercer's title of Plug One would eventually evolve into Plug Wonder Why, which would be shortened to a homophone of the original, Plug Won. Mercenary – Derived from the last name, "Mercer". This name was given to him by DCQ, brother of Mos Def. P-Pain – Caricature of the rapper T-Pain. He uses this alias in the song "Supervillainz" by DOOM.
References