Juice Crew member and DJ for Kool G Rap, DJ Polo has died

DJ Polo of hip hop collective Juice Crew and one half of the duo Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, has passed away.

His death was confirmed in a statement posted on Instagram yesterday (July 29), from DJ Polo’s family remembering him as a "legend to the hip hop community but also to his family".

Polo, real name Thomas Pough, was best known for his influence in hip hop’s early days of working with the MC Kool G Rap.

Together with Kool G Rap on vocals and DJ Polo on beats, the pair broke into the scene after the release of their debut album ‘Road to the Riches’ in 1989.

Not long after their debut, the duo were welcomed into the Juice Crew collective by the founder Mr. Magic and DJ Marley Marl after they recorded a demo in the crew’s studio.

This demo was recorded at the studio in one night and left the Juice Crew so impressed that they asked the pair to join the group.

The track recorded that night was eventually released under the title ‘It’s a Demo’.

In 1990, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo released ‘Wanted: Dead or Alive’ which featured Juice Crew member Big Daddy Kane as well as Large Pro, Biz Markie and Freddie Foxxx.

Later in 1993, the duo announced their split to concentrate on their solo careers.

Kool G Rap has shared the following statement: "R.I.P. to a dear friend and a Brother from another Household. He is a Legend to Hip Hop and Juice Crew history. DJ Polo! May Light from the Highest be upon him."

Tributes have been flooding in for the hip hop DJ and producer from the likes of Ice-T, Big Daddy Kane, Eric B and more.

Read some of the tributes and listen to Kool G Rap & DJ Polo’s ‘Road To The Riches’ below.

Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Multimedia Editor, follow her on Twitter