According to US media, De La Soul's founding member David Jolicoeur passed away at the age of 54.
The rapper, known by his stage name Trugoy the Dove, has passed away without having a cause of death disclosed.
The American musician had previously spoken in the media about his recent congestive heart failure.
Along with Posdnuos (Kelvin Mercer) and Maseo (Vincent Lamont Mason Jr.), Jolicoeur co-founded the renowned trio.
The group, who transformed hip-hop in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was recognized at last week's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles during a tribute to the genre.
Jolicoeur was referred to as a "legend of hip hop music and culture" in a tweet by rapper B Real, a member of the hip-hop group Cypress Hill.
His music will enable him to exist in our hearts and minds, the author wrote. "But he wasn't just a great musician; he was also a great person. We valued him greatly. ".
The band's vintage albums were made accessible for online streaming last month.
The move had been put off until now due to complicated licensing issues surrounding De La Soul's use of hundreds of samples.
The first six albums by De La Soul will be made available for digital streaming for the first time on March 3.
Their debut album, 3 ft\. High and Rising, which debuted in 1989, peaked at number one on Billboard's top R&B/hip-hop album chart and frequently appears on lists of the best albums ever made. Hits like The Magic Number and Me, Myself, and I were included.
