It is with great sadness that we report the passing of David Jude Jolicoeur, a founding member of the iconic hip-hop group De La Soul. Jolicoeur, better known by his stage name Trugoy the Dove and Dave, passed away at the age of 54, leaving a lasting impact on the world of music and hip hop.
Trugoy the Dove, a renowned rapper, and one-third of the legendary hip-hop group De La Soul, recently shared his struggles with congestive heart failure in the media. He candidly spoke about how his health issues have impeded his ability to perform and travel with his group members.
Unfortunately, Trugoy’s sudden passing shocked the music community and left many wondering what caused his untimely death. The cause of Trugoy’s passing has yet to be disclosed to the public.
“legend of hip hop music and culture,”
In a statement on Twitter, rapper B Real of Cypress Hill described Jolicoeur and paid tribute to the rapper’s musical talents and his impact on the genre.
“His music will allow him to live in our hearts and minds,” “But not only was he a great musician but he was a great human being. He meant a lot to us.”
B Real wrote:
Founding a De La Soul, David Jude Jolicoeur and other members
Born on September 21, 1968, in Brooklyn, New York, David Jude Jolicoeur was raised in the Long Island community of East Massapequa. He met fellow De La Soul members Vincent Mason (Maseo) and Kelvin Mercer (Posdnuos) in high school in the 1980s, and the trio went on to form one of the most innovative and influential hip-hop groups of all time.
Their debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, was released in 1989 and received critical acclaim for its upbeat messages and innovative production style. The group was quick to refute the “hippie” label with the release of their second album, De La Soul Is Dead, in 1991. Throughout their career, De La Soul continued to push the boundaries of hip-hop music and influence a generation of artists with their thought-provoking lyrics and genre-defying sound.
Jolicoeur, who adopted the stage name Trugoy, was known for his smooth, soulful voice and his ability to bring emotional depth to De La Soul’s music. He performed the second verse of the Gorillaz hit “Feel Good Inc.” and was also a member of the Spitkicker collective.
Throughout David career
David Jude Jolicoeur’s contributions to hip-hop were widely recognized and celebrated. Despite his health challenges, Jolicoeur remained dedicated to his music and to his fans, who loved him for his kindness, his humor, and his generosity. He also shares some photos on his Facebook proofile.
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De La Soul’s music was widely influential and inspired countless artists in the hip-hop community. Last week, the group was honored at the Grammy Awards in a tribute to the impact of hip-hop music, which De La Soul helped to shape and redefine in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Fans of De La Soul will soon be able to revisit the group’s music, as the first six albums by De La Soul will be made available for digital streaming for the first time on March 3, 2023.
