The De La Soul trio member David Jolicoeur, also known as “Trugoy the Dove,” passed away on Sunday, according to US media. At 54 years old, he was.
The revelation was first published by the music website AllHipHop, and it was then confirmed by industry periodicals Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.
There was no listed cause of death.
Trugoy recently opened up about his battle with congestive heart failure and said that it had prohibited him from performing and touring with the other De La Soul members due to his health issues.
The groundbreaking hip hop group, which also consists of Posdnuos and Maseo, was founded in Amityville, Long Island, New York, in 1988.
Their varied sampling, humorous wordplay, and influence on alternative hip hop, especially jazz rap, helped them develop a fanbase.
In contrast to the West Coast’s perception of gangster rap, the ensemble projected positivity.
After a protracted legal struggle over their samples, the New York group finally started streaming its timeless early singles.
The New York trio’s first six albums, dating from 1989 to 2001, had previously not appeared on streaming platforms because their label, Tommy Boy, never tackled the huge legal task of clearing all the samples (there are some 60 to 70 on “3 Feet…” alone).
News of Trugoy’s death prompted quick reaction from industry peers, including the influential MC Big Daddy Kane: “It was a honor to share so many stages with you.”
