Trugoy the Dove, who was one of the three people who started the hip-hop group De La Soul, has died. He was 54.
Variety and Pitchfork wrote about the death of the MC who won a Grammy. The cause of death hasn’t been found yet.
While filming the music video for “Royalty Capes,” off of De La Soul’s ninth and most recent studio album, And the Anonymous Nobody…
Trugoy (born David Jude Jolicoeur) explained that he had to wear a Life Vest, which “will shock me, and hopefully bring me back from the matrix,” adding –
“I’m ready just to get back to the stage. I miss it. I love travelling, I love being around my guys. And I want that back.”
Erick Sermon, another rapper, shared the news of Trugoy’s death on Instagram on Saturday. He wrote a short tribute and posted an old photo of Trugoy walking barefoot on a beach.
Sermon in the caption wrote –
“This one hurts. From Long Island from one of the best rap groups in Hiphop # Delasoul #plug2. Dave has passed away you will be missed… RIP.”
Jolicoeur was born in Brooklyn on September 12, 1968. He started De La Soul with two friends from his high school in Long Island, Kelvin Mercer (also known as Posdnuos) and Vincent Lamont Mason Jr. (also known as Maseo), in 1988. The next year, they put out their first album, 3 Feet High and Rising.
In case you’re curious, we’ve also reported on the passing of other celebrities:
- Hans Modrow East Germany’s Last Communist Leader Died at 95.
- Janet Anderson Former MP for Rossendale and Darwen Has Died at Age 73.
In 2006, Jolicoeur’s rap solo in the second verse of “Feel Good Inc.” helped De La Soul win their first Grammy Award for their work with Gorillaz on “Feel Good Inc.” This song is well known for Jolicoeur’s rap solo.
The news of Jolicoeur’s death comes after Posdnuos, 53, performed at the 65th Grammy Awards last weekend with a huge group of other hip-hop greats to celebrate 50 years of the genre. They sang “Buddy” from the trio’s album 3 Feet High and Rising.
Also, all of De La Soul’s music will be available to stream for the first time ever next month, after decades of legal problems.
