David Jude Jolicoeur, widely known as Trugoy the Dove and a founding member of US hip-hop trio De La Soul, has died.
The 54-year-old’s representative, Tony Ferguson, confirmed his death, but gave no further details.
In recent years, Jolicoeur had said he was battling congestive heart failure.
De La Soul was part of the hip-hop tribute at the Grammy Awards last weekbut Trugoy was not on stage with his bandmate.
Tributes have been paid to the rap artist on social media.
“Dave! It was an honor to share so many steps with you,” wrote rapper Big Daddy Kane on Instagram.
Rapper Erik Sermon posted on Instagram: “This one hurts. From Long Island from one of the best rap groups in Hiphop # Delasoul # plug2 Dave is dead you will be missed… RIP.”
Young Guru said: “Sit my brother. You were loved. @plugwondelasoul I love you bro we are here for you. Smiles I love you bro. This is crazy” and DJ Semtex wrote that it was “heart wrenching news.”
‘A huge loss’
Cheo Hodari Coker, executive producer of the Luke Cage TV series, tweeted: “You don’t understand what De La Soul means to me. They said to me, black geek from Connecticut that hip-hop belongs to you too. , and Trugoy the balance, McCartney to Pos Lennon, Keith and Mick. This is a huge loss.”
Jolicoeur was born and raised in Brooklyn, Long Island, where he met Vincent Mason (Pasemaster Mase) and Kelvin Mercer (Posdnuos) and the three decided to form a rap group, each with distinctive names.
Jolicoeur said that Trugoy was behind for “yogurt”. Recently he was going by the name Dave.
De La Soul is considered one of the most innovative groups in rap history.
Their debut studio album 3 Feet High And Rising, produced by Prince Paul, was released in 1989 and was praised for being a lighter and more positive counterpart to more charged rap offerings such as NWA’s Straight Outta Compton and It Takes A Nation Of Millions from Public Enemy. released a year earlier.
A choice of hip hop
Sampling everyone from Johnny Cash and Steely Dan to Hall & Oates, De La Soul represented the dawn of alternative hip-hop.
In Rolling Stone, critic Michael Azerrad called it the first “psychedelic hip-hop record”, while others even called them a hippie group.
In 2010 the Library of Congress added 3 Feet High And Rising to the National Recording Registry due to its historical significance.
They followed up with 1991’s De La Soul Is Dead, which was a little darker and more critically panned, and 1996’s Stakes Is High.