David Jolicoeur, also known as Trugoy the Dove, was a rapper, vocalist, and part of the legendary hip-hop trio De La Soul.
Regrettably, he passed away suddenly on February 12, 2023, and the reason for his death has not been disclosed. Even though he struggled with heart failure, which he openly discussed in 2017, the cause of his demise has not been revealed.
Trugoy was born in Brooklyn but grew up in Long Island, where he connected with Vincent Mason (Pasemaster Mase) and Kelvin Mercer (Posdnuos) to establish De La Soul in 1988.
The band was recognized for its unconventional hip-hop style and achieved great success in the rap industry. During the recent Grammy Awards, De La Soul’s counterpart Posdnuos delivered a tribute in honor of hip-hop, but Trugoy was conspicuously absent.
Despite his health challenges, Trugoy never allowed them to obstruct his musical pursuit. He was a co-founder of De La Soul and was 54 years old at the time of his passing.
His demise was verified by his spokesperson Tony Ferguson, who did not provide any further details.
Just one month before De La Soul’s music was slated to be accessible on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, Jolicoeur’s untimely passing has left fans in grief.
The group had long been entangled in legal and publishing disputes with their former record label, Tommy Boy Records, which prevented their music from being available on streaming platforms.
In conclusion, the sudden passing of Trugoy the Dove has had a profound impact on the hip-hop community, as well as his admirers and family.
Despite his health struggles, he remained devoted to his art and will always be remembered for his contributions to the music industry.
Honoring Trugoy
The unforeseen passing of Trugoy has left his colleagues, bandmates, relatives, and friends in deep sorrow. They have been extending their sympathies and prayers to his loved ones, and social media has been inundated with tributes in his memory.
RIP Trugoy the Dove, Plug Two, Dave. Can’t say enough about how much De La mean to me and meant to me back in 89, 91, 93, 96… the years just go on. I’m not OK. This is all sorts of messed up. Damn. A Hip Hop legend and 1/3 of one of the greatest groups of all time. What a loss. pic.twitter.com/yTnDjTicvo
— aka Jimbo Jones (@jimbojonestown) February 12, 2023
Rest In Peace to the legendary Trugoy The Dove, also known as Plug 2 of De La Soul🙏🕊 pic.twitter.com/UaEjaIEiRo
— madlib fan acct (@TheRealAntonioA) February 12, 2023
DARN!!!! I can’t believe Dove is gone.
— Cheo Hodari Coker (@cheo_coker) February 12, 2023
In conclusion, Trugoy’s passing has deeply affected those who were close to him and the hip-hop community. Many have keenly felt his demise and he will be remembered for a long time.
