Trugoy the Dove Rapper Dies at 54

The influential Rapper and co-founder of De La Soul, Trugoy the Dove, dies at 54. On February 12, his sad demise disheartened the world of Rap. However, his cause of death remains unrevealed.

Trugoy the Dove, one third of the influential artists of the hip-hop group De La Soul, has died at 54. His representative Tony Ferguson, confirmed the news Sunday, but the cause of death still remains undisclosed. However, the rapper had discussed his diagnosis with congestive heart failure in recent years.

Early life of the Rapper :

By birth he was David Jude Jolicoeur, Trugoy the Dove formed when he just began forming De La Soul in 1988 alongside his high school buddies, rappers Posdnuos and Maeso. Dave was the cult hero of the genre. His eclectic samples and offbeat humor became MTV staples. 

The three budding rappers grew up in the Amityville area of Long Island, New York. De la Soul issued their debut album 3 Feet High and Rising in 1989, after alluring the attention of local producer Prince Paul.  

The trio of the three middle-class young men from Long Island- presented themselves with hippie floral designs and a music video Seth in a high school for their song ‘ Me, Myself and I.’ The matching B-boy outfits to baggy, brightly colored clothes, the sneers and the side-eyeing their classmates in gold chains, black shades enthralled the audiences.

That recorded album proliferated so quickly that it was the best commercial success for the rappers as a group. The trio emerged as a great influence within the rap and pop communities and countless admirers including Mos Def, Jurassic 5, Tyler, the Creator, Pharrell and Damon Albarn cited their name, enlisting Trugoy for the early Gorillaz hit ‘Feel Good Inc.’ 

Musical journey of the Rapper :

Influential trio rappers outspread their influence till this day, but they were also an admiration to many in their era. It was a fruitful period in East Coast hip-hop, one that hatched the Native Tongues Posse, a collective artists that included De La Soul, A Tribe called Quest, Black Sheep, Queen Latifah and others.

De La Soul’s music was intricately woven from jazz and funk samples – this is a technique contributing to their signature sound, but it would be their combination of rapping in the legal battles for years. Sources speculated that sample clearance issues were partly responsible for the group’s absence on streaming services, however it was announced that their catalog will be available on March 3.

The much awaited album stream release will finally take place and the 20 plus years overdue is finally happening, announced by Maeso in a press release. The streaming drop will feature six of De La Soul’s albums, largely considered to be their classics: 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul Is Dead, Buhloone Mindstate, Stakes is High, Art Official intelligence: Mosaic Thump, and AOI: Bionix.

The trio rappers signaled the production of alternative Hip-Hop which was termed as psychedelic hip-hop record by the critic Michael Azerrad in the Rolling Stones.

At the 65th Grammy’s De La Soul performed on stage honoring a Hip Hop artist but Trugoy was not on stage with his group of males.

How did the announcement of the Rappers streaming on digital media influence the fans ?

Longtime fan Pharrell, just after hearing the announcement of the catalog coming to digital streaming, forced him to talk about their influence. According to him, The De La Tribe were the founders and forefathers of the way we view things. He earlier stated that he was nearly 16 when 3 Feet High and Rising came out. It changed his life and worked as a game changer.He can do anything to work with the rapper trio.

Another admirer, Tyler, the Creator, also talked about his influence, his 2017 LP Flower Boy was musically and visually obligated to De La Soul’s bright and joyful aesthetic. 

In 2014, Trugoy told The Guardian, that their music is raw and it’s funky but, at the same time, is deeply soulful because their songs emerged from within and is the Daisy Age. Rap can be soft music instead of the hard baselines and heavy kicks and snares – the hardcore crowd yearns for that music at times.

Paying tribute to the Rapper :

B-Real tweeted that they lost another legend of hip hop music and cultural rappers. His music will forever be immortal in our hearts and he means a lot to B-Real.

JPEGMAFIA and Kaytranada both took to twitter to pay tribute to the legend stating that Trugoy of De La Soul, the rapper, rested in peace while the latter urged Plug two to rest in peace as well. 

Napping 4Tay is shattered by the news of the rapper’s death. He cannot explain in words the amount of admiration he has for the rapper. Buhloone Mindstate shaped him. His artistry is dope and inspirational

The rapper’s Hip-Hop art will forever remain mortal in the hearts of his fans.