Trugoy the Dove, rapper and co-founder of iconic hip-hop group De La Soul, has passed away at the age of 54. The artist’s management confirms this on Monday American media. The cause of death has not been disclosed, although the musician had been suffering from heart failure for some time.
Trugoy, whose real name was David Jude Jolicoeur, formed the rap trio De La Soul in 1988 with Vincent Mason (Maseo) and Kelvin Mercer (Posdnuos). The group had hits such as ‘Me, Myself and I’ and ‘Ring ring ring’. Their debut album 3 Feet High and Risingreleased in 1989, became a worldwide success and in 1998 was named one of The Source’s 100 Greatest Rap Albums.
In 2010, their debut album was added to the National Recording Registry by the US Library of Congress, a list where recordings of cultural or historical significance are added each year. Earlier, in 2006, the rap group won a Grammy for their collaboration with British band Gorillaz on the single ‘Feel Good Inc’. In 2016, the trio released its ninth and most recent album, And the Anonymous Nobody…this album was also nominated for a Grammy.
The trio is considered “one of the most innovative and influential groups” in the world hip-hop history. Last week, De La Soul was honored for their contribution to the hip-hop genre at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, but then Trugoy was absent.