Rapper Trugoy the Dove Dies: De La Soul Co-Founder Was 54

David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur of De La Soul attends the 18th Annual Webby Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on May 19, 2014 in New York City. (Credit: Shutterstock)

David Jude Jolicoeur, known to fans as “Trugoy the Dove” of Long Island hip-hop trio De La Soul, has died. He was 54.

Jolicoeur’s representative Tony Ferguson confirmed his death to the Associated Press on Sunday. Several media outlets reported the music artist had been battling congestive heart failure, however, there was no official confirmation on his cause of death.

The performer was one of the founding members of De La Soul alongside his high school classmates, Kelvin Mercer known as “Posdnous” and Vincent Mason known as “Maseo.”

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De La Soul performed last weekend, during the hip-hop tribute at the Grammy Awards, but Trugoy did not take the stage.

He was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1968, and grew up on Long Island.

As news of the performer’s death spread Sunday, tributes poured in across social media.

“Rest In Beats my Bro Dave, Trugoy, De La Soul forever,” Public Enemy frontman Chuck D wrote on Twitter.

B-Real of Cyrpess Hill added on Twitter, “We lost another legend of hip hop music and culture in my brother Trugoy aka Dave of De La Soul. His music will allow him to live in our hearts and minds as he is gone. But not only was he a great musician but he was a great human being. He meant a lot to us.”

Rapper Big Daddy Kane wrote on Instagram, “Rest well Dave! It was a honor to share so many stages with you.”


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