Dead at 54: hip hop royalty Trugoy the Dove, founding member of 'De La Soul'

More bad news for the world of music: in particular, for hip hop. A tragic death has taken yet another legendary name in music.

On this occasion, it was David Jude Jolicoeur, better known as Trugoy the Dove, member of the legendary band 'De La Soul', who has died at the age of 54.

Tony Ferguson, the publicist of 'De La Soul', confirmed the news to CNN. There were already rumors that were being suggested in social media and was hinted at by 'AllHipHop', specialized media in the sector.

In his statements, Tony Ferguson had simply said that the death of Trugoy the Dove is "a great loss" but did not specify the causes of death.

Nevertheless, 'Rolling Stone' have recalled that David Jude Jolicoeur - who now called himself Dave or Plug Two - had never concealed his health problems.

An Instagram video, released in 2018, revealed that he may have been suffering from heart issues. David Jude Jolicoeur confessed the heart failure he suffered and the consequences it entailed in his day-to-day life.

David Jude Jolicoeur was one of the big absentees at the 2023 Grammy gala, an award that 'De La Soul' already won in 2005, thanks to his glorious collaboration with 'Gorillaz' on 'Feel Good Inc.'.

During the gala, 'De La Soul' was one of the bands that the Grammys paid tribute to for the 50th anniversary of the hip-hop genre.

Born in Brooklyn in 1968, David Jude Jolicoeur is considered hip hop royalty and one of the most influential artists of the 80s and 90s.

Together with Vincent Manson (Pasemaster Mase) and Kelvin Mercer (Posdnuos) they founded 'De La Soul' in 1988 and they had an immediate impact. Its three members met in high school.

Prince Paul, a local producer, saw the potential they had together and helped them with the release of their first album, '3 Feet High and Rising' in 1989.

As CNN recalls, the album included the hit 'Me, Myself and I' which spent 17 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #1 on Billboard's rap chart as well as the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Dance Club Songs.

The album is considered a masterpiece of the genre and was the trio's biggest commercial success.

However, it was the 90s when 'De La Soul' made their timeless mark on the rap world, with Trugoy the Dove leading the way.

As 'Rolling Stone' recalls, the band struck a perfect balance in the then-effervescent 'gangsta rap scene'. They would be inspirations for numerous bands at the end of the 20th century.

Their wordplay mixed with jazz and funk inspiration took the world by storm and, three decades later, they are still considered hip-hop legends. The entire music world will surely be mourning Trugoy the Dove.