Rapper Trugoy The Dove, real name David Jude Jolicoeur, has passed away, a family rep announced on Sunday. He was 54.
Trugoy, aka Plug 2, is best known as a member of iconic hip-hop trio De La Soul.
Trugoy previously revealed he suffered from congestive heart failure.
A rep confirmed the news to All Hip Hop on Sunday. Trugoy suffered from congestive heart failure and other health disorders in recent years.
Trugoy died before the group’s classic album 3 Feet High and Rising would become available on streaming services for the first time on March 3. The catalog had been held up for decades due to lawsuits and sampling issues.
Trugoy was born in Brooklyn in 1968 and grew up in East Massapequa on Long Island. In high school, he met his future group mates Vincent Mason, aka Maseo, and Kelvin Mercer aka Posdnuos, with whom he formed De La Soul in 1988.
Trugoy (center) and Maseo (left with Posdnous on right) caught the attention of producer Prince Paul with a demo tape of their song “Plug Tunin'”. The song was included on the group’s 1989 debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising.
3 Feet High and Rising includes the hit singles “Me Myself and I”, “The Magic Number”, “Buddy”, and “Eye Know”. Rappers Queen Latifah, Monie Love, Q Tip, and others contributed to the album.
The album was selected as one of The Source‘s “100 Best Rap Albums” and it is ranked number 346 on Rolling Stone‘s 2003 list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.”
