De La Soul founding member Trugoy the Dove dies aged 54

Rapper’s real name was David Jolicoeur

Trugoy the Dove. a founding member of the pioneering hip hop trio De La Soul, has died aged 54.

The rapper – real name David Jolicoeur – played a pivotal role in the evolution of hip-hop with the release of 1989’s Three Feet High and Rising album and went on to become one of the most respected and loved grand masters of the art. The trio’s style, dubbed ‘Daisy Age’, was a marked move away from more traditional rap subjects such as womens, cars, gold and money.

No official cause of death has been given for the rapper, but he had previously spoken publicly about his congestive heart failure in recent years and some news sources are reporting his demise was due to complications with the condition.

Trugoy – who gained his name by reversing the American spelling of his favourite food, yoghurt – founded the legendary trio alongside Posdnuos (Kelvin Mercer) and Maseo (Vincent Lamont Mason Jr).