13th Feb 2023
The hip-hop community lost one of its most innovative and influential members yesterday: Trugoy Dave from De La Soul, aka Plug Two. Born David Jude Jolicoeur, Trugoy made his mark in the world of hip-hop as a member of De La Soul, who formed in 1987 and quickly gained notoriety for their unique style and socially conscious lyrics.
De La Soul's first album, '3 Feet High and Rising', was released in 1989 and is widely considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. It was unlike anything that had come before it, blending hip-hop, funk, soul, and even psychedelic rock into a seamless and ground-breaking sound.
View the 3 Feet High and Rising limited edition print.
Trugoy was an integral part of De La Soul's success, bringing his smooth and soulful vocal style to tracks like 'Me, Myself, and I', 'The Magic Number', and 'Eye Know'.
He was also known for his innovative production work, incorporating live instruments into De La Soul's beats and helping to push the boundaries of what was possible in hip-hop music.
Trugoy's work inspired countless other artists to experiment with their own sounds and to take hip-hop in new and exciting directions. His contributions to the hip-hop genre will be felt for generations to come, and his music will continue to influence.
"If we all gonna be in this together and we all trying to get paid and do music, let’s have a bit of respect for what we’re doing and the people listening to it."
Hypergallery joins countless musicians in honouring a hip-hop great today, with respect, R.I.P., Dave.