De La Soul's Tribute Concert
De La Soul delivered a moving Tiny Desk Concert at NPR Music headquarters, paying tribute to late member Trugoy the Dove. The set blended classic tracks with new material in an intimate setting — a must-watch for fans of old-school and contemporary hip-hop.
The tribute follows the death of founding member David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur, who passed away at age 54 in February 2023. For years, the rapper had been public about his battle with congestive heart failure. Tragically, Trugoy's death came just weeks before De La Soul's first six albums were finally released on streaming services on March 3, 2023. For decades, legal battles over sample clearances and disputes with their former label, Tommy Boy Records, had kept iconic albums like "3 Feet High and Rising" offline. The NPR concert was released on March 3rd, a date now known as "De La Soul Day," marking the anniversary of their catalog's digital release. Surviving members Posdnuos and Maseo, backed by a full band, performed classics including "Stakes is High," "Breakadawn," and "Me Myself and I." The performance also highlighted tracks from their new album, "Cabin In The Sky," the group's first record in nearly a decade. The album features some of the final recorded verses from Trugoy the Dove. Formed in Long Island, N.Y., in 1988, De La Soul's innovative use of jazz and funk samples and their positive lyrics set them apart in the growing gangsta rap scene of the era. Their debut album, "3 Feet High and Rising," was inducted into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry. Following Trugoy's passing, the remaining members have focused on preserving his legacy. Before the Tiny Desk Concert, they honored him with a performance of "Stakes is High" on *The Tonight Show*, with The Roots' Black Thought filling in on Trugoy's verses.
