De La Soul Honors Late Member
Pioneering rap group De La Soul delivered a live set at NPR's Tiny Desk, paying tribute to their late member Trugoy the Dove while performing both classics and new material. The intimate concert is a must-see for fans of hip-hop's golden era and those following the group's recent resurgence.
The tribute comes after a period of immense highs and lows for the group. Founding member David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur passed away at the age of 54 on February 12, 2023. He had publicly discussed his battle with congestive heart failure for several years. Tragically, Trugoy's death occurred just weeks before a celebratory career milestone he had long fought for. After decades of legal and contractual disputes, the group's classic first six albums were finally released on streaming services on March 3, 2023. The digital release was made possible after Reservoir Media acquired De La Soul's original label, Tommy Boy Records, and worked with the group to clear the complex samples that had kept their catalog offline. This move introduced their groundbreaking work to a new generation of listeners. Surviving members Posdnuos and Maseo have continued to carry Trugoy's legacy forward, releasing their first album in nearly a decade in November 2025. The album, titled "Cabin in the Sky," was released via Nas' Mass Appeal Records. "Cabin in the Sky" serves as a posthumous showcase for Trugoy, featuring vocals and production he recorded before his passing. The project includes collaborations with artists like Pete Rock, Killer Mike, Common, and Black Thought. Posdnuos described the album as living "in that space between loss and light," calling it both "therapy and celebration." It honors what the group has lost while lifting up what still remains.
