Dave Joliceour—better known as Trugoy The Dove or Plug Two from De La Soul—died one year ago on February 12. On the anniversary of his passing, fellow member Kelvin “Posdnuos” Mercer is remembering his friend in an Instagram post, admitting he had mixed feelings about doing so.
As he explained in the caption, “I feel conflicted posting this on this date…Dave disliked when people were publicly remembered on the day they were lost….The day they transitioned but I’m sure he also respected how people chose to remember those they love and have lost. So on this day I will stand alongside all the people who cherish him as well as kept us in their prayers but to be clear I miss him in the physical everyday, rep for him everyday & will talk to someone about him everyday.”
Several of De La Soul’s peers jumped in the comment section to pay their respects, including Pete Rock, Lateef the Truthspeaker, Ladybug Mecca, DJ Rhettmatic, Lord Finesse, Hi-Tek and Diamond D.
AllHipHop had the unfortunate task of breaking the news in 2023. Trugoy had been struggling with his health over the past few years. In 2018, he opened up about his battle with congestive heart failure in an Instagram video and confessed he was struggling with being sidelined.
“I’m ready just to get back to the stage,” he said at the time. “I miss that. I love traveling. I love being around my guys and I want that back.”
In 2020, he sparked concern when he was briefly hospitalized. He appeared to be in good spirits, however, and was able to have an Instagram Live conversation with Posdnuos and Maseo.
It was supposed to be a triumphant year for De La Soul—and it was in many ways. De La had been fighting to get their first six albums on streaming services after a years of stalled negotiations with Tommy Boy Records, their former label. In 2022, Reservoir Media acquired the Tommy Boy catalog and wanted to help rectify the situation. After more than three decades, their groundbreaking debut, 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul Is Dead, Buhloone Mindstate, Stakes Is High, Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump and AOI: Bionix became available on all DSPs last March.
But sadly, Trugoy didn’t get to celebrate. Instead, the surviving members of De La Soul carried the torch for him and will continue doing so.