It’s with a heavy heart that we must share the news that David Jolicoeur, of the iconic rap trio De La Soul, has passed away. He was 54. The group’s publicist confirmed his death but did not specify a cause or say where he was when he died. In recent years, Mr. Jolicoeur had openly discussed a struggle with congestive heart failure. We take a look back at his incredible career and how his music has touched so many people around the world.
The Early Years
David Jolicoeur rose to fame in 1988 as one-third of De La Soul, who were then based in Long Island, New York. Alongside Posdnuos (Kelvin Mercer) and Maseo (Vincent Mason), De La Soul began making waves for its eclectic sampling style and offbeat humor—and went on to become MTV staples and cult heroes of the genre. The group’s debut album 3 Feet High and Rising (1989) became an instant classic, selling millions of copies worldwide and opening up hip-hop to new possibilities.
De La Soul was widely known for its use of samples from jazz records like Steely Dan’s “Peg,” which featured prominently on their hit single “Me Myself & I,” as well their usage of samples from 1970s psychedelic rock band P Funk All Stars on their song “A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays.” The trio also used samples from classic soul tracks such as Sly & The Family Stone’s “Sing A Simple Song” on their hit single “Ring, Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey).” As a result of their innovative sampling techniques, they are often credited with helping to expand the stylistic palette of hip-hop during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
De La Soul was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1991 for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rap Album for 3 Feet High And Rising; though they lost out both times to A Tribe Called Quest—another groundbreaking rap act at the time—they were still honored with lifetime achievement awards from both MTV Europe Music Awards and BET Hip Hop Awards respectively in 2017 for their lasting cultural impact. They released seven more charting albums over the next 22 years, selling millions more records worldwide until disbanding in 2016 after completing their final tour together.
Though David Jolicoeur is no longer with us, we can find solace in knowing that his legacy will live on through his work as part of De La Soul—one of hip hop’s most iconic acts whose influence continues to reverberate throughout today’s music scene. His memory will be kept alive by all those whose lives have been touched by his music over the last three decades–and surely there are many people who can say that his art changed them forever. Rest in peace David Jolicoeur – you will be deeply missed!
