David Jude Jolicoeur
Encyclopedia
David Jude Jolicoeur also known under the stage name Trugoy and more recently Dave, is an American
rapper, producer, and one third of groundbreaking hip hop
trio
De La Soul
.
Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason
and Kelvin Mercer
were friends who attended the same high school
in the Amityville area of Long Island
during the 1980s. After they decided to form a rap group
, each member re-christened themselves with an outlandish name (Trugoy the Dove, P.A. Pasemaster Mase and Posdnuos, respectively). Early on, Jolicoeur sported a unique style of African medallions, peace signs and uneven dreadlocks
(known as the "De La Do"). Paired with the positive messages of the group's debut effort, 3 Feet High and Rising
, the image led to critics and journalists labelling the members as "the hippies of hip hop" (a title that the group was quick to refute with the release of the second album De La Soul Is Dead
in 1991).
Although not as often mentioned as Posdnuos, Jolicoeur has been equally acclaimed for his lyricism
which, for the most part, avoids profanity
in favor of complex, and sometimes abstract word play
. For example, in the intro to 1996's Stakes Is High
, Dave raps
(in a frenetic manner): "Hey, how ya doin' / Now, meet in front of Big Lou's fighting / Hey, y'all reminisce, six streets, little miles / Straight to my avenue (Aaaah... aaaggh) / Six streets, went miles straight to my avenue / I'm headed for the bigger E, for the bitter OE, not me / Here's my Malibu, child, here's my Malibu / Buckshot honeys, dig a gun and go aaaahhhhh..."
In "Itzsoweezee (HOT)", from the same album, Jolicoeur directed some words towards mafioso rappers: "See them Cubans
don't care what y'all niggaz do / Colombians
ain't never ran with your crew / Why you acting all spicy and sheisty? / The only Italians you knew was icees
" Even though he may have refused to use profanity he did use racist lyrics in his songs, "work hard like wetbacks", on the song Oooh.
Jolicoeur is also a member of the Spitkicker collective.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper, producer, and one third of groundbreaking hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
.
Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason
Vincent Mason
Vincent Mason , is a rapper, producer, DJ, and one third of groundbreaking hip hop trio, De La Soul. He is also known as Maseo.-Career:...
and Kelvin Mercer
Kelvin Mercer
Kelvin Mercer is a rapper, producer, and one-third of the hip hop trio De La Soul. He is known more famously by his alias Posdnuos, or simply Pos. He was born in the Bronx, New York and grew up in East Massapequa, New York.Mercer and David Jude Jolicoeur were childhood friends...
were friends who attended the same high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in the Amityville area of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
during the 1980s. After they decided to form a rap group
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, each member re-christened themselves with an outlandish name (Trugoy the Dove, P.A. Pasemaster Mase and Posdnuos, respectively). Early on, Jolicoeur sported a unique style of African medallions, peace signs and uneven dreadlocks
Dreadlocks
Dreadlocks, also called locks, a ras, dreads, "rasta" or Jata , are matted coils of hair. Dreadlocks are usually intentionally formed; because of the variety of different hair textures, various methods are used to encourage the formation of locks such as backcombing...
(known as the "De La Do"). Paired with the positive messages of the group's debut effort, 3 Feet High and Rising
3 Feet High and Rising
3 Feet High and Rising is the debut album from American hip hop trio De La Soul, released in 1989.The album marked the first of three full-length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties. It is consistently placed on 'greatest...
, the image led to critics and journalists labelling the members as "the hippies of hip hop" (a title that the group was quick to refute with the release of the second album De La Soul Is Dead
De La Soul Is Dead
De La Soul Is Dead is De La Soul's second full-length album, released in 1991 . The album was produced by Prince Paul, whose work on 3 Feet High and Rising was highly praised by music critics. The album was one of the first to receive a five mic rating in the Hip hop magazine The Source...
in 1991).
Although not as often mentioned as Posdnuos, Jolicoeur has been equally acclaimed for his lyricism
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
which, for the most part, avoids profanity
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
in favor of complex, and sometimes abstract word play
Word play
Word play or wordplay is a literary technique in which the words that are used become the main subject of the work, primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement...
. For example, in the intro to 1996's Stakes Is High
Stakes Is High
Stakes Is High is De La Soul's fourth full-length album, released during the summer of 1996. The album marked a change in the groups sound and direction as it was their first release not to be produced by Prince Paul. Stakes Is High was mainly produced by the group themeselves with additional...
, Dave raps
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
(in a frenetic manner): "Hey, how ya doin' / Now, meet in front of Big Lou's fighting / Hey, y'all reminisce, six streets, little miles / Straight to my avenue (Aaaah... aaaggh) / Six streets, went miles straight to my avenue / I'm headed for the bigger E, for the bitter OE, not me / Here's my Malibu, child, here's my Malibu / Buckshot honeys, dig a gun and go aaaahhhhh..."
In "Itzsoweezee (HOT)", from the same album, Jolicoeur directed some words towards mafioso rappers: "See them Cubans
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
don't care what y'all niggaz do / Colombians
Colombians
Colombians may refer to:* Citizens of Colombia, a country in South America.* Ethnic Colombians** Colombian people, persons from Colombia or of Colombian ancestry...
ain't never ran with your crew / Why you acting all spicy and sheisty? / The only Italians you knew was icees
The ICEE Company
The ICEE Company is a beverage company located in Ontario, California, USA. Its flagship product is the ICEE, which is a frozen carbonated beverage that comes in various fruit and soda flavors. ICEE also produces other frozen beverages, and Italian ice pops under both the ICEE and Slush Puppie...
" Even though he may have refused to use profanity he did use racist lyrics in his songs, "work hard like wetbacks", on the song Oooh.
Jolicoeur is also a member of the Spitkicker collective.
Aliases
All three members of De La Soul have a variety of known aliases and nicknames used throughout the group's career. The following are the most significant:- Trugoy the Dove - Trugoy was Jolicoeur's earliest nickname, dating back to 3 Feet High and Rising3 Feet High and Rising3 Feet High and Rising is the debut album from American hip hop trio De La Soul, released in 1989.The album marked the first of three full-length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties. It is consistently placed on 'greatest...
. The name is yogurt backwards, Jolicoeur being admittedly fond of the food. Dove is a nickname for Dave, and is symbolic of the peaceful nature of the group's early songwriting. - Plug Two - An early concept for 3 Feet High and Rising3 Feet High and Rising3 Feet High and Rising is the debut album from American hip hop trio De La Soul, released in 1989.The album marked the first of three full-length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties. It is consistently placed on 'greatest...
involved music being transmitted from Mars by three microphone plugs (each one representing a member of the group). Although this idea was abandoned, the titles Plug One, Plug Two, and Plug Three still became relevant on the album and its follow up, De La Soul is Dead. - Dave - The least elaborate of Jolicoeur's nicknames, Dave is simply a popular nickname for the first name David and is currently Jolicoeur's most widely used alias.