'We were so ready': DJ Maseo talks about De La Soul's online debut after Trugoy's death

Deborah Sengupta Stith, Austin American-Statesman
·3 min read
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On February 12, David Jude Jolicoeur, the rapper better known as Trugoy the Dove, died two weeks before the catalog of his genre-shaping hip-hop crew De La Soul finally hit streaming services. He was 54.

For the group’s DJ, Vincent Mason, aka Maseo, it was “one of the worst things that have happened in my life,” he said before he rocked the Museum of Graffiti's tribute to Trugoy on Saturday. Earlier in the evening, the pop-up museum in East Austin unveiled a mural by artist Tristan Eaton celebrating the rapper’s life.

More:Museum of Graffiti pop-up honors 50 years of hip-hop during SXSW

De La Soul's catalog dropped on streaming platforms on March 3

De La Soul is one of the most influential groups of hip-hop’s Golden Era and the only one that hung tough for decades. While clashes of ego, solo careers and personal differences splintered other classic rap groups, the three members of De La Soul remained a unified brotherhood. In live performances, they radiated warmth, joy and genuine love. Beloved by an older generation of hip-hop heads, their music was kept off streaming platforms — and out of the ears of younger fans — for decades because of legal disputes.

DJ Maseo from De La Soul spins at a tribute to his partner in rhyme Trugoy who died in February a little over a week before the group's catalog hit streaming services.
DJ Maseo from De La Soul spins at a tribute to his partner in rhyme Trugoy who died in February a little over a week before the group's catalog hit streaming services.

“We worked so hard to get it and get it released, and then we aimed to celebrate together,” Maseo said. “We were so ready. And we were preparing to do a lot.”

Despite the fact that Trugoy struggled with health problems, the group was “very optimistic,” he said.

“He was making steps to really get better, but obviously we don't know the day, the time or the hour and when the Most High says it's time to go, it's time to go,” he said.

While the loss has been hard “because we all want him here,” Maseo believes his friend is “in a better place.”

“My man had been suffering for some time with congestive heart failure,” he said.

DJ Maceo stands in front of a mural painted by artist Tristan Eaton at the Museum of Graffiti pop up exhibit in Austin. The mural was unveiled at a tribute to Trugoy, an emcee with the group who recently died at 54.
DJ Maceo stands in front of a mural painted by artist Tristan Eaton at the Museum of Graffiti pop up exhibit in Austin. The mural was unveiled at a tribute to Trugoy, an emcee with the group who recently died at 54.

Trugoy was 'one of the best emcees to ever do it'

What does Maseo hope people remember about Trugoy?

He doesn’t miss a beat: “He's one of the best emcees to ever do it. Top tier emcee.”

When hip-hop fans compile their GOAT (greatest of all time) emcee lists, Trugoy, who never released solo work, is often overlooked. “My guy fits right up there, I'd say, in the top 10. To me, the top two,” Maseo said.

The past month has been tough for Maceo and Kelvin Mercer a.k.a. Posdnuos, the third member of De La Soul. "We're working through it. I think being at this event is helping me get through it,” Maceo said.

Maseo took the stage around 9:15 p.m. and spent over two hours in the zone, cutting De La Soul songs with ‘90s hip-hop, classic soul, salsa and deep jazz cuts to a crowd who danced away the heartache.

When his friend Phife Dawg died in 2016, he was able to compartmentalize the grief, to defer it, “because I'm not A Tribe Called Quest,” he said.

“This, I can't really avoid. I’ve got to step right into it. So I'm just trying to be strong,” he said.

The Miami-based Museum of Graffiti is hosting a pop-up installation called “The Art of Hip-hop” in East Austin. The exhibit, which will be in town until March 28, is hosting a slate of unofficial events happening alongside the South by Southwest Music Festival and Conference.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: De La Soul's DJ Maseo pays tribute to Trugoy at Austin SXSW week bash