After losing a member, De La Soul wants men to focus on their health

De La Soul wanted to evolve creatively and treat fans to something new with their latest album, released in November.

About five years before that, the Long Island, New York-based hip-hop group’s members, David “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur, Kelvin “Posdnuos” Mercer and Vincent “Maseo” Mason, won the rights to their first six albums and released them on streaming platforms.

Before they could do more, tragedy struck when Jolicoeur died from congestive heart failure at age 54 in 2023. The surviving members paused to grieve their loss.

“We were becoming older men, concerned about our health, losing Dave and so many others around us like (A Tribe Called Quest member) Phife, (rapper) MF Doom and so many different people from health issues,” Mercer, 56, told UATL.

Mercer and Mason decided to create honest dialogue with other men about taking actionable steps toward an improved quality of life.

De La Soul is hosting its inaugural Good Health: Mind, Body and Soul Summit at Morehouse College on Thursday. The daylong event features rappers, music executives, scholars, journalists and health experts discussing the intersection of hip-hop culture, health and wellness at the all-male college.

Two members of De La Soul’s management team graduated from Morehouse and suggested the group host Good Health at their alma mater.

The summit is named after “Good Health,” a posthumous song featuring Jolicoeur on “Cabin in the Sky,” their November album. The song’s lyrics encourage listeners to use discernment when consuming information or substances.

Sessions are named after the group’s song titles. “Breakadawn” addresses sleep, addiction during “Say No Go,” and access to preventive care in “It Ain’t All Good.”

Mercer said he wants to end stigmas around addressing health.

“We wanted to talk to different men about how we can be skeptical to share what’s wrong mentally, physically and spiritually. We hold a lot of things in that can turn around and make the problem a lot of times worse,” he said.

“Cabin in the Sky,” De La Soul’s first album in nine years, has subject matter themed around health, ageism, family and longevity in rap music. Mercer said making it was therapeutic.

“We wanted to talk about where Mase and I are in our lives. We had a catalog we fought so hard to have finally going to see the light of day, so we felt like turning that into a celebration of Dave’s life,” he said.

On Thursday, De La Soul will hold their inaugural Good Health: Mind, Body and Soul Summit, a daylong conference discussing hip-hop culture, health and wellness at Morehouse College. (AJC file)

In 1989, De La Soul released their debut album, “3 Feet High and Rising.” Its singles “Me Myself and I,” “Buddy” and “Potholes in My Lawn” had whimsical verses, sampled ‘60s and ‘70s music, and sequenced humorous skits between the tracks.

Executives at their label, Tommy Boy Records, had reservations about their image and production by Prince Paul. Mason said rappers respected them taking creative risks.

“We were told it would sell no more than 50,000 units, but it put a battery in our back,” Mason said.

“We were on tour with LL Cool J, NWA, and they’re loving everything we’re doing. We were told we were something completely out of the norm and a breath of fresh air. It gave us affirmation to keep going in whatever direction we felt.”

Vincent “Maseo” Mason (from left), Kelvin “Posdnuos” Mercer and David “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur released "3 Feet High and Rising," their debut album in 1989. (Courtesy of Reservoir Media)

Two years later, De La Soul was sued by rock band The Turtles for not clearing samples on one of their songs. The case was settled out of court, setting a precedent for copyright infringement cases in popular music.

The verdict surprised the group.

“We were in meetings with lawyers who were big De La fans suggesting to our lawyers to maybe work with The Turtles, and they wouldn’t sue. It felt like a ‘Twilight Zone’ moment for us,” Mercer said.

De La Soul released music and toured. Extended periods away from home caused them to have inadequate rest and improper dieting.

“It takes a big toll on your body, because you’re up late, getting back to the hotel, and ordering room service, which are bad habits we’re trying our best to cut out to keep our bodies in tune and give our fans the total attention they deserve,” Mercer said.

De La Soul members Trugoy (left) and Posdnuos perform. De La Soul is best known for its eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip-hop subgenres. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Mercer and Mason have adapted lifestyle changes. They juice, meditate, exercise and eat nutritious meals.

Mason, who started gardening, said being healthy requires discipline. “I’m just trying to watch my weight, because if you don’t get control of it, every night can feel like Friday or Saturday,” he said.