Photo by Todd Owyoung
Last night, the American hip-hop group De La Soul stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to honor their late crew member David “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur, who died last month at the age of 54, with a rendition of the title track “Stakes Is High” from their classic 1996 LP.
For the performance, the iconic group was backed by the tonight showHouse band The Roots and rapper Black Thought filled in for the late De La Soul member, dishing out his verses on the track to perfection.
During the six-minute track, the ensemble, which formed in 1988, shared a demo of the style and content that caught the attention of many in the mid-’90s. Posdnuos showcased their sharp lyrics that railed against the commercialized hip-hop culture. mainstream at their peak, and The Roots provided perfect support until the end of the song when Posdnuos flowed a cappella for the vivid final verse.
Ahead of the musical unveiling, surviving De La Soul members Posdunos and Maseo spoke about the 15-year process that ultimately resulted in taking their back catalog to streaming services, their Long Island home, and the recording process for their Debut LP. 3 feet tall and rising. The Root’s Questlove also opened, but about how De La Soul’s brotherhood and dynamic helped him connect with Black Thought, and at the end, Maseo led the audience through a chant of “Thank you, Dave!”
Watch De La Soul and The Roots perform at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon below.
