David Jolicoeur's De La Soul bandmates were "shocked" by his death because he hid his health issues from them

He told the Guardian newspaper: "Dave had been having issues with his heart for a few year. And it was a lot for him to go out and perform that song ['Feel Good Inc.' with Gorillaz].

"I told [bandmate] Mase [Vincent 'Maseo' Mason]: 'I don't know how we gonna put new music out or play De La shows where Dave will have to be on stage for an hour.' But I didn't know how serious it was, because Dave wasn't letting us know."

Mercer added: "[His death] was devastating. It's still shocking to me."

The music star went on to admit the two surviving members of the group considered retiring the band after the tragedy, but they decided to continue as a duo in tribute to their late friend.

He explained: "Mase and I had a conversation, four days after Dave's death, and we were like: 'We can't stop, we gotta keep pushing.'

"We got so much to give - for ourselves, for our legacy, for Dave. His family were adamant: 'If you stop, Dave stops'."

Mercer went on to reveal he feels like his late friend is still with him when he's onstage performing: "It might sound weird, but when I'm on stage now, Dave is on stage with me.

"He's there. It took a minute to get used to not hearing his voice when I'm expecting to hear him ad lib, or his rhyme is supposed to come in, but he's there; I feel him.

"And now I gotta carry the rhyme on for him, with him speaking through me."