RIP Guru

evil_seed · 20-04-2010 10:19AM #1

Guru of gang Starr fame has passed away. The man was a hip hop legend. R.I.P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFQQeUNaZtc&feature=youtube_gdata

Roar · 20-04-2010 10:49AM

Influential rapper Guru has died aged 43 after a battle with cancer.

The New York born MC had suffered cardiac arrest on March 2 and was in a coma for some time.

A statement said: “Guru has passed away yesterday morning (April 19) after a long battle with cancer.

“According to (producer) Solar, Guru suffered from the malicious illness for over a year and after numerous special treatments under the supervision of medical specialists failed, the legendary MC succumbed to the disease. Guru always tried to keep this harrowing diagnosis in private but in early 2010 he had to admit himself to hospital due to serious effects caused by the disease.”

Guru became famous after teaming up with DJ Premier in group Gang Starr. The duo released six studio albums between 1989 and 2003 and became famous for making “conscious rap” before splitting under acrimonious circumstances.

Since then Guru had released a series of ‘Jazzmattaz’ albums where he teamed up with classic jazz, soul and hip hop artists.

He also continued to tour the world with a band and producer Solar.

what an amazingly talented guy. His work with Gang Starr was phenomenal, and his Jazzmatazz albums are fantastic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IoPeNC4k_0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft8x_dvSCL0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwSXfocnt48

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3Tm1LIt1Gc

RIP

Podge2k7 · 20-04-2010 04:07PM

RIP, really sad news.:(

DominoDub · 20-04-2010 07:21PM

Sad news ,got to see him in action with the Jazzmatazz Project way back great show !

more info
http://www.factmag.com/2010/04/20/gang-starrs-guru-1966-2010/

MoyVilla9 · 20-04-2010 08:36PM

I've never actually felt such pain at losing someone famous as I do now.
Devastated. What a legend.

blackalicious · 20-04-2010 10:30PM

thats terrible, moment of truth is one of my fav albums ever

Jay Ru · 20-04-2010 10:44PM

Classic album, not a bad track on it. Another great loss to the world of hip hop.

Unfortunitly since Guru's passing a letter has appeared a online allegedly from Guru that paints he friendship with Premier in a pretty bad light. The general consciencess online is that letter was either penned by Guru's Jazzmatazz producer Solar or he got inside Guru's head while he was sick and influenced him to write. Personally i can't imagine Guru saying the things about Premier considering both of them where so important to each other in the beginning and Gang Starr never offically split up. True, they didn't work together in years but Guru and Premo always took time away from each other to work on solo projects. Its a shame the memory of one hip hops best duo's might be tarnished like this.

I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the
world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I
have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical
options.

I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts
dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and
disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a
cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my
eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how
many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting.

My loyal best
friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has
been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has
been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits
and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself.
Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family,
friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody’s feelings on the
matter. It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of
my life, my sun KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as
their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by
Solar on behalf myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own.

I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness,
events tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my
name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce
this. I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to
do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family
situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. As the sole
founder of GangStarr, I am very proud of what GangStarr has meant to the music
world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of
Hip-Hop/Jazz. I am most proud of my leadership and pioneering efforts on
Jazzmatazz 4 for reinvigorating the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre in a time when music
quality has reached an all time low. Solar and I have toured in places that I
have never been before with GangStarr or Jazzmatatazz and we gained a reputation
for being the best on the planet at Hip-Hop/Jazz, as well as the biggest and
most influential Hip-Hop/Jazz record with Jazzmatazz 4 of the decade to now. The
work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a
team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do!
As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small mindedness, greed, and
ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning
millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank
the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the
world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time
and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will
receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and
represents some of the best years of my life."

Roar · 21-04-2010 11:11AM

from mtv.com

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1637485/20100420/gang_starr.jhtml

On a tremendously tough day for Gang Starr fans, the death of the duo's MC, Guru (real name: Keith Elam), from cancer was announced by his associate Solar early Tuesday (April 20), and included a long "farewell" letter that Solar said was written by Guru in the weeks before his death. The tone of the letter was harsh toward DJ Premier, Guru's former partner in Gang Starr.

"I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name, likeness, events, tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this," the letter reads in part. "I had nothing to do with him in life for over seven years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. ...

"The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do! As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small-mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life."

In the wake of the letter, fans, journalists and even some of Guru's peers took to the Internet to question its authenticity. People close to Guru said it just didn't sound like him, and many questioned how he could write a letter in such a weakened medical condition.

Rapper Bumpy Knuckles (also known as Freddie Foxx), who worked extensively with Gang Starr, fumed on his Twitter page:

"It's an insult that websites would post a letter from a man who has been in a coma since Feb. R U serious? Do ur homework, journalist! Please," he wrote in part. "Guru& DJ Premier made real hip-hop 2gether. No1 will ever be able to cloud that with fake letters and phony statements. Sites shld know better."

The Roots' ?uestlove took to Twitter as well, referencing French MC Solaar, who worked with Guru on the Jazzmatazz project. "Only Solaar I wanna hear w/Guru is the remix Primo did from France's MC Solaar back in 92 when he KILT (flipped) Miles' 'So What.' ... Not trying to bring negativity into the situation. But I do NOT believe he wrote that letter. 1) he was in a coma. 2) HE WAS IN A COMA!"

"Just confused," radio personality Miss Info wrote on Tuesday. "If Solar wrote this letter in Guru's name to push agenda, it does Guru's legacy a disservice (and their friendship too). All that Solar did in life for Guru, he undid in his passing if the words 'I, Guru, am writing this letter' are untrue..."

Reader Rob sounded off on MTVNews.com on Tuesday: "The Guru 'farewell' letter reeks of fakeness."

On Tuesday afternoon, Solar spoke with MTV News about the controversy, saying that he and Guru had prepared the statement quite some time ago.

"In some ways, I've been prepared for this," Solar said about Guru's death. "We got the news that it was terminal at the beginning of the year, that the cancer wasn't turning around. So we knew.

"He died yesterday. We both had hoped he would beat it," Solar added. "It was a very inspirational, inspiring fight we fought."

He vehemently denied that the letter was not written by Guru.

"I mean, it's ridiculous," he said. "Guru knew this time would come. The great artist he is, us being intelligent people, we knew there was going to have to be a statement relating to this. Unfortunately, there are those who have the wicked agenda, and just can't accept that Guru and I have handled this thing as men and not children, and this is how men of honor handle their business. He arranged his press release. I'm the repository of Guru's life story. I recorded his life story for book and for movies. We're not foolish. He was diagnosed with cancer well over a year ago. It's been operations and so forth. It would be ridiculous for him to not be prepared."

At press time, representatives for DJ Premier and Guru's family had not responded to MTV News' requests for comment.

i'm sceptical..

Gyalist · 21-04-2010 12:09PM

RIP Keith Elam.

Your monotone style was unique and you will be missed.

"You were the illest man alive
And now I'm reading your eulogy" - Guru - In Memory Of...

Makaveli · 22-04-2010 08:00PM

RIP

The rumour mill really is spinning about that letter and Solar. Guru and Premo had fallen out but it looks pretty dodgy.

Boom_Bap · 22-04-2010 08:41PM

Respect to Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal, RIP.

I was raised on Gangstarr and they had a real is a real big impact on me developing my taste in hip hop. They opened my eyes to Group Home, Jeru, Big Shug, Freddie Foxx... .and the list goes on.

Personally i think the rumour mill is a joke, can we not just respect Guru, his music, his legacy, his life, his passing and celebrate the impact he has had.

I cant help but read from both camps the statements and the clips and it's shocking the stuff that is coming out. From Solars appearance on MTV US a day or so after his passing, from Guru's nephew becoming pretty much a facebook whore, to the disection of statements.....it's all overshadowing the passing of a legend.
I'm going to end this rant with this video, one of the greatest songs ever:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT4jQld_FiE

CorkMan · 22-04-2010 09:53PM

http://www.nme.com/news/gang-starr/50781

Gang Starr rapper Guru's family question 'death bed letter'

Rapper 'never regained consciousness' before his death, family say

* April 22, 2010 | 0 Comments
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The family of Gang Starr rapper Guru have questioned the validity of a letter he supposedly wrote on his deathbed, in which his supposed last wishes were outlined.

The 47-year-old, real name Keith Elam, died on April 19 from cancer. He had been in a coma since February.

Elam's family released a statement to DJpremierblog.com, the website of his former Gang Starr partner DJ Premier. In it, they stated that Guru was in a coma from mid-February until his death – making it unfeasible that he could have written a letter from his deathbed. Producer Solar made the supposed Guru letter public after his death.

The letter released by Solar stated that DJ Premier should not be allowed to trade under Gang Starr's name in future. In March, Guru's nephew released a video saying Solar had "completely cut us off" [his family] from seeing the rapper.

Referring to Guru's condition before he died in their letter, the family wrote: "Guru suffered from multiple myeloma for over a year. Accrued complications from this illness led to respiratory failure and cardiac arrest. As a result, Guru was in a coma from mid-February until his death and never regained consciousness."

They added: "The Elam family wishes to thank the fans of our son/brother/father/uncle/nephew/cousin Keith, aka Guru, for the outpouring of love, concern and support. Our hearts are broken by the loss of someone we loved so much. Guru was devoted to his young son, who will most keenly feel his absence."

An "all-inclusive memorial event" is being planned for the near future by Guru's family, according to the letter.

horsebox09 · 22-04-2010 11:31PM

One of wisest emcees to ever pick up a mic.
R.I.P to the king of montone.

"a coward dies 1000 times, a soldier dies but once"

23-04-2010 06:18PM

Guru obituary from the Guardian:

Guru, the Boston rapper who rose to international acclaim as half of Gang Starr, has died from cancer, aged 43. Gang Starr expanded rap's sonic palette by mixing jazz with electronic beats to create a music that linked hip-hop to bebop. Guru's Jazzmatazz projects with black American jazz musicians extended this dialogue further.

He was born Keith Elam in the predominantly African-American Roxbury neighbourhood of Boston, Massachusetts, where his father, Harry, was a judge and his mother, Barbara, a director of school library programmes. Elam graduated in business administration from Moorehouse College, Atlanta, and seemed destined for a comfortable, middle-class life. However, a fascination with rap music prompted him to move to Brooklyn, New York, to pursue his dream.

Employing the stage name Guru (aka Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal), he joined two fellow rappers in an early incarnation of Gang Starr. In 1987-88, they released three records on the independent Brooklyn record label Wild Pitch. These attracted little attention, but Guru's rapping talent – he possessed both strong narrative skills and a hard, monotone rhyming style – was noted. But by 1989 Gang Starr appeared a spent force, with only Guru attempting to keep rapping. That year Chris Martin (aka DJ Premier) approached Wild Pitch looking for production work, and the label suggested he should work with Guru. The duo's 1990 debut album, using the Gang Starr name, No More Mr Nice Guy, showed great promise.

The film director Spike Lee was among those impressed, commissioning the saxophonist Branford Marsalis to employ the duo on the soundtrack of his 1990 film Mo' Better Blues. Marsalis encouraged Guru to rap Lolis Eric Elie's poem about the history of jazz over a DJ Premier arrangement that sampled a variety of classic jazz recordings. The resulting track, Jazz Thing, proved more memorable than Lee's film and charted internationally (reaching No 66 in the UK). Gang Starr were acclaimed as leaders of jazz-rap, a more literate and musically wide-ranging genre than gangsta rap.

Gang Starr signed to Chrysalis, and in 1991 delivered the superb album Step in the Arena. Here, DJ Premier's skills at blending sparse, rhythmic jazz and funk samples around Guru's cool, clear delivery won them wide critical acclaim and a large audience. Guru had previously worked as a counsellor in a secure hostel in Boston and was able to draw on his experiences there to inform his raps. His ability to deliver inner-city narratives without glamorising the violent protagonists makes Gang Starr's finest recordings bleak, clear and remorseless. The 1992 album Daily Operation is a minimalist masterpiece and shows the duo pushing New York rap to new creative heights.

British audiences responded to Gang Starr, and the duo maintained a strong following in the UK. While DJ Premier lent his production skills to the rising rap superstars Nas and The Notorious BIG, Guru in 1993 released Jazzmatazz Vol 1. This found him rapping alongside the veteran jazz musicians Roy Ayers and Donald Byrd. A critical and commercial success, Jazzmatazz Vol 1 was jazz-rap's high point. Guru would produce four volumes of Jazzmatazz over the next 14 years.

Gang Starr reunited for the album Hard to Earn (1994), then both returned to their solo projects, coming together again for Moment of Truth (1998), their best-selling album. Guru's 2001 solo album Baldhead Slick & Da Click found the rapper resorting to cliches. In 2003 Gang Starr issued the album The Ownerz and toured Europe. A concert at the London Astoria demonstrated how effective the duo were, but backstage tensions came to a head, and DJ Premier left the tour. He is now one of the US's most in-demand producers of rap, R&B and pop. Guru continued to issue solo albums that attracted little attention.

Interviewed in 1999, he came across as a droll, articulate man who said the Nation of Islam religious organisation had shaped his thinking. His undoubted charm often curdled while on tour, due to his insistence that Big Shug, a minor Boston rapper and criminal, accompany him. Together, their behaviour could be unpleasant, with Guru reacting to an apparent deep insecurity, attempting to emulate Shug in behaving thuggishly.

He is survived by his parents, his brother, Harry, his sisters, Tricia and Jocelyn, and his son, KC.

• Guru (Keith Elam), rapper, born 17 July 1966; died 19 April 2010

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/apr/21/guru-obituary

There's also mutterings that Guru was in an abusive homosexual relationship with Solar. Solar was confronted about this and the letter and everything else by Sway.

Shame that his death is overshadowed by all this stuff.

StevieG · 27-04-2010 05:57PM

Some tributes

both free downloads

One mellow and jazzy with some guest spots and rarities

One banging Gang Starr classics all the way

Stevie G presents A Tribute to Guru Part 1-A Jazz thing (the mellow side of the KIng of Monotone)

http://djstevieg.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2010-04-26T09_55_39-07_00

Loungin' Guru
No Time To Play Guru
Jazz Thing Gang Starr
Take A Rest Gang Starr
Le Bien, Le Mal Guru
Qui Sème Le Vent Récolte Le Tempo (Gang Starr 12 Inch Remix) MC Solaar
Do It Any Way You Wanna (It's on You) Guru
Play that beat-Gang Starr Gang Starr
The Meaning Of A Name Gang Starr
As I Read My S-A Gang Starr
Who's Gonna Take The Weight? Gang Starr
Just To Get A Rep Gang Starr
Trust Me (CJ Mackintosh remix) Guru
Sassy (feat. Gang Starr) Neneh Cherry
Words I Manifest (Remix) Gang Starr
Check The Technique (Remix) Gang Starr
It's Getting Hectic Feat. Gang Starr The Brand New Heavies
Borough Check (feat. Guru) Digable Planets
The Meaning Of A Name Gang Starr
Borough Check (feat. Guru) Digable Planets
When You're Near Guru
Living In This World Guru
Discipline Gang Starr
Rite Where U Stand Gang Starr
Skills Gang Starr
What You Want This Time? Gang Starr
The Illest Brother Gang Starr
Slicker Than Most Guru
State Of Clarity REMIX (ft Common & Bob James) (Main) Guru
Feel The Music Guru
Certified Guru
I've Committed Murder (Gang Starr Main Mix) Macy Gray
A Little Spice Loose Ends
Gotta Get Over (Taking Loot) Gang Starr
Guidance Guru
Keep Your Worries Guru
Respect The Architect Guru

Stevie G presents A Tribute to Guru Part 2 (Blowin' up the spot-the classic Gang Starr legacy)

http://djstevieg.podOmatic.com/entry/eg/2010-04-27T09_15_34-07_00

What I'm Here 4 Gang Starr
Work Gang Starr
The Rep Grows Bigga Gang Starr
Blowin' Up the Spot Gang Starr
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow Gang Starr
Hardcore Composer Gang Starr
2 Deep Gang Starr
The Place Where We Dwell Gang Starr
I'm the Man Gang Starr
Step In The Arena Gang Starr
You Know My Steez Gang Starr
My Advice 2 You Gang Starr
Next Time Gang Starr
Above The Clouds Gang Starr & Inspecta Deck
No Shame In My Game Gang Starr
She Knows What She Wants Gang Starr
Royalty Gang Starr
jazz music gang starr
Love Sick Extended Mix 12" Gang Starr
Ex Girl To Next Girl Gang Starr
Execution Of A Chump (No More Mr. Nice Guy Pt.2) Gang Starr
92 Interlude Gang Starr
Name Tag Gang Starr
Mostly tha Voice Gang Starr
Alongwaytogo Gang Starr
Positivity (Club Version) Gang Starr
Form Of Intellect Gang Starr
Conspiracy Gang Starr
Soliloquy Of Chaos Gang Starr
Code Of The Streets Gang Starr
The ? Remainz Gang Starr
Take It Personal Gang Starr
B. Y. S. Gang Starr
Now You're Mine Gang Starr
Mass Appeal Gang Starr
Dwyck Gang Starr
Full Clip Gang Starr
The Ownerz Gang Starr
The legacy Group home feat guru & dj premier
So What Jigmastas & Guru
Salute M.O.P.
Playtawin Gang Starr
Watch What You Say snippet Guru
In This Life... Gang Starr & Snoop Dogg
Moment Of Truth Gang Starr
Let's Fall In Love All Over Again outro Billy Paul

RIP

horsebox09 · 27-04-2010 10:30PM

Jesus, epic post their StevieG, cheers for that :cool:

StevieG · 28-04-2010 05:18PM

Thanks!

http://www.djpremierblog.com/2010/04/28/dj-premier-opens-up-about-gurus-death-solar-gang-starr-reunion-more/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Boom_Bap · 29-04-2010 08:34AM

Wow, new music from Guru and 7 Grand Records, entitled Never Sell Out: The Final Verses, available now, only eight days after his death. Don’t support this, people.

:eek:

My guess is this is produced entirely by Solar.

Im my earlier post on this thread i said that i wasn't best pleased about the rumours and bullsh*t surounding Guru's passing, i still am not happy about it..... But when an album is released 8 days after Guru's passing from his own record label, that's just an attempt to cash in on his death. My understanding is that there was no plans to release an album, no release dates, no nothing and then this appears. And then the album title is a but ironic huh?

StevieG · 29-04-2010 08:50AM

sickening