RIP Guru (w/tributes, mixes and comps)

kotep · Post by **kotep** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 6:03 am

did Guru just die?
my boy in germany sent me an email....not sure

K-Funk · Post by **K-Funk** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 6:11 am

just heard about this 2 minutes ago. seems the rumors are true. i'm speachless...

REST IN PEACE GURU!!!

STAM · Post by **STAM** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 6:25 am

Anotha rap star died....... rest in peace.....

Illegitimate · Post by **Illegitimate** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 6:41 am

rest in peace GOD!

soopacee · Post by **soopacee** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 6:42 am

yep its official

RIP to a LEGEND!!!

Yo! Raps has exclusively learned from hit producer Solar that Hip-Hop legend and GangStarr founder Guru has passed away yesterday morning (April 19) after a long battle with cancer.

According to 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.

Since the onset of illness, Guru tried to live a "normal" life as an influential and outstanding musician, loving father, family man, and best friend. Doctors encouraged Guru to think positive that the cancer can be arrested and that a full recovery is possible but several special treatments including hard hitting chemotherapies failed.

While in hospital with terminal cancer, Guru wrote a letter, which was provided by Solar, to his fans addressing his illness, his shining music career, his family and loved ones.

"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," read the official Guru statement.

"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."

The statement reads on, "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."

Guru, born Keith Elam, rose to fame in the 80's as the founder of the legendary rap group GangStarr. The group released the classic single Words I Manifest followed by their critically acclaimed debut album No More Mr. Nice Guy (1989) and the classic album Step In The Arena (1991). Guru was the first artist to truly blend Hip-Hop with Live Jazz beginning in 1993, and seeing the vast influences his Jazzmatazz concept has had on the industry, it is clear that Guru's musical contributions have been way ahead of their time. Guru has worked with such great artists as Herbie Hancock, Isaac Hayes, Donald Byrd, Ramsey Lewis, Roy Ayers, Chaka Kahn, Branford Marsalis, David Sanborn, Bob James, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Common, Angie Stone, Jamiroquai, Macy Gray and Damien Marley, to name a few. Despite the fact that Guru isn't hailing from New York, he is noted as a pioneer of the New York sound and true lyrical Hip-Hop. Guru later on joined forces with hit producer Solar and formed his label 7 Grand Records with the goal to keep "real" Hip-Hop alive.

kotep · Post by **kotep** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 7:06 am

man that sounds like the same bullshit Solar was kickin last month....almost seems as tho he penned it....

not to add controversy to tragedy but just sayin.......

RIP to one of the people that made me love this shit in the first place.....and it really has turned to shit.

Kool Max Power · Post by **Kool Max Power** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 7:26 am

RIP my man!

YouTube · Post by **Philaflava** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 7:29 am

really sad day.

CrimeFamily · Post by **CrimeFamily** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 7:59 am

Rest in Peace guru

K-Funk · Post by **K-Funk** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 8:14 am

man fuck that letter, i really don't believe Guru wrote that, i can bet money on that! it's all about Solar in it.

YouTube · Post by **Philaflava** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 8:15 am

of course solar wrote it. nothing about any of this has been real or sincere. the only real part is the death.

step one · Post by **step one** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 9:24 am

Solar is basically fucked now. He's alienated himself from anyone with an ounce of credibility and his only hope of getting any shine has just passed away. He might be sitting on an album or 2 of unreleased Guru shit but thats only gonna take him so far (and lets be honest, thats not very far).

Hopefully Primo will have a few unreleased Gang Starr joints in the archives.

kartman · Post by **kartman** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 9:57 am

If solar can't prove that those are guru's words, aka he posts pitcures of this "letter", it's difficult for me to believe this shit.
RIP for one of the best (and one of my favorite) mcs out there

soulsurvivor · Post by **soulsurvivor** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 9:58 am

R.I.P. Baldhead Slick

DJMIKENICE · Post by **DJMIKENICE** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 9:58 am

GURU REST IN PEACE YOU ARE GREATLY MISSED

diggy64 · Post by **diggy64** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:24 am

Rest.

paul_smith · Post by **paul_smith** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:32 am

The fuck?!?!

Guru will be deeply missed, RIP to one of the best to ever do it :(

FromTheWrongSide · Post by **FromTheWrongSide** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:56 am

damn, its really hard to find the right words.
gangstarr was always a part of my youth and now it feels like this part is forever gone.

thank you guru, for all the beautiful moments and memories, while listening to your music.

rest in peace from germany...

aREAL · Post by **aREAL** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:56 am

oh fuck...... :(

RIP

Krisch · Post by **Krisch** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 11:06 am

R.I.P. Guru

8ks · Post by **8ks** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 11:50 am

that's really really sad. and yes, i will remember him as gang starr, and nothing else.

boogs · Post by **boogs** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:17 pm

R.I.P. Guru, Gang Starr Forever!
However, that shit with that fuckin death letter needs to be cleared up once and for all! I don't buy it either that Guru wrote this but Solar. The fuck is up with that shit?

aeokq · Post by **aeokq** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:18 pm

Wow. R.I.P.

nojiveturkey · Post by **nojiveturkey** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:46 pm

damn this is not good news to wake up to. damn. R.I.P.

RELM · Post by **RELM** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:50 pm

Such sad news. R.I.P Guru...

Hip_Hop_Head_SF · Post by **Hip_Hop_Head_SF** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:18 pm

This is EXTREMELY sad sad news... REST IN PEACE GURU!!!!!

And here's an 80-minute ALL GangStarr mix I had made last month that most of you probably already have... Rest In Peace Guru, you will forever be missed!! גTake Two And Passג ג GangStarr, 1992

GangStarr Mix (1989-2003)
-Mixed by Shaun D. aka Wicked

01. GangStarr - Intro [1990] Chrysalis STEP IN THE ARENA (LP)
02. GangStarr - Take Two And Pass [1992] Chrysalis DAILY OPERATION (LP)
03. GangStarr - Credit Is Due [1991] Chrysalis 12"
04. GangStarr - Gotta Get Over (Taking Loot) [1992] Sire TRESPASS SOUNDTRACK (LP)
05. GangStarr - Doe In Advance [1993] White Label 12"
06. GangStarr - ALONGWAYTOGO [1993] Chrysalis HARD TO EARN (LP)
07. GangStarr - Mostly Tha Voice [1993] Chrysalis HARD TO EARN (LP)
08. GangStarr - You Know My Steez [1997] Noo Trybe MOMENT OF TRUTH (LP)
09. GangStarr - The Natural [2001] Virgin PROMO 12"
10. GangStarr - Zonin' [2003] Virgin THE OWNERZ (LP)
11. GangStarr - New York Strait Talk [1998] Noo Trybe MOMENT OF TRUTH (LP)
12. GangStarr - Work [1997] Noo Trybe CAUGHT UP SOUNDTRACK (LP)
13. GangStarr - Full Clip [1999] Noo Trybe/Virgin FULL CLIP: A DECADE OF GANG STARR (LP)
14. GangStarr - The ? Remainz [1994] Chrysalis 12"
15. GangStarr - B.Y.S. [1992] Chrysalis DAILY OPERATION (LP)
16. GangStarr - Step In The Arena [1990] Chrysalis STEP IN THE ARENA (LP)
17. GangStarr - Words I Manifest (Remix) [1989] Wild Pitch 12"
18. Tony Touch feat. GangStarr - The Piece Maker [1999] Tommy Boy THE PIECE MAKER (LP)
19. GangStarr - Battle [2002] Interscope 8 MILE SOUNDTRACK (LP)
20. GangStarr - Tha Squeeze [2001] Priority TRAINING DAY SOUNDTRACK (LP)
21. Funkmaster Flex feat. GangStarr - Freestyle [1998] Loud THE MIX TAPE VOL. III (LP)
22. GangStarr - Just To Get A Rep [1990] Chrysalis STEP IN THE ARENA (LP)
23. GangStarr - Jazz Thing (Video Mix) [1990] Columbia MO' BETTER BLUES SOUNDTRACK (LP)
24. GangStarr - Take A Rest [1990] Chrysalis STEP IN THE ARENA (LP)
25. GangStarr - The Illest Brother [1992] Chrysalis DAILY OPERATION (LP)

-All Songs Produced by DJ Premier

Size: 146 mb
Length: 79:58
Quality: 256 kbps
File: http://www.mediafire.com/?nnwhyhmmuyz

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:29 pm

RELM wrote:Such sad news. R.I.P Guru...

Verge · Post by **Verge** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 2:59 pm

RIP Guru.

Jaz · Post by **Jaz** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 3:16 pm

Gutted...and I was afraid this would happen, I am working on my tribute post at my blog now.

RIP Keith Elam aka Guru aka Baldhead Slick.

thewool · Post by **thewool** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 4:13 pm

Am totally stunned...

Been rocking some Gangstarr tracks today. On the way home 'In Memory Of' came on in the car - still can't believe it.

Have been listening to Gangstarr ever since I taped 'Jazz Thing' off a UK radio station 16 odd years ago. Bought Step in the Arena just after that and have been a fan ever since.

"It's ok though, cos from grey skies come blue,
through darkness comes light and I'll be known as the Guru..."

R.I.P.