R.I.P. Keith Elam aka GURU

[The Dre Era]

Gang Starr's Guru Dead At 43
http://www.mtv.com/shared/promoimages/bands/g/gangstarr/guru_mtvcom/281x211.jpg
Legendary rapper succumbed to cancer on Monday after suffering a heart attack last month.

Just over a month since undergoing surgery following a heart attack, Gang Starr MC Guru (born Keith Elam) has died at age 43. According to a statement, Guru died of cancer-related causes on Monday after a long fight with the disease.

Guru's longtime collaborator and partner, French producer Solaar (sometimes referred to as Solar now), mourns his loss in the statement and explains that Guru had written a letter to his fans that was to be released upon his death.

"The world has lost one of the best MCs and hip-hop icons of all-time — my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru," Solaar said. "Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle! This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it, but tragically, this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius."

Born on July 17, 1966, near Boston, Guru rose to fame in the late 1980s as part of the duo Gang Starr with partner DJ Premier. The pair helped define the New York underground rap sound in the 1990s. Their unique sound combined Premier's production palette, which leaned heavily on sampled jazz records and scratched vocals on the choruses, with Guru's uncompromising rhymes. Although the pair would work separately as often as they did together — Guru's Jazzmatazzseries of albums and Premier's work with Nas, Jay-Z, and underground act Group Home — Gang Starr continued to release critically acclaimed material throughout the late '90s and early 2000s.

Their 1998 album Moment of Truth was among their most critically lauded collections and Gang Starr's biggest selling project to date. Gang Starr's last group project, The Ownerz, was released in 2003.

Guru found solo fame in 1993 when he released the first volume of his Jazzmatazz series, an all-star project that featured a number of collaborations with jazz icons such as Branford Marsalis, Donald Byrd, Roy Ayers and Ronny Jordan, as well as vocals from Solaar and N'Dea Davenport of the Brand New Heavies. The album's mixture of jazz and rap was considered pioneering at the time, and the record spawned the hit "Trust Me." Guru would go on to make four volumes in the series.

Guru wrote his farewell letter while in the hospital, according to Solaar. "I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world," it begins. "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 [of] myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own."

Guru very pointedly distanced himself from Premier in the letter, saying he didn't want his former musical collaborator to be able to participate in any tributes or events surrounding his death.

"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," wrote Guru. "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 Gang Starr, I am very proud of what Gang Starr 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 Gang Starr or Jazzmatazz 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."

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1637388/20100420/gang_starr.jhtml

[Mr.T]

Man...R.I.P. I gotta play DWYCK like 5 times straight....and how come Solar's name pops up so much ever since the heart attack? I think he's getting some Cash $$$ he didn't even mention his OWN family in that letter.....and he goes in on Primo? Solar's name pops up in this letter too much. His own son is only mentioned once. ......crookedness abounds

[AliAllWorld]

Yo did you guys read that letter that Solar released???????????? It was supposedly written by GURU on his deathbed???????? If he's been in a coma for the past two months, how the hell he write the letter??

Peep the letter here http://bit.ly/a3tAMd

Solar is getting sketchier and sketchier by the minute. The letter pretty much passes the legacy of GURU to Solar and then it tells DJ Premiere to fuck off!!!


MY BAD DRE POSTED THE LETTER IN HIS POST......HAPPY 4/20.....that is all

[Mr.T]

I was looking at what you typed like, "???????" LOL Like I said above...he(Solar) pat himself on the back WAAAAAY to much.....Preemo wouldn't believe that shit.........Somebody needs to get a Lawyer working immediately

[Tully Blanchard]

RIP to the Guru. (plays Hard To Earn)

[Cherry Almond Jergen's]

gangstarr will be on full blast this week....

this is real sad...I was a huge fan

[AliAllWorld]

R.I.P. Guru

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa312/phiziks/damnre7.gif


DAMN.....DAMN.....DAMN

[Nah]

R.I.P. Guru

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa312/phiziks/damnre7.gif


DAMN.....DAMN.....DAMN

(ten character limit)

[The Dre Era]

I think Solar is all about
http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq211/porky0530/cash-1-1.gif

[SyncereOne]

WTF.....does Solar expect anyone to believe this?

[Cherry Almond Jergen's]

75 views, 10 responses?

I mean I thought we love real hip hop here on DZ?

I see Smoka has had a bad influence on yall

[Elevate Get High]

damn R.I.P

[Smoka]

75 views, 10 responses?

I mean I thought we love real hip hop here on DZ?

I see Smoka has had a bad influence on yall
Got damn nigga!!! responding wont reincarnate dat nigga:rolleyes::rolleyes:

R.I.P Guru

[Cherry Almond Jergen's]

Got damn nigga!!! responding wont reincarnate dat nigga:rolleyes::rolleyes:

R.I.P Guru

its called R E S P E C T

[AliAllWorld]

Smoka put me up on the Ms.Peachez joint:eek:

Shit is hot here's the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGrqW3nx5HM

Man but for real.....me and my cousin rocked Guru all the time back in the day. All life would stop when "I Manifest" video would that pop up on MTV or BET. I always wondered why him and DJ Premier split up. I wish I knew the entire story on that.

[Tully Blanchard]

Let's go...

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[AliAllWorld]

Since we on GURU and stuff, I just had a flashback. Guru from Mass. and shit but what ever happen to ED OG and the Bulldogs???? Anybody from Mass on the board??????

[Tully Blanchard]

Ed OG just did a collab CD with Masta Ace earlier this year I believe.

[geo1976]

Since we on GURU and stuff, I just had a flashback. Guru from Mass. and shit but what ever happen to ED OG and the Bulldogs???? Anybody from Mass on the board??????

Ed OG still touring and has teamed up with Masta Ace to form a duo...Special Teamz.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/EdogBoston?ref=ts

Gangstarrs logo is still one of my favorite Hip-Hop logos. I wonder how many people would recognize it without the name.

[Tully Blanchard]

Mass Appeal (Youtube wouldn't allow the embedding)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3nYV1PX0HM

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[The Dre Era]

My Favorite Joint
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[Mercury]

mass appeal is my top 5 favorite beat ever easily.

[Cherry Almond Jergen's]

fuck that andre 3000 shit yall wanted me to read...

Sometimes you gotta dig deep, when problems come near
Don't fear things get severe for everybody everywhere
Why do bad things happen, to good people?
Seems that life is just a constant war between good and evil
The situation that I'm facin, is mad amazin
to think such problems can arise from minor confrontations
Now I'm contemplatin in my bedroom pacin
Dark clouds over my head, my heart's racin
Suicide? Nah, I'm not a foolish guy
Don't even feel like drinking, or even gettin high
Cause all that's gonna do really, is accelerate
the anxieties that I wish I could alleviate
But wait, I've been through a whole lot of other shit, before
So I oughta be able, to withstand some more
But I'm sweatin though, my eyes are turnin red and yo
I'm ready to lose my mind but instead I use my mind
I put down the knife, and take the bullets out my nine
My only crime, was that I'm too damn kind
And now some skanless motherfuckers wanna take what's mine
But they can't take the respect, that I've earned in my lifetime
And you know they'll never stop the furious force of my rhymes
So like they say, every dog has its day
And like they say, God works in a mysterious way
So I pray, remembering the days of my youth
As I prepare to meet my moment of truth

[Dro]

Ed OG still touring and has teamed up with Masta Ace to form a duo...Special Teamz.

Masta Ace isnt in Special Teamz. SP is Ed OG, Jaysaun, and Slaine.

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[geo1976]

mass appeal is my top 5 favorite beat ever easily.

Top 5 in any genre for me.

[geo1976]

Here's a beat I did a while back sampling Guru: http://www.myspace.com/geo197601 "Take The Money"

R.I.P.

[Mojo]

fuck that andre 3000 shit yall wanted me to read...

Sometimes you gotta dig deep, when problems come near
Don't fear things get severe for everybody everywhere
Why do bad things happen, to good people?
Seems that life is just a constant war between good and evil
The situation that I'm facin, is mad amazin
to think such problems can arise from minor confrontations
Now I'm contemplatin in my bedroom pacin
Dark clouds over my head, my heart's racin
Suicide? Nah, I'm not a foolish guy
Don't even feel like drinking, or even gettin high
Cause all that's gonna do really, is accelerate
the anxieties that I wish I could alleviate
But wait, I've been through a whole lot of other shit, before
So I oughta be able, to withstand some more
But I'm sweatin though, my eyes are turnin red and yo
I'm ready to lose my mind but instead I use my mind
I put down the knife, and take the bullets out my nine
My only crime, was that I'm too damn kind
And now some skanless motherfuckers wanna take what's mine
But they can't take the respect, that I've earned in my lifetime
And you know they'll never stop the furious force of my rhymes
So like they say, every dog has its day
And like they say, God works in a mysterious way
So I pray, remembering the days of my youth
As I prepare to meet my moment of truth

I respect the dead and all but c'mon... That basic rhyme pattern and still wasn't saying anything earth shattering, and you're dogging Andre 3000?

[The Dre Era]

also one of my favorite joints
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[geo1976]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FzV21Lqd3A&a=uXP6cbfZJ08&playnext_from=ML

[The Dre Era]

Who's touching this

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[AGINO]

R.I.P. Guru. The Moment of Truth album was the sh--.

[Ju?]

Not a good day.

[Mercury]

I respect the dead and all but c'mon... That basic rhyme pattern and still wasn't saying anything earth shattering, and you're dogging Andre 3000?

i love and respect guru, r.i.p.

but andre 3stacks KILLS and DESTROYS guru in every statistical lyrical category lol

[Iceberg]

R.I.P Guru

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Manifest was one of my most sought after samples
Who's gonna take the weight was a powerful song to me because it reminded me of the Gulf War (The first war in my lifetime)

[Dragonspit Jones]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U2V7wVLxEk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U76Nde6rMTw&feature=related

[Dragonspit Jones]

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/hiphopmediatraining/265701/hip-hop-luminary-guru-succumbs-to-cancer/


I didn't know he was that mad at Premier. Sad situation.

[Ju?]

I find that letter suspect.

[Mercury]

that letter is false anytime he is more proud of jazzmatazz than gangstarr albums

[Mr.T]

that letter is false anytime he is more proud of jazzmatazz than gangstarr albums

You should be a detective



I was thinking the same exact thing when I read that portion of the letter. The whole tone of the letter is bitter...most people on their death bed have a tendency for forgiveness.....Somebody need to see what Solar is up to.......

[Qwasian]

doesn't seem suspect at all to me? he was hangin out w/ this guy all the time, and hadn't been with premo in over 7 years? sounds right on that he would be more proud of jazzmatazz than the gangstarr albums.......

if he was interested in persuing hiphop & gangstarr he would have done so, jazz hiphop was his new direction and had been for many years

[The Dre Era]

From another board:

No, Guru did not have a wife at the time of his passing. He has a son, KC who should be around 9-10 ish. He was a very active father who really took his role as dad seriously. Guru had his demons, but he wasn't "Life Partners" with Solar in THAT way. Guru was at the very minimum a recovering alcoholic with rage issues. When someone is in recovery, that process can build a bond with someone that is beyond the normal co-dependency issues. I think that Solar used Guru's issues and manipulated them. There are too many stories that show that something is up. Hate on Solar all day, but the ONE thing I can promise is that the very odd reference is showing up multiple times in SOLAR's writing.

BTW- Guru did not call him his "life partner". I don't know how any one can believe that the man was in a coma, wakes up, writes that he has "succumbed to the disease" and them lays down and dies. No words of wisdom for his seed? No "I love you" to his mom who is also sick and hospitalized? None of that? But Solar gets shout outs? ... Right...

[Cherry Almond Jergen's]

doesn't seem suspect at all to me? he was hangin out w/ this guy all the time, and hadn't been with premo in over 7 years? sounds right on that he would be more proud of jazzmatazz than the gangstarr albums.......

if he was interested in persuing hiphop & gangstarr he would have done so, jazz hiphop was his new direction and had been for many years

You know, I kinda feel the same way. I heard there was bad blood between him and Premo (for whatever reason) and they never reconciled. They pretty much said "hello" and kept it moving.

Not to sound harsh but there are quite a few people who I would tell to kiss my ass even if I was a minute away from passing.

This letter seems real to me

[Qwasian]

I also got the feeling that guru turned homosexual and shunned his familiy & dj premier.........

i'ono man, but his actions reflect that.......

they say he was also dealing with alcoholism.....

people sometimes put too much emphasis on stars/situations and take them out of context......

because he was in gangstarr does not mean he wasn't a human being..... in 10 years almost "ANYBODY'S" life can do a complete 360 spin........

everybody just wants to focus on gangstarr, gangstarr, gangstarr.... but if you look at the reality of it and really gave a shit about guru...... u would focus on what "HE" wanted and he was into jazz hiphop..... PERIOD..........

so it's like most people are being selfish and trying to represent him the way they want to, and don't really give a shit about how he actually wanted to be represented or felt.........

not that I give a shit either way, just breaking down the situation a bit since it's a hot topic........

I realistically believe the solar kat.....he might big himself up alot? but he's the one composing the letter? and maybe guru is like? the guy did alot for him so he wanted to represent him alot? it makes alot of sense to me.......

I met a rap artist who put all his trust in me, represented me alot and later committed suicide...... so I can definately relate......the artist i'm speakin of wasn't cool with his family at all really, and had hate towards former friends similiar to this situation......

[Mr.T]

Now that I read this interview with the two of them.....Q just might be right....a lot of back patting going on in there :

http://earwaks.com/80-guru-solar

[Dro]

Guru's sister speaks...
http://www.djpremierblog.com/2010/04/21/public-letter-from-gurus-sister-patricia/

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.

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. Early on the morning of April 19th, he became hypertensive due to low blood pressure. He again went into cardiac arrest and slipped away from us.

GURU died far too young but he was, and we are, proud of all his many legendary musical contributions.

The family is not aware of any foundations established by GURU. We know and understand that countless fans want to express their condolences and love and, to that end, we are planning a memorial event in the near future that will be all-inclusive. Please look for further details from the family as they become available.

from The Elam Family

[Nah]

As a result, GURU was in a coma from mid February until his death and never regained consciousness.

Dear Solar,

As you are stroking your ego while reading your direct messages on twitter, I hope your googling your name right now. I hope it leads you to this very post. I must inform you something, in case you missed it. Are you listening?

Solar you're a FA99ET!!

Not in a homo-sexual way, but in a faggety way. Fa99et in terms of it's 4th grade definition.

Fa99et.


Sincerely,

Leroy Pokem

P.S....Fruit!

[Qwasian]

the crazy part is, everybody believes all that shit they read........

nobody really had that info on guru, as you saw the news all stopped until he actually died.. his family didn't give any updates & all that shit when he first went into the coma etc, they never knew how he was, or never expressed it

if you can't take one look at both guys twitter pages and immediately tell they are homosexual, im going to need you to re-evaluate your life

[The Dre Era]

From yours truly :

Quote:
- PPL should express their honest feelings & stand by that. If you are built to say ur piece then sayit. Dont hide but stand behind ur words.

- Alotta PPL R Remixing My Tweets. Please Own Up 2 ur own words. ThankU. If I sayit I ownit U should 2.

- God Is The Only Judge. Im Just A man with an opinion about a situation I cant control who was never afraid to express that. #awareness

- Life Will Go On. The Memory Of Guru & All Other Lost Homies Will Live In The Individuals That Keep The legacies Alive & Protected.

- Every1 Take A Look@ The List Of Artist That have Passed On. Reflect On Their Work&Salute Their Legacies. That List is Serious!


This was tweeted to Bumpy from Asatta138 (not sure who this might be yet.) :

Quote:
Guru made this statement from his own mouth and anybody saying different is insane with Hate! (via @solar_7grand)

His response to that:
Quote:
Im sure even You Dnt Believe That.
Then he goes on to say this with his clever ass:


Quote:
- PPL Got This "Hate" word SuperTwisted. stop using it as a means of not having to tell own up or defend your honor, if u have any.

- Hate: is when U dnt fit N2 a good situation so u infiltrate it with lies & deception 2 tear it apart cuz U R Useless in that cipher.

- To All The Emcees: Let The Song Cry.

- Studio Light Down, Archie Shepp Vibe Playing. Asking Myself, what made Guru wanna spit2 Jazz? Brilliance.


Most of that happened yesterday. The next day, shots fired:

Quote:
- AND THE PHONY AWARD GOES TO: #FUCKSOLAR

- #FuckSolar is like that lil fat lady that was obsessed with selena(rip) he stalkd my boy and held something over his head. IT WILL COME OUT!

- This Is How You Use Twitter: #FUCKSOLAR YOU BITCHASS WANNABE CLOWNASS PUSSY WANNABE PREMOASS WACK MUTHAFUCKA!!!!! & IAINT MAD YET!!!

- #FUCKSOLAR YOU WANNA BE FAMOUS? I GOT U. LET GURU's BODY GO TO HIS FAMILY YOU SICK FUCKIN WEIRDO!!

- ONCE YOU GET THE LIFE INSURANCE MONEY YOU WILL PROBABLY MOVE OUTTA THE USA!! UK JAPAN CHINA & EVERYWHERE ELSE! #FUCKSOLAR

- #FUCKOLAR IF IM WRONG PROVE ME WRONG!! GURU HAS A FAMILY THAT DIDNT BEAT HIM UP & PHYSICALLY ABUSE HIM YOU BITCHMADE WHORE!!!

- SPARE ME ALL THE PHILOSOPHICAL BULLSHIT! IF U AINT A FIGHTER SIT UR PASSIVE ASS INA CORNER & PAY ATTENTION!



One hour later, he's building a universal beat down:

Quote:
- ON THE PHONE WITH PREMO!!! WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWW WWWWWWWWWWWW!

- AWARENESS AWARENESS AWARENESS AWARENESS AWARENESS AWARENESS A FUKIN WARE NESS!! WHAT KINDA PEOPLE DO SHIT LIKE THAT?? THISISCRAZY!!

- MAKE MOVES. GO HARD. MAKE MOVES. U CANT BE A PUNK ALL UR LIFE.

- UK FAM HOLLA AT ME!! JAPAN SQUAD HOLLA AT ME!! AFRICA HOLLA AT ME!! US ASS WHOOPAZ HOLLA AT ME! FULL COURT PRESS IS IN EFFECT! about 5 hours ago via web

- SALUTE DJ PREMIER & THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE GSF!

- I THINK ITS TIME FOR YALL TO MEET MY "BAN" BAD ASS NEFFU's"

- SWISS GOON-GERMAN WARRIORS-DUTCH KILLERS-CHINESE AssAssIns- HOLLA AT ME!!!

- FEMALE WARRIORS WE GOIN IN!!! HOLLA AT ME!!

- AUSSIE BODY SNATCHERS-LATIN RIDERS-HOLLA!!

- MEDIA: INSTEAD OF POSTING THE FAKE LETTER, ASK #FUCKSOLAR FOR THE AUTOPSY! I WANNA SEE WHAT HAPPENED TO GURU!

- IM OUT.
Developing...

[Qwasian]

not to say I told you so but? I told u so

http://diaryofahollywoodstreetking.com/the-real-solar-guru-gang-starr-story-rip-guru/

[Mr.T]

He was a lil shaky on here:

http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshheNTEEqIRK7378hO1

[The Dre Era]

not to say I told you so but? I told u so

http://diaryofahollywoodstreetking.com/the-real-solar-guru-gang-starr-story-rip-guru/
damn http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v322/Princess_Ivy/prince-2.gif

[Nah]

Dear Solar,

As you are stroking your ego while reading your direct messages on twitter, I hope your googling your name right now. I hope it leads you to this very post. I must inform you something, in case you missed it. Are you listening?

Solar you're a FA99ET!!

Not in a homo-sexual way, but in a faggety way. Fa99et in terms of it's 4th grade definition.

Fa99et.


Sincerely,

Leroy Pokem

P.S....Fruit!

Correction: Solar you are a fa99et...not only in a faggety way, but also in a homosexual way.

[Qwasian]

guru been dealing w/ this kat directly for about a decade though.... so what does that make him? why does one person get a pass and not the other? just because of death? and association to hiphop/artists?

[Mercury]

Okay here's my late pass. I just remembered that I owned jazzmatazz vol 1 and there was a cat on there named solaar that rapped in french...is that the same dude? (I'm assuming so)

[Ju?]

No. MC Solaar was just the french MC, Solar is the producer he's been working with the past decade. I just got it too, so you're not the only one. I got confused too.

[The Dre Era]

WTF???????????
http://musicmedia.ign.com/music/image/article/701/701757/guru-20060414032843708.jpg

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[The Dre Era]

Originally Posted by BarackNRolla View Post
My brother, Gang Starr’s Guru


(EDITOR’S NOTE: Boston-born Keith Elam, who rose to fame as Guru, founder of the rap group Gang Starr and a person who sought to merge rap and jazz, died earlier this week. His brother, Harry, a distinguished professor of drama at Stanford, has written this remembrance).







"Positivity, that’s how I’m livin..’” So goes the lyric from my brother’s early hip-hop song, “Positivity.” My brother Keith Elam, the hip-hop artist known as GURU—Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal—died this week at the too-young age of 48 because of complications from cancer. ‘Positivity’ was what he sought to bring to the music and to his life, and for me that will be a large part of his legacy.
In February of this year, my brother went into a coma, and I traveled across the country from my home in California to see him. At his bedside, I stood and stared at his overly frail frame, his head that he had kept clean-shaven for the last 20 years uncommonly covered with hair, his body connected to a sea of tubes and wires. I listened to the whirl of machines around us and took his hand. As I did, my mind flashed back to now-distant times, so many memories. And I saw us as teenagers at the beach on Cape Cod playing in the water together. And I saw us as boys, driving to school. My brother was five years younger than me, so we attended the same school only for one year -- my senior year, his seventh-grade year -- at Noble and Greenough School, and I would often drive us both to school. Invariably, I made us late, yet my brother, never as stressed as me, was always impressively calm. At school he endured the jests and teasing from the other boys about being my “little brother.” I was president of the school and had charted a certain path at Nobles. But my brother found his own creative route at school, as he would throughout his life. His journey was never easy, never direct, but inventive. Through it all he remained fiercely determined with a clear and strong sense of self.

Over the years I had proudly watched my brother perform in a wide variety of contexts. While at Nobles, we had a black theatre troupe known as “the Family.” In 1973, we put on a play entitled ''A Medal for Willie,'' by William Branch, and because he was only in the seventh grade, Keith played only a small role, but even then you could see his flair for performance, his comfort on the stage. At home, our older sister Patricia would teach him the latest dances, and he would execute them with verve as I watched from the sidelines, impressed with his moves, and not without a few twinges of jealousy since I’ve always had two left feet. As a teenager he raced as a speed skater. I do not remember how he became involved in the sport; I only remember traveling with my family to watch his meets in the suburbs of Boston. I do not remember if he won or lost, I do know that he always competed with great ferocity and commitment.
http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2010/04/23/Dad%2C-Keiith-and-Me-for-Glob__1272065737_0012.jpg
(Harry Elam Jr. Photos) Harry Elam Jr., Harry Elam Sr., and Keith ("Guru'') Elam on Cape Cod in the 1970s.

Page 2 of 2 --
When he announced to me that he was dropping out of graduate school at the Fashion Institute of Technology to pursue a career in rap, I thought he was making a grave mistake and warned him against it. But as always he was determined, and in the end he would succeed beyond perhaps what even he had imagined. Early on in his rap journey, he visited me in Washington., D.C., over a Thanksgiving weekend. I was teaching at the University of Maryland then, and we went to what was perhaps the most dreadful party we had ever attended. As we hastened out the door, I apologized for bringing him to this party. My brother replied “let’s write a rap song about it,” and we did. The lyrics made us laugh as we collaborated on the rhyme scheme and rode off into the D.C. night. It is one of my fondest memories, this spontaneous brotherly moment of collaboration and play.




Keith’s big break came with Spike Lee’s film ''Mo’ Better Blues,'' with his song “A Jazz Thing” underscoring the credits. I watched that film over and over again just to hear my brother at its end. Soon he was on to creating his first Jazzmatazz album with others to follow, and he became credited for creating a fusion between jazz and hip hop. To be sure, that fusion owes something to our grandfather Edward Clark and Keith’s godfather, George Johnson, who introduced Keith to jazz by playing their favorite albums for him. He credits them both on his first Jazzmatazz. That first Jazzmatazz album featured musical heroes of my youth, Roy Ayers, and Donald Byrd, and here was my brother featuring them on his album. And with this success, came tours. I have seen him perform all over the world, and each time he would give a shout out from the stage to his brother and my wife, Michele. And I was so proud. It sometimes struck me with awe that all these people were there to see my brother. I watched him deal out magic; he was in his element feeling the crowd, and them responding to his groove. This was my baby brother, the kid with whom I once shared a room. The kid whose asthma would cause him to hack and cough and wheeze at night keeping me up. But when I would complain, my parents would send me out of the room. The message was clear: Love your siblings, whatever their frailties. Shorter than me and slighter of build, my brother suffered from asthma and allergies his whole life, but he was always a survivor

Back in 1993, when he played at Stanford University, I was in perhaps my third year as a professor there. As I walked into the auditorium that night, the assembled audience of students looked at me with a new awareness, “that’s the Guru’s brother,” not that’s Professor Elam, but the Guru’s brother.

And I was, and am, the Guru’s brother. I admired and loved him deeply, my little brother. And I was and am so proud of him, and how he made his dreams reality . And with the outpouring of love that has crowded my e-mail with his passing, I know that he touched so many with his music. My brother cared deeply about family. He raps of my parents in more than one song. They are featured on his video “Ex girl to next girl.” It was one thing seeing my brother on MTV; it was another seeing my parents. His son K.C. was the joy of his life.

The doctors told me back in February that there was not much chance of my brother recovering from the coma. But my brother has always been a fighter, always been one to overcome surprising adversities, so this seemed just one more. We prayed that he would again prevail. But it was not to be. Still his drive, his spirit, his energy, his positivity will live on, and so will his music. “that’s how I’m livin…”


Harry J. Elam Jr. is the senior associate vice provost at Stanford University and the author of several books, including "The Past as Present in the Drama of August Wilson.''Click the image to open in full size.
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2010/04/23/my_brother_gang_starrs_guru/?s_campaign=8315

[Ju?]

WTF???????????
http://musicmedia.ign.com/music/image/article/701/701757/guru-20060414032843708.jpg

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fENodJNlpKA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fENodJNlpKA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
Yeah. That Guru 8.0 album was straight trash!

[The Dre Era]

http://i42.tinypic.com/vgync.jpg

[Nah]

guru been dealing w/ this kat directly for about a decade though.... so what does that make him? why does one person get a pass and not the other? just because of death? and association to hiphop/artists?

Huh?

That would make Guru gay as well...

...just not a fa99et.

Stop jumping bruh.

[Qwasian]

U think guru really fucked with premier? obviously he didn't man, because his music was way better with him..... he obviously had hard feelings because they did NO work together recently........if you rock w/ a faggot, you become one yourself