Guru – Rest In Peace?

According to a tweet from DJ Scratch’s Twitter page, the body of Keith Elam, better known as Guru of Gang Starr, was cremated on Thursday (April 22), in accordance with the rapper’s wishes . . . or was they?

Many may not know the name Guru or Gang Starr, but Guru is the perfect example of REAL HIP HOP. No bling, no fat ass gal, no scandal, just real rap music, with talented rhymes, conscious lyrics setting an example for all real music followers. He wasn’t promoting gang banging, smoking weed or any other stupid shit – He was all about true HIP HOP!

He broadened the genre of rap within his laid back fusion of Jazz and creative production. The media and music industry don’t care about real music but this man was a true legend. His record sales weren’t as high as 50 Cents or Puffy – but I know they both have his albums in their play collection!

The name GURU is a backronym that stands for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal and the less-often used God is Universal; he is the Ruler Universal, which are both references to the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths. Guru aged 47, real name Keith Elam, died on April 19 from cancer.

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.

Guru’s family released a statement to his former through his Gang Starr partner’s website DJpremierblog.com

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.

Also, DJ Premier, is possibly making plans to head out on a proposed tour next month across the US to celebrate the life and music of his departed friend and Gang Starr comrade. Below is a track entitled ‘Plenty’ by Guru featuring Erykah Badu.

Guru aka Keith Elam began his rap career under the pseudonym, MC Keithy E, but later changed name to Guru. He founded Gang Starr in 1987. The group initially released three records on the Wild Pitch Records record label but these received little attention. After a change in line-up, the group now consisted of rapper Elam and DJ Premier; they achieved a sizable following and released six critically acclaimed and influential albums from 1989 to 2003 Two albums, Moment of Truth (1998) and compilation Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr (1999) were certified gold in the United States by the RIAA. Gang Starr made “archetypal East Coast rap” with Guru’s rapping described as sharp eyed but anti-ostentatious.

In 1993, Elam released the first in a series of four solo albums while still a member of Gang Starr. Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 featured collaborations with Donald Byrd, N’Dea Davenport, and Roy Ayers and received positive reviews. His second solo LP, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality, featured Chaka Khan, Ramsey Lewis, Branford Marsalis and Jamiroquai. The third installment was released in 2000, but received less positive reviews.

Elam’s first proper solo album, in his own words, was Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures (2005), produced entirely by Solar. The album reached #54 on the Billboard R&B albums charts and received mixed reviews.

Elam’s final project was the fourth installment in the Jazzmatazz series, produced entirely by Solar, released in early June 2007, and Guru 8.0: Lost And Found, released May 19, 2009 (also in collaboration with Solar). A Gang Starr reunion for a 7th album was on the cards but will never be realised due to Guru’s untimely death.