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Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

Old 04-20-10, 08:00 AM
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Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

http://www.nme.com/news/gang-starr/50743


This is sad news I had had not heard about the heart attack.


And you'd be happy as hell to get a record deal. Maybe your soul you'd sell to have mass appeal
Old 04-20-10, 08:36 AM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

Damn! Mass Appeal is a classic
Old 04-20-10, 09:08 AM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

RIP, but if Guru actually wrote that death bed letter, then I lose respect for him.
Old 04-20-10, 09:22 AM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

Why, sounds like they had a falling out. DJ Premier's name is bigger than the Gangstarr name. He doesnt need to use Jeru the damaja or Malachi the nutcracker or something to fill in as MC to go on tour as Gangstarr. It would be pretty pointless if it ever happened. I just don't see a big demand amongst show promoters for a 1990s act when 50% of the act is deceased. Premier will be able to feed himself.

Also, this Solar guy sounds like he could be a bit shady. The letter stopped just short of "I want solar to control all my assets"
Old 04-20-10, 11:41 AM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

I had heard about him being unwell a month or more ago.
Sad that he's passed. I loved the Jazzmatazz series.

And yes that letter is only the tiniest bit bitter.
Old 04-20-10, 12:25 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

RIP
Wasn't the biggest Gang Starr fan around, but I respected the jazzy creativity that Guru and company did.

About to listen to "Love Sick".
Old 04-20-10, 01:58 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

What letter?
Old 04-20-10, 02:00 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

They made some great hip-hop, back when I was into it.

Old 04-20-10, 02:04 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

His flow was silk and he will be missed!
Old 04-20-10, 02:22 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

I chant eenie meenie, minie moe
I wreck da mic like a pimp pimps ho's
Here's how it goes
I am a genius
I mean this
I shake this
You'll take this
I'm kind of fiendish

RIP to one of hip-hop's greatest.

Last edited by inri222; 04-20-10 at 02:25 PM.
Old 04-20-10, 02:58 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

Originally Posted by cranberries fan
His flow was silk and he will be missed!
It's mostly tha voice, that gets you up
It's mostly tha voice, that makes you buck
A lot of rappers got flavor, and some got skills
But if your voice ain't dope then you need to [chill... chill... ]
Old 04-20-10, 03:45 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

Mass Appeal and Just to Get a Rep. Two of the best beats in hip hop history. RIP Guru. You will be missed.
Old 04-20-10, 04:46 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

Originally Posted by Thrush
What letter?
The following message was written by Guru to his fans just before he died and was to be released upon his death:

"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 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 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."
Old 04-20-10, 04:58 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

There's a lot of weird shit going on behind the scenes with this guy Solar. He wouldn't let any of Guru's family see him in the hospital. Guru is completely abandoning old friendships for this guy. Just weird stuff. My theory throughout all of it has been that Guru actually is gay lovers with Solar, and Guru died of AIDS.

I love Gang Starr though, this is very sad news.
Old 04-20-10, 06:38 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

I do find a lot of this Solar stuff to be pretty freaking odd.
Old 04-20-10, 07:31 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

Guru's nephew talks about how Solar wouldnt let him or his family see Guru on his deathbed, the forgery of paperwork, the frustration. Sickening.
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Old 04-21-10, 11:03 AM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

The sole founder of Gang Starr? Really? I know DJ Premier wasn't around in Gang Starr's earliest days, but it's not like Guru started it by myself; there was a different DJ and some random producers. After that incarnation of Gang Starr broke up Guru recruited DJ Premier.

It's a shame that their relationship was so strained. They were pioneers and what classic Hip Hop is all about. I haven't listened to them in years, but "Step In The Arena," "Mass Appeal," "Full Clip," "The Militia," and "You Know My Steez" are favourites of mine.

R.I.P.

Will be interesting to see what happens with his estate, if the letter is authentic, etc.
Old 04-21-10, 09:05 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

As his nephew says, how can you write a letter like that while in a coma? Makes absolutely no sense. And then Solar writing down on paperwork that he is a relative? Isn't that fraud?

Solar wants control of his estate, INCLUDING Guru's son? Sounds like someone poisoned the medication just to increase awareness, and sales of Guru's now posthumous 8th solo album, conveniently coming out next month.

Whoever this Solar is (can't find a lot of info on him), sounds like some religious cult nut, that's how I see it as.
Old 04-23-10, 01:10 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

Sad news. Gang Starr's work was legendary. And the stuff going on with Solar is indeed suspect.

Official Statement From DJ Premier On The Passing Of Guru
Posted April 21st 2010 at 11:44 PM by gimantalon

IT WAS A SAD DAY FOR ME TO GET CONFIRMATION ON THE DEATH OF A MAN WHO I WILL CONTINUE TO CALL MY BROTHER, KEITH ELAM, BETTER KNOWN AS GURU OF THE LEGENDARY GANG STARR.

FROM 1988-2004, WE EXPERIENCED SO MUCH SUCCESS TOGETHER THAT WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR BUSINESSES INDEPENDENTLY AND GIVE EACH OTHER WHAT GURU CALLED “CREATIVE SPACE”, BEFORE PLANNING TO REUNITE FOR OUR 7TH LP WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT. TRAGICALLY, WE WILL NEVER REACH THAT DAY.

I’VE BEEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON A LETTER SPEAKING ILL OF ME WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY WRITTEN BY GURU IN HIS DYING DAYS. ALL I WILL SAY ABOUT IT IS THAT OUR TIME TOGETHER WAS BEAUTIFUL, WE BUILT A HIP HOP LEGACY TOGETHER, AND NO ONE CAN RE-WRITE HISTORY OR TAKE AWAY MY LOVE FOR HIM. ONE THING I WOULD NEVER DO IS PLAY AROUND WITH THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS LIFE.

I WILL CELEBRATE GURU’S LIFE… I WILL HONOR HIS MEMORY… I WILL GRIEVE WITH THE ELAM FAMILY OVER HIS UNTIMELY DEATH… I WILL REMEMBER THE GANG STARR FOUNDATION AND ALL OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF GANG STARR WHO CAME BEFORE ME – WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER… MOSTLY, I WILL CHERISH EVERYTHING WE CREATED TOGETHER AS GANG STARR, FOREVER. I’M GONNA MISS HEARING HIS SIGNATURE MONOTONE VOICE WHEN HE WALKS IN THE ROOM, BUT THE SONGS WILL ALWAYS BRING IT BACK TO ME….HIS RHYME FLOWS WERE INSANE, AND I WILL NEVER REMOVE HIM FROM MY HEART AND SOUL…….REST IN PEACE TO THE MAN WHO FELT “SATISFACTION FROM THE STREET CROWD REACTION” … I LOVE YOU GOO…….DJ PREMIER

http://www.djpremierblog.com/2010/04...death-of-guru/
Old 04-25-10, 01:00 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

This is as big of a loss to hip hop as losing Christopher Wallace. It is a shame to have the list of great hip hop artists that have lost their lives in recent years: Big Pun, Big, 2Pac, Big L, Jam Master Jay and now Guru amongst others that I might have missed. Hopefully this will bring perspective to some of the younger artists that think that with success comes invincibility. RIP Guru as your voice will continue echo in my mind just as it did the first time I heard Just To Get A Rep.
Old 04-25-10, 01:28 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

Originally Posted by dsa_shea
This is as big of a loss to hip hop as losing Christopher Wallace. It is a shame to have the list of great hip hop artists that have lost their lives in recent years: Big Pun, Big, 2Pac, Big L, Jam Master Jay and now Guru amongst others that I might have missed. Hopefully this will bring perspective to some of the younger artists that think that with success comes invincibility. RIP Guru as your voice will continue echo in my mind just as it did the first time I heard Just To Get A Rep.
I don't know if I would classify the rappers you listed as having lost their lives in "recent" years. While it's a shame to see a hip hop legend like Guru pass, there is a BIG difference between his death and the ones you listed. With the exception of Jam Master Jay, the others you listed all died during the prime of their careers with a lot left to offer.

Other major artists that passed...
  • Eazy-E (NWA was on the way out, but still...)
  • Ol' Dirty Bastard (Poised to make a comeback with Roc-A-Fella, not to mention the inevitable Wu-Tang reunion)
  • Pimp C (Right after he got out of prison and reunited with Bun B)
  • Proof (Immensely talented, released an amazing solo debut, then died soon after)

But with all of them (aside from Proof), you could still make the argument that they didn't die in the "prime" of their careers, like 2Pac, Biggie, Big L, etc.

As far as new artists are concerned, I'd say Stack Bundles was the greatest loss. That is a perfect example of someone who died in the prime of their career, right when they were about to make it big. Real shame there.

Last edited by kstublen; 04-25-10 at 01:35 PM.
Old 04-25-10, 01:43 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

Wow, DVDtalk actually has some hip hop fans on here?


Guru was a legend.... R.I.P
Old 04-25-10, 01:46 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

As long as a rapper has his or her voice they can still make albums. Despite Guru being close to 49 years old there were talks of another Gang Starr album coming to fruition at some point. Aside from that he was still involved with his Jazzmatazz series which has its following. You don't have to be twenty years old and be on the cusp of greatness to be sorely missed when you're gone. In fact the ones that have already delivered greatness and then have their voice taken away before old age hits them are the ones that I miss the most.
Old 04-25-10, 02:45 PM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

Originally Posted by dsa_shea
As long as a rapper has his or her voice they can still make albums.
They can still make albums, but that isn't always a good thing. Sometimes it is better to call it quits instead of trying to stay relevant. There's plenty of early hip hop artists that are legends in their own right but I just can't see releasing material today and it being as good or as relevant.

Originally Posted by dsa_shea
Despite Guru being close to 49 years old there were talks of another Gang Starr album coming to fruition at some point. Aside from that he was still involved with his Jazzmatazz series which has its following. You don't have to be twenty years old and be on the cusp of greatness to be sorely missed when you're gone. In fact the ones that have already delivered greatness and then have their voice taken away before old age hits them are the ones that I miss the most.
In no way am I diminishing his talent or how big a loss this is to the hip hop community. Instead, I'm saying that there is a fundamental difference between losing Guru at age 49, who released 6 albums under Gang Starr and about 6 solo albums, and losing The Notorious B.I.G. at 24, who released 1 solo album and was working on his second album before he died.

Guru had over 20 years to make music and do what he loved; Biggie Smalls had 5, Big L had 7 or 8, 2Pac had 8. There's a big difference between losing Guru and losing those three...at least he had the chance to have a full career, whereas their careers were cut unusually short.
Old 04-26-10, 08:41 AM
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Re: Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer

Got this off another site, not sure what the exact address of the following link is, but let the conspiracy begin:

http://diaryofahollywoodstreetking.c...tory-rip-guru/

The Real Gang Starr Story: RIP GURU


The rap group “Gang Starr” was born in Boston, after Big Shug gave it life with partner Keith Elam now known as “Guru”. At that time Big Shug and Guru were faced with the financial hurdle of funding their studio sessions, so they came up with a plan to solve that obstacle with a robbery plan…that plan was for “Big Shug” to do the jack and “Guru” serve as the getaway driver, but that didn’t work. Know why? Because when “Shug” was doing the robbery, “Guru” ended up getting scared and took off. So, the robbery got muffled and “Big Shug” did a three-year sentence for robbery.
While “Shug” was in jail “Guru” moved to New York City. There, he ran into “DJ Premier” who just came from Houston Texas. Together, they formed the now legendary group known as “Gang Starr”.
Gang Starr was doing well, and when “Big Shug” returned from prison “Guru” and “Premo” were rightly breaking him off paper. But here’s something what you may not know (which I always knew) Guru, whose real name is Keith Elam, was a homosexual, and he started dating a well-known homosexual from Brooklyn New york named “DJ Solar”. Solar (real name John Barry Mo’Sher) ended up breaking up “Gang Starr” because he pulled Guru away from the talented “DJ Premier”, word is Solar wanted Guru all for himself. I know this because I used to book shows for “Guru & Solar” and dude use to beat on “Guru” I swear!!! I personally witnessed someone walking in on Solar giving Guru a proper beating behind closed doors.
Sources close to HSK were touring Europe with Guru, Solar, and DJ Doo Wop & Kool Keith with Kutmasta Kurt in Fall 2005. At that time the groups had an extended week long stay in the Spanish Canary Islands off the coast of Africa. Guru happily lounged with Solar in his flip flops and swimming trunks downing Hennessy straight and snorting blow by the eightball. This is the same event where Kutmasta Kurt got his nose busted breaking up a fight between Kool Keith’s crew and a concert goer after the show. Matter of fact “Real Connections” still owes about 20,000 euros from that event.
Just this past February, Guru suffered a heart attack leaving him in a comatose state into March. That’s when Solar reportedly kept Guru’s family away from him, because he wanted full control. My sources even tell me that this “Solar” guy didn’t allow doctors to treat “Guru” properly.
When I woke up this morning, I heard the sad news that 43-year-old “Guru” had died yesterday (April 19. 2010), from cancer.
I went into complete silence, and said to myself “Life is too short.” Now, sources are telling me “Solar” is stealing royalties from the group “Gang Starr”. I guess “Solar” got “Guru” to sign over the rights to his name. To make matters worse, “Solar” is saying “Guru” left a letter to all his fans. He says in that letter (printed below), he (Guru) doesn’t want anything to do with his long time collaborator “DJ Premier” even in death…WTF!?!
This “Solar” guy seems to think we’re all a bunch of idiots. Because, “Guru” wouldn’t say any shit like that while on his death bed. “Guru’s” nephew has been speaking about this matter for a while now. Don’t believe me? Ask DJ Premier.
This may all sound harsh, but in fact Jacky and all HSK staff have a deep respect for Guru. One key component that separates Hollywood Street from any other industry blog is that we tell the truth no matter how much it may hurt or damage false images about an art we hold dear. Other sites would never report the truth rather they further perpetuate falsities.
Today I’ll remember Guru as I listen to the third “Gangstarr” album “Daily Operation”…I always liked the song “Take It Personal”. RIP GURU!!!

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