Guru 1966-2010

American rapper and founder of the East Coast hip-hop duo Gang Starr, Guru (born Keith Elam) died on April 19 after a long battle with cancer. The influential rapper released 6 successful records with Gang Starr before launching a critically acclaimed and star-studded jazz-hip hop fusion series called Jazzmatazz. He was just 43.

A gifted lyricist, Guru first found success delivering uncompromising rhymes as one half of the street-wise socially-conscious rap group Gang Starr in the early 90s. Highly respected in New York's underground rap scene, the group would grab the attention of critics and fans worldwide with the perfectly matched vocal stylings and jazz samplings of 1992's DAILY OPERATION. 1998's MOMENT OF TRUTH would secure their place as rap veterans, hitting the top of the charts with more contemporary tracks like "You Know My Steez," "The Militia" and what critics lauded as some of Guru's best rhymes ever.

In 1993, Guru would launch a solo career, fusing live jazz and hip hop in what would be the first in a series of 4 Jazzmatazz records. Skillfully smooth and intelligent, the album and its successors helped legitimize hip-hop with its unique sound and a veritable who's who in jazz, hip hop, and R'N'B. Collaborators included icons such as Branford Marsalis, Donald Byrd, Roy Ayers and Ronny Jordan, N'Dea Davenport of the Brand New Heavies, Herbie Hancock, Issac Hayes, members of Jamiroquai, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Macy Gray, Ice-T, Pete Rock, members of Naughty by Nature and more.

In a farewell letter to fans, Guru wrote,"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."

Guru's legacy is already being immortalized by legions of fans and famous followers.

Guru's Official Site

Guru's Myspace