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Offline Tallman

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Rapper Guru dies after battle with cancer
« on: April 21, 2010, 05:53:51 AM »
Rapper Guru dies after battle with cancer
By Lisa Respers (CNN)


According to his friend and producer Solar, it was the love of the fans that helped keep rapper Guru going.

"I would read him the e-mails that would come in and play him the voicemails," Solar told CNN. "I really do believe that was part of the reason why he was able to go on as long as he did."

The 43-year-old rapper succumbed to complications from cancer on Monday at Good Samaritan Hospital near New York City, Solar said. There had been an outpouring of support from fans in March when it was reported Guru had a stroke and had been hospitalized.

Solar, a long-time collaborator of the artist, said Guru chose not to go public with the diagnosis of myeloma that was made more than a year ago.

"Guru has been in and out of hospitals since last July," Solar said. "It was his wishes to keep it private. We really thought he would be able to beat it."

Born Keith Elam, the rapper was well-respected in the industry for his rhyme style. He rose to fame in the 1980s as one half of the duo Gang Starr, in which he shared the spotlight with his partner, DJ Premier.

He later broke out and found solo success with his series of "Jazzmatazz" albums, where he combined hip-hop and jazz. His collaborations with jazz greats, including Branford Marsalis and Roy Ayers, helped cement Guru's reputation in the music industry.

Solar released a letter he said Guru had written to fans with instructions that it be distributed at the time of his death.

"As the sole founder of Gang Starr, I am very proud of what Gang Starr has meant to the music world and fans," the letters said. "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."

Jackie O. Asare, president and chief executive officer of 4Sight Media Relations, which formerly handled publicity for Guru, released a statement praising the rapper for his artistry.

"We honor Guru for leaving us with music that reaches into higher places, for coloring outside the lines of hip-hop, and recognizing the musical masters who inspired him," she said. "Through Guru's eyes, there was no division between hip-hop and jazz, hip-hop and neosoul, hip-hop and history."

Solar said he is sure Guru would much rather be remembered for his music than the controversy that surrounded him in his last days.

Before his death, there were reports that the producer was keeping Guru's family from visiting and speculation that he was controlling the ill rapper.

In the letter Solar says Guru wrote for his fans, it says: "I do not wish my ex-DJ [DJ Premier] 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."

Solar said Guru was aware of the strife, which included at one point Guru's nephew, Justin Nicholas-Elam Ruff, posting on YouTube to complain about the family's lack of access to the rapper.

"I had no control over who could see Guru, but there were times he was in [the Critical Care Unit] and he was unable to see people," Solar said. "Any man at that point in their life has a right to decide who he wants around him and who he doesn't."

Solar said that as per the rapper's wishes, Guru will be cremated. There are plans to hold a tribute concert, which he said will bring everyone together, including fans, family and all those who worked with Guru.

The producer said a nonprofit organization, Each One Counts, was set up by Guru. Focused on disadvantaged youth, the nonprofit has been expanded to aid in cancer research.

The rapper would want his legacy to be the music, Solar said.

"We were making music that was experimental and cutting edge at a time when there was a lack of such music out there," Solar said. "He lived life, and he loved all music."
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Offline Dutty

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Re: Rapper Guru dies after battle with cancer
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2010, 06:32:27 AM »
WDF?!?!!?....man dead young oui
real real ironic, I runnin mih gangstarr double CD in de car for the past week.

monotone flow but talented...had no idea him and preem was at war
« Last Edit: April 21, 2010, 06:52:53 AM by Dutty »
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Offline daryn

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Re: Rapper Guru dies after battle with cancer
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2010, 07:48:13 AM »
I think I recall hearing that the man was in a coma or something so a lil while back.  The cancer news came as a real shock.

The quotes from the letter are eyebrow-raising.  The man going outta he way to make it clear he was the talent in the group. 


Offline Dutty

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Re: Rapper Guru dies after battle with cancer
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2010, 08:32:22 AM »
The quotes from the letter are eyebrow-raising.  The man going outta he way to make it clear he was the talent in the group. 



I decide to google what cause de gangstarr riff...from de lil quick read dat solaar fellah seem like ah real bacchanalist
like dat 'le bien, le mal' track was a real pre-cursor of tings to come
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Offline Trini _2026

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Re: Rapper Guru dies after battle with cancer
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2010, 02:08:17 PM »
his dad is from Trinidad i think
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Offline fari

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Re: Rapper Guru dies after battle with cancer
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2010, 02:27:57 PM »
was shock when i hear this yesterday...didnt know he and premier was at war either.   a real dread group back in de day...code of the streets was one of his baddest tracks boy, the beat, flow...real underated mc if u ask me

Offline Bitter

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Re: Rapper Guru dies after battle with cancer
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2010, 02:51:58 PM »
The quotes from the letter are eyebrow-raising.  The man going outta he way to make it clear he was the talent in the group. 



I decide to google what cause de gangstarr riff...from de lil quick read dat solaar fellah seem like ah real bacchanalist
like dat 'le bien, le mal' track was a real pre-cursor of tings to come

Is not the same fella.

This Solar dude is a trip though. I expecting lawsuits soon.
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Offline Bakes

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Re: Rapper Guru dies after battle with cancer
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2010, 05:23:11 PM »
Damn!

After Tribe, Gangstarr is my favorite group but I been so out ah de loop di'n even know he was sick or beefin' with Primo.

RIP Guru... and yeah, his dad is Trini... judge in Boston.

Offline Trini _2026

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Re: Rapper Guru dies after battle with cancer
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2010, 11:21:52 AM »
Gang Starr rapper Guru's family question 'death bed letter'

Rapper 'never regained consciousness' before his death, family say

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.

The 47-year-old, real name Keith Elam, died on April 19 from cancer. He had been in a coma since February.

Elam's family released a statement to DJpremierblog.com, the website of his former Gang Starr partner DJ Premier. 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.
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Offline Trini _2026

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Re: Rapper Guru dies after battle with cancer
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2010, 11:22:42 AM »
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/U76Nde6rMTw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/U76Nde6rMTw</a>
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Offline Trini _2026

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Re: Rapper Guru dies after battle with cancer
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2010, 11:27:54 AM »
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/YDu5bhiPGmE" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/YDu5bhiPGmE</a>


OH MY FAVORITE
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Offline Tallman

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Re: Rapper Guru dies after battle with cancer
« Reply #11 on: May 03, 2010, 01:43:52 PM »
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/a1-4I5dLLD0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/a1-4I5dLLD0</a>
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Offline Dutty

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Re: Rapper Guru dies after battle with cancer
« Reply #12 on: May 04, 2010, 07:11:17 AM »
always liked that track, you woudnt think a slow melody like that could be fused with a hiphop back beat
but it worked.
Little known fact: The online transportation medium called Uber was pioneered in Trinidad & Tobago in the 1960's. It was originally called pullin bull.

 

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