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.
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
One of the best emcee's of all time passed on yesterday.
He and DJ Premier were pioneers in hip hop, especially the grimey and witty unique East coast sound that spear headed decades of music.
One part of the legendary Gang Starr, his work continued even after the split.
One of my favorites, I grew up listening to their music.
He influenced hip hop in a way few could and fewer will be able to match.
Hip hop and music in general has lost one of it's great heavy weights.
You're gone but won't be forgotten.
Rest in peace Guru.
Code of the Streets
Above the Clouds
Full Clip
Loungin'
Skillz
Dwyck
You Know My Steez
The Piece Maker
*Rich and JJ, I know this could have went in Random Thoughts Thread, but I really felt it deserved a thread of it's own, please don't lock this.
