Guru (rapper)
Guru |
---|
Keith Elam (July 17, 1961[1] – April 19, 2010),[2][3] better known by his stage name Guru, was an American emcee and member of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr, along with DJ Premier. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts.[4] 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. He is also known for lending his voice for 8-Ball in Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
Biography
Early years
Keith Elam was born in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. His father, Harry, was a judge and his mother, Barbara, was the co-director of libraries in the Boston public school system. He attended Noble and Greenough in Dedham, Massachusetts for high school. [5] Elam graduated in business administration from Morehouse College in Atlanta[6] and took graduate classes in the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. He later dropped out to pursue a rap career. Elam worked briefly as a social worker.[5]
Musical career
Keith Elam began his rap career under the pseudonym, MC Keithy E, but later changed name to Guru.[5] He founded Gang Starr in 1987. The group initially released three records on the Wild Pitch Records record label.While on Wild Pitch, DJ Mark the 45 King handled initial production.[6] After a change in line-up, the group consisted of rapper Elam and DJ Premier, then releasing their first LP "No More Mr. Nice Guy" under the Wild Pitch moniker.; they achieved a sizable following and released six critically acclaimed and influential albums from 1989 to 2003.[5] 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.[5] Gang Starr made "archetypal East Coast rap" with Guru's rapping described as sharp eyed but anti-ostentatious.[5][6]
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, MC Solaar, and Roy Ayers and received positive reviews.[7] 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.[8]
Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures (2005) was produced entirely by Solar (not to be confused with MC Solaar). The album reached #54 on the Billboard R&B albums charts and received mixed reviews.[9]
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 album was planned but will never be released due to Guru's death.[10]
Death
On February 28, 2010, Guru went into cardiac arrest and, following surgery, fell into a coma.[11][12] It was claimed that Guru had briefly awakened from his coma[13] but died on April 19, 2010, at the age of 48, from cancer.[14] Elam was survived by his parents, three siblings and a son, Keith Casim.[5]
Solar claimed that Guru had awakened from his coma[15] though DJ Premier and members of the rapper's family stated that he never regained consciousness from his coma.[16] Guru's family claimed that Solar prevented them from contact with Guru during the latter's final illness.[17] The validity of the death-bed letter has been challenged by Guru's family.[18]
DJ Premier produced a tribute mix to Guru[19] and has released a public letter[20] along with Guru's sister Patricia Elam.[21] Harry J. Elam, Guru's older brother, wrote a personal memoir in remembrance of his brother, Keith “Guru” Elam, published in the Boston Globe on April 23, 2010.[22]
Discography
- Gang Starr albums are listed in the group's main article.
Albums
Album information |
---|
Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1
|
Guru Presents Ill Kid Records
|
Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality
|
Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul
|
Baldhead Slick & da Click
|
Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures
|
Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 4: The Hip Hop Jazz Messenger: Back to the Future
|
The Timebomb: Back To The Future Mixtape
|
The Best of Guru's Jazzmatazz
|
Guru 8.0: Lost and Found
|
Guest appearances
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
- 1990: "Jazz Thing" (from the soundtrack of Mo' Better Blues)
- 1991: "Qui Semé Le Vent Recolte Le Tempo (Gang Starr Remix)" (from a MC Solaar 12" single)
- 1992: "It's Getting Hectic" (from the Brand New Heavies album Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol. 1)
- 1993: "Patti Dooke" (from De La Soul album Buhloone Mindstate)
- 1993: "Season For Change" (from the Ronny Jordan album The Quiet Revolution)
- 1993: "Listen (Guru Remix)" (from a Urban Species 12" single)
- 1994: "Borough Check" (from the Digable Planets album Blowout Comb)
- 1994: "I've Lost My Ignorance" (from the Dream Warriors album Subliminal Simulation)
- 1994: "Black Monday" (from the Buckshot LeFonque single "Another Day")
- 1995: "B-Boy Mastermind" (from the DJ Krush album Krush) – This appears on the Japanese import only.
- 1995: "Serious Rap Shit" (from the Group Home album Livin' Proof)
- 1996: "Fed Up (Remix)" (from House of Pain album Truth Crushed to Earth Shall Rise Again)
- 1996: "Listen Here" (from The New Groove: The Blue Note Remix Project)
- 1999: "NY Niggaz" (from the Sway & King Tech album This or That)
- 1999: "Bare Witness" (from the Choclair album Ice Cold)
- 1999: "Whatever Happened to Gus" (Word to the Drums mix) (from the Medeski Martin & Wood album Combustication Remix EP)
- 2001: "Worst Comes to Worst" (from the Dilated Peoples album Expansion Team)
- 2002: "Karma" (from the Adam F 12" single also featuring Carl Thomas)
- 2003: "Condor (Espionage)" (from the DJ Cam album Soulshine)
- 2003: "Knowledge of Self" (from the BT album Emotional Technology)
- 2005: 5 songs from the Big Shug album Never Say Die
- 2006: "Junk" (from the Ferry Corsten album L.E.F.)
- 2007: "Major Game" (from the Domingo album The Most Underrated)
- 2008: "Watucamehere 4" (from the Downsyde albums All City)
Filmography
- Grand Theft Auto III (2001) as 8-Ball[23]
- Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005) as 8-Ball
- The Substitute 2: School's Out (1998) as Little B.
- Train Ride (2000) as Jay
- 3 A.M. (2001) as Hook-Off
- Urban Massacre (2002) as Cereal Killah
- Kung Faux (2003) as Voice Over/Various
- Who's the Man? (1993) as Martin Lorenzo
References
- ^ Keith “Guru” Elam's passport scan
- ^ DJ Premier. “Register For The Legendary Guru” (April 20, 2010). DJ Premier Blog. Retrieved from [1] on April 20, 2010.
- ^ Gang Starr rapper Guru dies at 48, CBS News. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
- ^ Other reliable sources, such as Gang Starr Biography at Allmusic.com and MTV, indicate that he was born in 1966.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Guru, Rapper Known for Social Themes, Dies at 44". The New York Times. April 20, 2010. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Guru obituary". Guardian. April 21, 2010. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ "Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 > Overview". allmusic.com. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ "Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3 > Overview". allmusic.com. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ "Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures > Overview". allmusic.com. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ "Official Statement From Dj Premier On The Death Of Keith Elam… Guru « In Memory Of Kenneth Walker". Livefromheadqcourterz.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ "UPDATE: Guru Surgery Successful; Full Recovery Expected". Allhiphop.com. March 2, 2010.
- ^ "Gang Starr's Guru Goes Into Cardiac Arrest, In A Coma | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales". HipHopDX. 2010-03-05. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ Faraone, Chris (3 March 2010). “Hip-hop Legend [the] Guru out of Coma, Issues Press Release. The Boston Phoenix
- ^ "Gang Starr's Guru Dies of Cancer". Exclaim.ca. April 20, 2010. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
- ^ "Gang Starr Guru wakes from coma". Voice Online. 2010-03-31. Retrieved 2010-04-22.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (2010-04-21). "Guru's Family Releases Statement About His Death". MTV. Retrieved 2010-04-22.
- ^ "Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer | News". Nme.Com. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ "Gang Starr rapper Guru's family question 'death bed letter' | News". Nme.Com. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ "The Only Fansite Approved by DJ Premier » Blog Archive » Keith "Guru" Elam Tribute Mix by DJ Premier". DJ Premier Blog. 2010-04-24. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ "The Only Fansite Approved by DJ Premier » Blog Archive » Official Statement From DJ Premier On The Passing Of Guru". DJ Premier Blog. 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ "The Only Fansite Approved by DJ Premier » Blog Archive » Public Letter From Guru's Sister Patricia". DJ Premier Blog. 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ "Harry J. Elam Jr. - Remembering My Brother, Guru". boston.com. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ^ "In Memory of Keith Elam aka Guru". Rockstar Games. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
External links
- Template:Myspace
- Official Guru's Jazzmatazz site
- Please use a more specific IMDb template. See the documentation for available templates.
- Guru at WhoSampled