Guru of Gangstarr loses his fight with cancer

toasty_T · April 20, 2010, 2:51pm

(AllHipHop News) Legendary Gangstarr artist Guru has succumbed to cancer after a lengthy bout with the disease.

The artist, born Keith Elam, died on Monday April 19. He was 43 years old.

Solar, Guru’s partner, expressed sadness over the loss.

“The world has lost one of the best MCs and Hip-Hop icons of all-time – my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru,” Solar said in a statement. "Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle! This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it, but tragically, this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius.

Guru, a Boston native, rose to fame in the 80’s as one half of Gangstarr, the iconic rap group with DJ Premier.

The group released six highly regarded albums in their tenure until 2003 when they broke up. After his successful run with Premier, Guru founded 7 Grand Records with producer Solar.

Solar went on to tend to the rapper as he fell ill, seemingly controlling the flow of information and access to Guru. Many of his family members complained that they were denied their right to see him.

Solar also said that Guru wrote a letter to fans and sent it out through a press agency.

“For the fans that reached out with love and support, I can’t tell you how much that meant to Guru and myself. Guru prepared this letter (read below) while he was in the hospital for the fans,” the producer continued. “I hope now that Guru has moved on to a better place.”

In the letter, seen below, the rapper explains his illness, expresses gratitude to supporters and offers some parting words for DJ Premiere.

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 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. As the sole founder of GangStarr, I am very proud of what GangStarr 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. Solar and I have toured in places that I have never been before with GangStarr or Jazzmatatazz 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.

AllHipHop.com sends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Keith Elam.

http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2010/04/20/22177912.aspx

Real shame. I was listening to Moment of Truth just the other day.

Him and Premo were one of the best duos to do it imo

The_Mullah · April 20, 2010, 3:16pm

one of the few rappers i found truly timeless, this is sad.

kaz · April 20, 2010, 3:23pm

Wow. This is truly sad. I was just listening to Jazzamatazz Vols 1 & 2 the other day. RIP.

El_Chupa_Negro · April 20, 2010, 3:27pm

Wow my heart just broke right now. I can’t believe this just happened.

thurst · April 20, 2010, 3:52pm

i mean RIP and all, but the nigga sounds like a bitter asshole.

Amordien · April 20, 2010, 4:02pm

I don’t think this is all of the story. I don’t trust Solar one bit, and Premo had been by the hospital and was the first one to release a statement concerning Guru’s health, only to have it counteracted by Solar speaking for Guru. I don’t trust this fucking snake, nor do I buy that letter. You mention Solar four times and your son once? Really? I call bullshit.

Regardless, R.I.P. to one of the greats. Guess we’ll never know.

thurst · April 20, 2010, 4:15pm

even before he got sick guru was on some “fuck premo” shit though, refusing to say the nigga’s name and shit.

toasty_T · April 20, 2010, 4:21pm

I hold some skepticism too. Guru would have been heavily medicated and to have come out of a coma to announce he’s severing all ties Premo and praise Solar to the heavens is highly suspect.

I saw the video with Guru’s nephew talking about how he couldn’t see his uncle because Solar was posing as a family member and not allowing anyone else in. What a tragedy.

Pertho · April 20, 2010, 5:04pm

Man, in times of death people do some really scummy shit. I like their music, my best friend is a huge fans so this is just shitty.

Last week Type-o Negative, this week Gangstarr, next week Bad Religion or the Toasters have a death. April is just angry at music.

maxx · April 20, 2010, 5:06pm

r.i.p muthafucka is a legend in the bean and a legend in general.

MUSOLINI · April 20, 2010, 5:12pm

fuck man one of the few mc’s i respected, his gangstarr shit was on the highest level. rip, and fuck solar with a big ass butcher knife. i hope his son does get the royalties his daddy earned for him. what a way 2 wake up.

mtsac_kid · April 20, 2010, 5:54pm

RIP Guru
Moment Of Truth is one of my favorite albums ever

Geese_Pants · April 20, 2010, 6:16pm

OMG…that just ruined my day.
I was listening to some old tracks of Gangstarr.

RIP.

Drfatality · April 20, 2010, 6:16pm

R.I.P. To Guru,I was bumping Moment Of Truth last night.It’s a sad day today

hubcapsignstop · April 20, 2010, 6:17pm

wow rip.
Last time I saw him (~4 years?) I said he looked like he had cancer. I didnt recognize him.

And I bet there is a tragic story behind that sham letter.

dwd · April 20, 2010, 6:26pm

was guru gay?

Cheech_Wizard · April 20, 2010, 6:39pm

I don’t even know what to say,this is terrible.I guess we can all pay respects by playing Guru’s and Gang Starr’s music as much as possible.

My favourite Gang starr songs are [media=youtube]3V8gXmORTCQ"]DWCYK,Mass Appeal and [URL=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IoPeNC4k_0”[/media].

Also my favourite track from the Jazzmatazz series is [media=youtube]UT4kP7INq4U"[/media] from Jazzmatazz Vol.1

R.I.P

P.S that letter is fishy as hell

BIGWORM · April 20, 2010, 7:33pm

Moment of Truth was my favorite track from them.

Guru will be missed.

maxx · April 20, 2010, 7:37pm

does it matter? doesnt take away from his talent.

Digital · April 20, 2010, 7:50pm

Yes he was. Found out myself today… its a shame.