News On The D.L.
Guru Dies After Battle With Cancer.
After being hospitalized two months ago for an undisclosed illness, Gang Starr frontman, Guru – aka Keith Elam – died yesterday in what has been revealed as a lengthy battle with cancer, at the age of 43, according to DJPremierBlog.Com. While his illness has been shrouded in mystery and controversy over the last few weeks, it seems like the problems surrounding his death are just beginning.
His industry-hated business partner and producer, Solar, has been controlling the flow of information regarding Guru’s health, with family members and friends of Guru claiming that Solar has been blocking family members and friends from seeing Guru, and using the situation to propel his own business interests. In the wake of Guru’s death, a “final letter from Guru” has been released, courtesy of Solar. It reads:
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.
Needless to say, we’ll never know if these words were truly written by Guru, but given Solar’s incredulously poor reputation, let’s just say we doubt it. Federal investigation, anyone? Rest In Peace, Guru.
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Facebook comments:
I’m very saddened, but this Solar business is highly suspect.
“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.”
Really, Guru wrote this? If he did I’m shocked.
Man. I am a 32 year caucasian from Canada who grew up on Hip Hop. And today I feel like a school girl whose favorite band has broken up. This is indeed a sad day. All the things Guru contributed to Hip Hop, from Gangstarr, the GS Foundation, Jazzmatazz, Baldhead slick, etc. The man truly loved this culture, as is evident by his musical contributions and footprint in Hip Hop.
I only hope his name and legacy isn’t tarnished because of his association with a douche bag.
R.I.P. Guru, one of the best yet.
Seriously? Guru’s proudest achievement is Jazzmatazz 4? He’s only proud of the stuff he did with Solar? If that doesn’t scream bogus nothing else does.
I wanted to properly grieve before just being angry – but thank you, Solar, for making that impossible.
RIP Guru. You deserved so much better.
Pizzo put it best: Solar is a super pro-douchebag.
This is truly a sad day for hip-hop. Guru will forever live on through the countless classics that Gangstarr provided to us. His memory will live on but somehow it seems to me in the wake of all this transperant bullshit that has taken place with Solar it seems to me that Guru will never be able to rest in power. Solar fuck you very much for being a dispicable human being. When it comes time for you to pay for your actions may you forever be a tortured soul you scum bucket. As much as you hate it Gangstarr for life! Solar you will never ever come out from under the eclipse like shadow that Premo has cast on your insignificant life. RIP GURU!
RIP Guru. Die in a Fire Solar.
I am 34 years old. Gangstarr wasn’t the best group ever but they were my favorite. This shit got me fucked up. I had to close the door in my office at work. I was just listening to “Work” from moment of truth on my way to work yesterday. I remember walking to class in college pumping Moment of truth in my portable CD player. The dude actually said some things to help motivate a nigga when a class was kicking my ass in school. Gave a nigga some hope he could do that college shit cuz I dobuted at times. RIP “Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal”.
When of the MCs that got me into the Underground. Showed me there was more to this Hip Hop music then Mtv&Bet. RIP GURU.
Damn, this is a sad end to this whole shady business. RIP man and thanks for those dope Gangstarr joints…
RIP Guru, you will never be forgotten in the hearts of hip hop heads all across the globe.
To Solar,
Fuck you man.
Pthemt
Damn, I’m real sad to hear this. Guru was by far one of my favorite emcees. Jazzmataaz 1 and Moment of Truth will forever be on my rotation. He’ll be missed. Guru deserves more than this kind of drama and shadiness surrounding his death.
RIP Guru. You live on through your music.
Gangstarr is the reason I discovered Jazz music for myself. All I can say is thank you for the music Guru.
I remember when Gang Starr and their Foundation came to University of Wisconsin to rock it in 2000. I personally gave Guru dap. I’m an underground head so meeting Guru was like meeting Michael Jackson or Elvis.
As for that letter, it may not seem as fake as we “hope” it is. In his last interviews, Guru strictly refused to talk about Gang Starr and kept praising Solar. But it still seems fishy. I hope this isn’t the last we hear about this.
RIP Guru
You were a true hip hop legend. It’s a shame MC’s today don’t have a clue who he is.
I hope Guru’s family responds to the “final letter from Guru”. I don’t trust anything Solar says or what’s released solely by him. That doesn’t sound like something Guru would say to end it all. Looks like Solar’s looking for a major pay day via the Guru tribute show.
And you’d be happy as hell to get a record deal/maybe a soul you’d sell to have Mass Appeal/
Horrible News, just found out. Guru was one of the best MCs of all time. Great flow, voice, lyrics with mad wisdom. We’ll miss him. But the ? remains. Would Guru, who’s always been a straight up dude, poised and dignified be dissing his most significant and ledgendary collaborator on his death bed? I’m not buying it at all. What kind of Cancer was this? Does anyone know? He was a cigarette smoker wasn’t he? Such a shame. RIP Guru.
R.I.P. Guru
You will be truly missed. Your spirit will live on forever in hip hop.
Solar, your a bitch.
Anyone notice that all the tweets and letters that ‘Guru wrote’ are written exactly the same as the info about Solar on the 7 grand website?
I think all Gangstarr fans should get together and make a trip to see Solar.
Peace Guru.
who the fucc is solar??????