Music | April 20, 2010 | 30 comments

Gang Starr's Guru Dead At 43

source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1637388/20100420/gang_starr.jhtml

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Guru wrote his farewell letter while in the hospital, according to Solaar. "I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world," it begins. "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 [of] myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own."

Guru very pointedly distanced himself from Premier in the letter, saying he didn't want his former musical collaborator to be able to participate in any tributes or events surrounding his death.

"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," wrote Guru. "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 Gang Starr, I am very proud of what Gang Starr 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 Gang Starr or Jazzmatazz 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."
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30 comments // Gang Starr's Guru Dead At 43

  • IMMININT
  • SPIRIT_GUM
    • 0
      SPIRIT_GUM  

    • When I think of Gangstarr...one of the things I think of is the magic that is created by chemistry when different forces join together to create art. Guru is the greatest MC to EVER walk this earth...and DJ Premier is my favorite DJ of all time. Each of them a force on their own...but when they created art together a magic/chemistry was created that can't really be described in words. The collaboration was the definition of bravado..it was visceral/palpable...and cut right through to your soul. The sound was not manipulated-assembled by greedy corporate fingers tying to make homogenized hip-hop for the charts/masses. Gangstarr was the TRUTH. Long live counterculture. Long live the underground. REST IN PEACE GURU.

    • 3 years ago
  • GoD_Loves_UgLy
    • +1
      GoD_Loves_UgLy  

    • The GURU will be missed, his music was a big inspiration to me. It spawned an underground revolution. It is because of Gangstarr that I don't listen to the whack bulls@#t on the radio. The music we hear today is created for profit, there is no creativity within the mainstream. Gangstarr was different then anything I had ever heard. I love Gangstarr's music and I will continue to play it through my speakers until the day I die. Gangstarr now, Gangstarr forever.

      Rest In Peace
      To the God, the Great, the GURU.

    • 3 years ago
  • SPIRIT_GUM
    • 0
      SPIRIT_GUM  

    • REST IN PEACE GURU/The world has lost the best MC to ever walk the earth. A true poet/icon/visionary/genius lyricist/genius flow. I can't believe this man is gone. Nobody's voice/lyrics sound like his/resonate on a mic like his. He is truly now above the clouds.

      "Above the crowds
      above the clouds
      where the sounds are original
      infinite skills create miracles
      warrior spiritual
      Above the clouds raining down
      Holdin it down" -GURU-

    • 3 years ago
  • furryjenn
  • spyder1
  • keithponder
  • WILLJD
  • Dejan_Croatia
    • 0
      Dejan_Croatia  

    • MAN I CANT BELIEVE THIS HOMIE DIED, ONE OF THE IF NOT THE BEST RAPPER EVER, IMA MISS THIS MOTHERFUCKER THE RAP AND HIP-HOP GAME IS GONNA MISS YA HOMIE.

      IMA MISS YA LIKE A MOTHERFUCKER I WAS DOWN WITH U SINCE I FIRST HEARD U AND IM STILL DOWN WITH YA G. PEACE AND LOVE

    • 3 years ago
  • irtehjoe
  • umojaresearch
    • -3
      umojaresearch  

    • People die from AIDS and Cancer because they do not know the Truth. If Guru had known the Truth he would still be alive.

      Cancer in the USA was cured from the early 1900’s to current 2010. Every Doctor and Holistic Practitioner who cured Cancer had their lives destroyed for exposing the Truth about Cancer. Those who cured AIDS have been persecuted as well.

      For those of you willing to survive, proper Diet is the remedy, or cure and that has been known for over seven thousand years. The reason the Truth is hidden is because your cure only costs pennies on the dollar.

      Some of the people who cured Cancer and AIDS are, Dr. Royal Raymond Rife, Holistic Practitioner Harry Hoxsey, Dr. William F. Koch, Dr. Ernest T Krebs, Dr. Max Gerson, Dr. Johanna Budwig, Dr.Gaston Nessens, Dr Seibe, Dr. Paul Goss and the list goes on.

      Hopefully you brothers and sisters will open your eyes to the Truth and not be fooled by the lies which conceal those truths.

      To your Good Health

      Hotep,

      John Burns
      UMOJA Research
      Los Angeles

    • 3 years ago
  • Shevonne_Polastre
  • HONESTY
    • 0
      HONESTY  

    • It's okay though
      cuz from gray skies come blue
      through darkness comes light
      and I be known as the Guru
      and this i certify we all should be alerted
      by the traps within the system our youth is gettin murdered...

      ...of course I know that I'm a role model
      but yo this rap life is real life
      sometimes its full throttle...

      ...thats why you gotta regulate your own mind state
      read, study lessons and build your inner power
      the next level, doesnt tolerate cowards...

      ...I vow to myself that ima change this shit
      or atleast I gotta try
      or part of me will die
      and only by action will any idea solidify

      JFK 2 LAX off of
      Moment of Truth
      one of my favorite hip-hop albums,
      well top 50 for sure

    • 3 years ago
  • D_Roman
  • lifestudentno83
  • TypicalStereotype
  • missionaryhunter
  • KSirys
  • chivideoguy
  • cons_Objector
  • franklinpeanut
  • picKFishStudios
  • device80
  • Jahvega
    • 0
      Jahvega  

    • He was good, amongst the all-stars of 90's hip-hop, he's laid back delivery with easy or complex lyric. better then most out today.

    • 3 years ago
  • Mister_Lackner
  • yepyep
  • yepyep
  • lifestudentno83
    • 0
      lifestudentno83  
    • yepyep:

      Solaar was doing some scandalous shit on the side... I don't think he was trustworthy.

      He might have written that letter as well, since it seems odd to me that he would come out of a coma and address some gangstarr shit instead of some more pressing matters. You wouldn't be thinking about some petty shit like that on your deathbed, especially not a thought-provoking individual like Guru.

    • 3 years ago
  • DamonAkbar
    • +1
      DamonAkbar  

    • I chant eenie meenie, minie moe
      I wreck da mic like a pimp pimps hoes
      Here's how it goes I am a genius I mean this
      I shake this you'll take this
      I'm kinda fiendish
      You wish that you could come into my neighborhood
      Meaning my mental state
      Still I'm 5 foot 8
      Crazy as I wanna be
      Cause I make it orderly
      You could say I'm sorta da boss so get lost
      The brotha dat will make you change opinions
      Dominions I'm in them when it's time to kick shit from
      The heart, plus I get a piece of the action
      I'm feelin satisfaction from the street crowd reaction
      Chumps pull guns when they feel afraid, too late
      When they dip in the kick they get sprayed
      Lemonade was a popular drink and in still is
      I get more props den stunts den Bruce Willis
      A poet like Langston Hughes and can't lose when I cruise
      Out on the expressway
      Leavin the Bodega I say "suave"
      Premier's got more beats den barns got hay
      Clips are inserted into my gun
      So I can take the money, neva have ta run

      GURU IS THE TRUTH!

    • 3 years ago
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