Whilst many have questioned the circumstances surrounding the passing of Keith Elam – better known as pioneering hip-hop artist Guru – to focus primarily on these would be doing this ground-breaking and well-respected artist a major injustice. Hip-hop has lost a great man and frankly, all bullshit aside, his contribution to the genre and legacy should be celebrated without coming second to any ‘news,’ gossip or drama surrounding this tragic moment of loss...
After rising to recognition as the founding member of Gang Starr, Guru quickly became acknowledged within the hip-hop community for his distinctive voice and meaningful lyrics. As part of the pioneering, critically-acclaimed duo, he contributed a number of the quintessential hip-hop tracks of the 90s, including classic joints such as ‘Words I Manifest,’ ‘Mass Appeal,’ ‘Ex Girl to the Next Girl,’ ‘DWYCK’ and ‘Take It Personal'.
Despite hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, Guru – especially in his earlier works – embodied the grittiness of the New York hip-hop scene during the nineties, although don’t get it twisted this was rap with soul. Following the disbandment of Gang Starr in the mid-00’s he worked extensively on his solo material, which is considered underrated by many and not widely recognised for its depth or experimentalism. His love affair with Jazz-inspired hip-hop, which manifested not only in his Gang Starr work but also his own ‘Jazzmatazz’ series, helped bridge the generation gap between the two genres. His projects were complimented by what he described as “real, mutual respect collaborations” with a number of diverse artists from soulful singers Angie Stone and Erykah Badu to popular francophone emcee MC Solaar (not to be confused with his business partner Solar).
The word versatility is used far too often within the industry today, but Guru was the very embodiment of the term lending his signature vocals to everything from battle tracks to social commentaries and vivid hip-hop ballads with intricate plotlines. ‘A poet like Langston Hughes,’ the emcee always had meaningful undertones and messages in even his simplest rhymes; he was not a rapper for the sake of being so but a genuine lyricist, a storyteller and an insightful man with a great deal to say. Hip-hop may have lost a great artist but his undeniable legacy will undoubtedly live on through his words for a great many years to come.
“A great rapper can stand the test of time, I got some props but now I want the rest of mine.”
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