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Guru (rapper)
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Guru (born Keith Elam, July 17, 1966 in the Boston Guru
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neighborhood of Roxbury) [note 1] is an American rapper
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and member of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr. He is known
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for delivering complex lyrics in a unique monotone style.
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Members of the hip-hop community[specify] consider him to
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be one of the pioneers of hiphop/jazz crossover. The name
Guru is a backronym that stands for "Gifted Unlimited
toolbox Rhymes Universal" and the less often used "God is
What links here Universal, he is the Ruler Universal".
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On February 28, 2010 Guru suffered a heart attack and
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went into a coma, and died March 1, 2010
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Contents [hide]
Permanent link
Cite this page 1 Background
2 Discography
languages 2.1 Jazzmatazz Albums
Dansk 2.2 Label Compilation (Various Artists)
Deutsch 2.3 Baldhead Slick All Star Album
Español 2.4 Solo Albums Background information
Français
3 Filmography Born July 17, 1966 (age 43)
Italiano Origin Roxbury, Massachusetts
4 Notes
Kiswahili
5 References Genres Hip Hop, Jazz
Polski
6 External links Occupations Rapper, Producer
Years active 1987–3/1/2010

Background Labels Wild Pitch Records (1987–

1990)
Founded in 1987, Gang Starr built a sizable following in the Virgin Records (1991–2003)
Ill Kid Records (1995-2005)
early 90's, releasing classic albums like Step in the Arena
7 Grand (2003–?)
(1991) and Daily Operation (1992). Guru's lyrical style is
Associated DJ Premier, Gangstarr,
based on battle rhymes delivered smoothly, modestly, and
acts Gangstarr Foundation,
with sly wit; he typically avoids using overwhelming Krumbsnatcha, Mr. Lif, MC
charisma, focusing instead on his rhyming ability, which Solaar, M.O.P., Solar

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Guru (rapper) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

developed into his trademark monotone style. Over the

years he has even taken on younger rappers, including Jeru the Damaja, as proteges. He is credited
with DJ Premier for executive producing Jeru's debut, The Sun Rises in the East (1994).
In 1993, he released his first solo album, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1. The album featured collaborations with
Donald Byrd, N'Dea Davenport and Roy Ayers, while his second LP, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New
Reality, featured Ramsey Lewis, Branford Marsalis and Jamiroquai. The Jazzmatazz albums are
commonly considered some of the best rap of the early 90s, Guru's reputation was also bolstered
through the continued success of Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul (2000) and Baldhead Slick & Da Click
(2001).
Moreover, recent Gang Starr albums have continued to garner Guru critical acclaim. Prominent Boston
underground rapper Mr. Lif frequently cites Guru as a major stylistic influence; he appears as a guest
with Lif on the Perceptionists' debut album, Black Dialogue (2005).
Besides Gang Starr, his Jazzmatazz and solo albums, Guru has collaborated with countless artists
since the early 90s. Not only in hiphop, but also with artists from various genres such as pop,
electronica/dance, acid jazz and even brass bands.
His "first proper solo album", in his own words, was Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures (2005), released
with the help of producer and new backup MC Solar (who is not to be confused with MC Solaar from
France). The album reached #1 on the college hip-hop charts, but was a failure with both fans and
critics. It still managed to sell relatively well for an independent release.
Guru's latest project is the fourth installment in the Jazzmatazz series, entirely produced by Solar. It
was released in early June 2007. May 19, 2008 Guru and Solar released Guru 8.0: Lost And Found. All
the projects produced by Solar were met with mixed but generally negative reviews by Critics and fans,
yet Guru states he will not work with DJ Premier again. [1]
Gang Starr's current status and future are unknown. Guru is currently living in Jersey City, NJ and
frequents Newport Skates in downtown Jersey City.

In 2007 Guru was ranked at 45 for the Top 50 MCs of our time: 1987-2007[2]
On February 28th 2010, Guru suffered a severe heart attack and is currently in a coma. Guru will
undergo surgery on March the 1st in LA. [3]
More on this topic is to be found in the main article for Gang Starr.

Discography
Gang Starr albums are listed in the group's main article.

Jazzmatazz Albums

Album information
Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1
Released: May 18, 1993
Billboard 200 chart position: #94
UK chart position: #58
R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #15
Singles: "Trust Me", "Loungin'", "No Time To Play" & "Le Bien, Le Mal"

Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality

Released: July 18, 1995
Billboard 200 chart position: #71
UK chart position: #12

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Guru (rapper) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #16

Singles: "Watch What You Say" & "Livin' In This World"

Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul

Released: September 26, 2000
Billboard 200 chart position: #32
UK chart position: #74
R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #8
UK chart position: #74
Singles: "Keep Your Worries", "Lift Your Fist", "Certified" & "Supa Love"

Jazzmatazz, Vol. 4: The Hip-Hop Jazz Messenger: Back To The Future

Released: June 5, 2007
Billboard 200 chart position: N/A
R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #45
Singles: "State Of Clarity"

Label Compilation (Various Artists)

Album information
Guru Presents Ill Kid Records
Released: 1995
Billboard 200 chart position: -
R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -
Singles: -

Baldhead Slick All Star Album

Album information
Baldhead Slick & Da Click
Released: September 25, 2001
Billboard 200 chart position: #122
R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #22
Singles: "Where's Our Money?!/In Here" & "Cry/Pimp Shit"

Solo Albums

Album information
Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures
Released: May 10, 2005
Billboard 200 chart position: -
R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: #54
Singles: "Cave In", "Step In The Arena 2" & "Hood Dreamin"

Guru 8.0: Lost and Found

Released: May 19, 2009
Billboard 200 chart position: -
R&B/Hip-Hop chart position: -

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Guru (rapper) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Singles: "Divine Rule", "Fastlane", "Ride", "After Time & "No Gimmick Sh*t"

Slightly Stoopid did a collaboration with Guru on their 2006 album Chronchitis. The song is called The
Otherside.

Filmography
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories 2005 as 8-Ball
Kung Faux 2003 as Voice Over/Various
Urban Massacre 2002 as Cereal Killah
Grand Theft Auto III 2001 as 8-Ball
3 A.M. 2001 as Hook-Off
Train Ride 2000 as Jay
The Substitute 2: School's Out 1998 as Little B.
Who's the Man? 1993 as Martin Lorenzo

Notes
1. ^ Several seemingly reliable sources state that he was born in 1966, e.g. Birchmeier, Jason "Gang Starr
Biography ", Allmusic, Macrovision Corporation, and "Afternoon Fix: Celebrity Birthdays ", MTV, retrieved 23
September 2008

References
This article includes a list of references, related reading or external
links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks
inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more
precise citations where appropriate. (August 2009)

1. ^ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.8028/title.guru-and-dj-solar-slated-to-release-album-in-
09
2. ^ http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/ss/Top50Emcees_2.htm
3. ^ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10731/title.gang-starrs-guru-goes-into-cardiac-arrest-
in-a-coma

This article includes a list of references or external links, but its

sources remain unclear because it has insufficient
inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing
more precise citations where appropriate. (March 2009)

External links
Guru (rapper) at MySpace
Guru & Solar interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' June 2009
Guru Waxpoetics Interview
guru7grand.net 7 Grand Records website
Official Guru's Jazzmatazz site
Guru at the Internet Movie Database
Guru Jazzmatazz interview
Guru and Solar Interview with ArtOfRhyme.com
Guru Interview with Britishhiphop.co.uk

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Guru (rapper) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Guru and Solar Interview with http://www.gowherehiphop.com 02.20.08

Guru Interview with http://www.style43.com

v • d  • e Gang Starr Foundation [hide]

Groups Gang Starr • Group Home

Rappers Afu-Ra • Bahamadia • Big Shug • DJ Premier • Guru • Freddie Foxxx • Jeru the Damaja

No More Mr. Nice Guy • Step in the Arena • Daily Operation • Hard to Earn •
Gang Starr albums
Moment of Truth • The Ownerz

Related DJ Premier discography • True Master • Reks • Ed O.G. • M.O.P.

Categories: 1966 births | Living people | East Coast rappers | African American rappers | East Coast
hip hop musicians | Musicians from Massachusetts | Members of the Nation of Gods and Earths |
People from Boston, Massachusetts

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