Guru Loses Battle With Cancer
April 20, 2010 @ 7:58 AM EDT
News
R.I.P. Keith Elam.
Solar sent this letter out and after speaking to a few sources, I believe one fact is true, he’s gone. Yesterday morning, Guru lost his bout with cancer. He was 47. Let’s now celebrate his life and put the final soap opera to the side. Dude’s contributions to hip-hop culture will never be forgotten. Gang Starr Forever!
R.I.P TO THE ONE THAT MADE ME LOVE HIP HOP!!!
Rest In Peace GURU
Rest in peace guru, Thanks for all your great words in music. My icon will live on in my heart Gang Starr 4eva
R.I.P GURU!! REAL HIPHOP FOREVER!!
RIP GURU, You will forever live on thru your music!!! HIP HOP FOREVER
fuck you solar u scumbag
oh shit..damn damn damn..
RIP
damn damn damn… i was 10 & bumpin that jazzmatazz!
FUCK!!! GURU 4 EVER!!
R.I.P.
R.I.P Guru !! Thanks for all the good music u gave us !!
Solar is a total Scumbag and needs a daily beatdown. He needs to be banned from the US and if he does come here, he needs a swift beatdown at the airport. If any one visits France during a tour, vacation or military duty, they need to knock on his door any put hands on him.
SHOUT OUT THE GANGSTARR LEGACY, DJ PREMIER & GURU
R.I.P. Guru
rip guru
Condolences to the family…
mayhem it aint that solar
R.I.P. GURU!!! GANGSTARR WASMY FIRST LOVE.I REMEMBER THE FIRST RAP ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS GANGSTARR’S STEP INTO THE ARENA.A TRUE POET,IF THERE EVER COULD BE,KEEP FLOWIN,GURU
RIP Guru another dope mc taken from us..
That letter irks me if you knew you were dying why wouldn’t you try to reconcile with some1 you made history with? Call him your ex dj? Smh I see this Solar cats hands behind this letter. How does a man in a coma write such a letter?
Mayhem says:
Tuesday, April 20 2010 at 8:21 AM
Solar is a total Scumbag and needs a daily beatdown. He needs to be banned from the US and if he does come here, he needs a swift beatdown at the airport. If any one visits France during a tour, vacation or military duty, they need to knock on his door any put hands on him.
—–—-
Mayhem, the French Solar is a different guy. Yeah this whole scenario is ultra fishy but karma is a mutha so I am sure Solar will get his! R.I.P. Guru.
Solar need to cut the shit an let his fans, friends and familiy mourn a legend to the fullest
That letter is…wow. This Solar guy is beyond.
Rest in Power Guru
UMMM..FIRST OF ALL REST IN PEACE TO GURU.
“EX-GIRL TO THE NEXT GIRL”
“DWYCK”
“U KNOW MY STEEEEEZZZ”
“MASS APPEAL”
“JUST TO GET A REP”
“MANIFEST”
“FORM OF INTELLECT”
SOME OF MY FAVORITE JOINTS
FRIENDS CAN’T BE FRIENDS FOREVER, PEOPLE CHANGE FOR WHATEVER REASON.
DONT GET MAD AT SOLAR, WE DONT KNOW WHAT HAPEND YET.
SHOUT OUT TO HIS FAMILY. SHOUT TO PREMO.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK HIP-HOPPERS!!!!!!!!
Guru was one of my favorite MC’s and he will be missed. R.I.P.
In regards to the letter, it’s very fishy.. I doubt that Guru wrote it.
R.I.P. #GURU I didn’t grow up off your music, but I respected your craft Twitter.com/jason229
A part of my youth just died ~ RIP GuRu “Thank You”
how ironic , i was bumping full clip in the whip yesterday on the way home. r.i.p.
under the purple rain
http://usershare.net/wmz5qy7jhuba
R.I.P. Guru. =/
R.I.P. legend
Wow. Even though I knew his health was failing I’m still in shock. My condolences to his family. Gangstarr was one of the greatest rap groups of all time. Hip hop just lost a legend.
R.I.P. legend you know my steez 1 of my fav jointz ov all tym
R.I.P. Keith Elam
FINALLY THIS DUDE SOLAR CAN FINALLY FADE INTO THE BACKGROUND…I REALLY HOPE NOBODY MAKES HIM THE “OFFICIAL” SPOKEPERSON PERTAINING TO GURU’S DEATH
DON’T GIVE THAT DUDE NO SHINE PLEASE
What yall know about Gangstarr and the the other old school rappers on RAP CITY !!
RIP
guru from gangstarr dead
Wow, I didnt know his health was that bad, i thought he was gonna pull through, R.I.P
Guru wrote a letter to his fans explaining his cancer and his relationships with people in his life. Especially who is allowed to speak on behalf of him from this point on, and DJ Premiere is surprisingly not one.
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.
Dam, R.I.P guru…. I loved you, yo
FUCK FUCK THIS WASNT EXPECTED I THOUGHT HE PULLED THROUGH DAMN WHAT A LOSS ALL THE LEGENDS ARE SLOWLY LEAVING US AND JUST THE OTHER DAY I WAS LISTENING TO “YOU KNOW MY STEEZ” 🙁
RIP GURU SAD DAY FOR HIP-HOP ATLEAST YOUR IN A BETTER PLACE
RIP to a Hip-Hop Legend.
But its upsetting that someone would feel the need to shit on Premier that way.
Very upsetting no matter how you look at it.
Its crazy that somebody who seemed that down to earth would right such a spiteful letter to primo on his death bed, I really feel bad for Preme right now, you know thats gotta hurt
R.I.P Guru, another fallen legend
And i thought today was gonna be a good day, R.I.P Guru. Its a sad day for hip-hop.
SMFH!!!!! R.I.P Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal!!!!!! GANGSTARR
Damn, may he rest in peace.
Real HipHop has lost a big dude. Gangstarr vinyl is priceless now. R.I.P. “The one with the hoodie said, we’ll hurt you” (Just to get a rep).
DAMN IM STILL SHAKING MY HEAD THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD APPRECIATE WHAT WE HAVE LEFT IN HIP-HOP BUT INSTEAD THE NEW GENERATION DOESNT KNOW OR GIVE A FUCK ABOUT LEGENDS LIKE GANG STARR WHAT A SHAME
R.I.P Keith Elam (July 17, 1966 – April 19, 2010)
EVERY KEEP HIM AND PREMO IN YOUR PRAYERS
“God bless the dead and God rest my pops
Peace to the niggas goin’ out bustin’ shots”
– Guru, Words From The Nutcracker, 1994
Will have Hard To Earn on infinite rotation throughout the rest of the week.
“He got his eye on the gold chain that the next man’s wearing” Champion hoods and ropes. R.I.P.
R.I.P Guru
Damn I didn’t know that Guru was battling cancer! R.I.P. GURU
one of the best hip hop groups EVER!! step in the arena is on the top of my list of hip hop albums! RIP!
I never grew up to his music but I did start listening to Gang Starr a few months back and now to find out Guru’s died is crazy
pretty obvious guru had aids and solar was his lover
RIP GIFTED UNLIMITED RHYMES UNIVERSAL.
WOW
RIP
‘Moment of Truth’ was a song that changed my life
Guru’s delivery on that was incredible
RIP
THIS SOLAR GUY IS REALLY GETTING ON MY NERVES I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT LETTER IS COMPLETELY TRUE NOT AT ALL!!! SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG WITH IT. DAMN I CANT BEGIN TO IMAGINE THE PAIN PREMO MUST BE GOING THROUGH
RIP TO GURU!!!! BEEN A FAN OF GANGSTARR FROM DAY ONE!!!! ONE OF THE BEST EVER GROUPS IN HIP- HOP!!!! NO LIE, I WAS BUMPIN’ “SILIQUOY OF CHAOS” JUST YESTERDAY!!!!!
MAY GOD BLESS GURU N HIS FAM!!!!
DON’T HATE ON MY OPINION!!!!
Damn. This dude was surely one of the greatest to ever do it. Thank you, Guru for so much great material. We’ll never forget ya big homie. R.I.P.
“Moment of truth” in my top 10 Albums of all time.
Wow….Guru, you’ll be missed pa. RIP
R.I.P. Guru
RIP Guru
When the world loses an artist, a hero, an icon, a pioneer, we as humans can’t help but look back at what this person has done to personally touch our lives. Such a moment has come with the passing of one of the greatest MC’s in the world of Hip-Hop. A man who didn’t conform, didn’t sellout, didn’t lose sight of the big picture. Integrity is the word that comes to mind. Through his words he showed me that to be down you didn’t have to set your morals or common sense aside. You didn’t have to show and prove to anyone but yourself, and that there were people out there who believed and supported this state of mind; that I wasn’t alone in thinking that it didn’t have to be the way it was. Thank you Guru, for being one of the greatest street professors to so many who attended the school of hard knocks. R.I.P
I DONT LISTEN TO THE RADIO INFACT I HAVENT FOR YEARS FOR PLAYINGTHE SAME BULLSHIT ALL THE TIME. I BEEN LISTENING TO HOT 97 FOR 3 HOURS NOW AND STILL HAVENT HEARD ANY MENTION OF GURU’S PASSING LIKE WTF? SO FUCK HOT 97 HIP-HOP WOULDNT BE WHAT IT IS TODAY IF IT WASNT FOR GROUPS LIKE GANG STARR AND FOR THEM NOT TO HONOR THE LEGEND ITS JUST FUCKING WRONG JUST LIKE SOLARS FAKE LETTER FUCK HOT 97 & SOLAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thoughts go out to his family and real friends. R.I.P.
I read dat letter that shit sounded mad fake and I’m led to believe these niggas were gay lovers he said,” my friend, partner, and brother” WTF is dat Solar wrote dat shit
R.I.P. Guru, GOD Bless.
BB$. DWYCK.
RIP to Guru
Solar you should be ashamed of yourself god.
[…] -YN […]
Shit, RIP Guru
R.I.P One of the GOAT’s..his music is forever.
HIP HOP HAS LOST ONE OF ITS TRUEST SOLDIERS; GURU YOU AND PRIMO REVOLUNTIONIZED HIP HOP FOREVER YOU WILL BE GREATLY MISSED RIP
I bet Freddie Foxxx feels like shit for puttin that diss record out a few months back
Seeing shit like this lets me know that I’m not doing what I need to be doing with my short time here on earth. What God gives you is Gods gift to you, and what you DO is your gift to God! God Bless his Soul…His music will live on.
R.I.P. Guru. Legend.
Can someone tell me why he’s so bitter towards DJ Premier?
I know they had some sort of disagreement. but to put stuff like that in a letter, i mean pretty much hang something over the guy’s head for life (and in public record) you’ve got to really dislike someone.
DAMN!!!!!!!!!!
R.I.P. GURU
My singles drop today & waking up & hearing this is really gonna make it hard to promote my shit man.
DAMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNNN!!!!! 🙁 R.I.P Guru. Gangstarr 4ever….
R.I.P GURU! This man pulled me on stage as a shorty in 98 in london @ a club called hanover grand n blessed the kid 2 freestyle .i’m sure footage is out there .What a lost to hiphop.
That death letter straight up doctored tho word!!! he would have loved to work with DJPremo again for the fans! But i guess GOD needed a new hiphop angel.
Great nigga but unfortunately he let his legacy be tarnished with this Solar BS. “Watch the company you keep”
RIP Guru…was just bumping mass appeal the other day 🙁
playin “Mass Appeal” right now…R.I.P. to another hiphop legend.
they say the good die young but he had a great run and left his name in hip hop period….
R.I.P,Guru.
R.I.P
Sometimes you gotta dig deep, when problems come near
Don’t fear things get severe for everybody everywhere
Why do bad things happen, to good people?
Seems that life is just a constant war between good and evil
The situation that I’m facin, is mad amazin
to think such problems can arise from minor confrontations
Now I’m contemplatin in my bedroom pacin
Dark clouds over my head, my heart’s racin
Suicide? Nah, I’m not a foolish guy
Don’t even feel like drinking, or even gettin high
Cause all that’s gonna do really, is accelerate
the anxieties that I wish I could alleviate
But wait, I’ve been through a whole lot of other shit, before
So I oughta be able, to withstand some more
But I’m sweatin though, my eyes are turnin red and yo
I’m ready to lose my mind but instead I use my mind
I put down the knife, and take the bullets out my nine
My only crime, was that I’m too damn kind
And now some scandalous motherfuckers wanna take what’s mine
But they can’t take the respect, that I’ve earned in my lifetime
And you know they’ll never stop the furious force of my rhymes
So like they say, every dog has its day
And like they say, God works in a mysterious way
So I pray, remembering the days of my youth
As I prepare to meet my moment of truth
…..R.I.P Guru
R.I.P. Guru; its a shame he died so young..
Look at these modern rappers who sell thier souls to have mass appeal
Rip guru..guess willl never get that next gangstar album..
Premier needs to start talking and reveal the truth. This Solar cat needs to get snuffed for acting so damn fugazi.
[…] Props: RapRadar […]
RIP to Guru, HIP HOP IS DEAD
GANG STARR FOREVER!!!
RIP GURU!!!!!
RIP
I got to meet guru back in 05..he was mad humble..rip
“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,” the letter said. “I had nothing to do with him in life for 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.
Did Guru actually write this??? I don’t know if I should this believe this at all…….
Damn, Another Major Figure in Hip Hop History Gone! R I P Brotha.
T.R.O.Y GURU
DAMN LET THIS BE A LESSON AND LET NO BEEF GO UNRESLOVED FIX STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS REAL TALK
GANGSTARR FOREVER
EVEN THOUGH YOU AINT CLAIM BOSTON WE STILL LOVE YOU
YN PUT SOME GANGSTARR VIDEOS UP CELEBRATE LYRICS IMA BUMP YOU KNOW MY STEEZ ALL DAY LONG
R.I.P The Guru
I never cried wen Pac died, but i probably will wen Hov does…
RIP the guru
Wow.Sad day in hip hop. We lost an icon. R.I.P. Guru.
Also R.I.P. to any career that fuck nigga Solar had, sheisty motherfucker.
R.I.P Guru,
Jazzmatazz &
Gangstarr Forever
Ah man. RIP Guru. Dang.
somethingz fishy bout that letter
May you rest in peace, Keith. A HipHop legend in the truest sense of the word. One of the old school greats. An lyricist supreme making your sublime artistry seem so effortless.
Call me mad cynical but like many others on here I too am suspicious about this letter. I see the Jazzmatazz 4 album mentioned a few times in there as GURU’s proudest musical legacy. It’s like this album is being touted. Can’t say I’m surprised as to who will benefit from the up surge in royalities after reading this and knowing that curious fans will probably check out the album. I sincerely hope I’m wrong in my suspicions. Just seems off base.
is this all rap radar has to say about the passing of one of the greatest emcees ever? just a coupla sentences and a link to ANOTHER site?
shame on you rapradar for being so lazy! you can’t fool the people! we’re riding with nahright. matter of fact, we’re riding with dateline nbc because they stop people from raping kids.
I think it’s important not to get stuck on the fact that Guru was estranged from his family and former partner. Sometimes the people who are closest to us are the ones that hurt us the most. I know from personal experience!!!! I can’t imagine what that must have felt like for him to experience the emotions that he did. For him to have to leave this Earth without (seemingly) any resolution to whatever estrangement he had with his former partner and family had to be absolutely heartbreaking!!!!! I really do hope that this man is resting in peace and I’m not trying to be funny at all. Having said that, I offer my most heartfelt condolences to those who suffer the loss of Guru. Guru made it cool and acceptable to be an intelligent and thoughtful black male rapper!!!!!! I can’t think of him ever not having itegrity or called his integrity. His was pure genius. We don’t get that in the industry anymore and I know I will reallllly miss him!!!!!!!!!!!!
R.I.P. Guru
im praying 4 the family* stay strong yall
he was a wonderful person
The solar issue needs to be realized and cleared up. Immediately.
Peace to Guru.
RIP GURU
R.I.P. Guru.
Guru was 48.
R.I.P.
How can this man be on his death bed, still antagonizing Preemo, Knowing regardless Preem always had love for him. Letter seems mad suspect, That nigga Solar is suspect.
R.I.P GURU
Guru was on his deathbed and he was worried about jealousy issues with Preemo? Yea right. Solar deserves to be blackballed for this fuckery.
@DSweetOne – yeah, no telling what kinds of issues were at the core of strained relationships. I just find it strange that we have all kinds of opinions and suspicions regarding Solar when we have NO inside scoop. Also, I don’t know how we can make convincing claims that Preemo had love for Guru, other than public statements. I;m not suggestion Preemo is not a person with integrity, but I am saying that in an industry built on fakery and illusion, we AUTOMATICALLY equate ill artistry with decent humanity (in the case of Preemo). Hopefully this debacle will reveal itself. Guru, I thank you for your contribution to hip hop (and beyond). RIP soldier
What Is This Solar Dudes Problem Real Talk?
how can you write a letter in a coma? RIP Guru
I was just starting to get into Gang Starr, too……
RIP Guru
That letter is fake. Solar was mention way too many times. Like he was the one that produced Moment of Truth, Daily Operation, Hard to Earn, etc…….
And why would Guru take a beef with Premo to the grave? Solar is on some shady shit………..
I know this aint the time or place but I’m hearing solar and guru were involved.
Solar wrong for writing that lawyer, how in the hell can it be, just to get a rep, uh Solar you weak in my book and now you a admininstrative assitant now
[…] it the first release since 2003’s The Ownerz, and the passing of the late MC, Guru, producer DJ Premier tacks unearthed verses from his partner to a fresh new […]
[…] it the first release since 2003’s The Ownerz, and the passing of the late MC, Guru, producer DJ Premier tacks unearthed verses from his partner to a fresh new […]
[…] it the first release since 2003’s The Ownerz, and the passing of the late MC, Guru, producer DJ Premier tacks unearthed verses from his partner to a fresh new […]
[…] it the first release since 2003’s The Ownerz, and the passing of the late MC, Guru, producer DJ Premier tacks unearthed verses from his partner to a fresh new […]