R.I.P. GURU

“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 Countsdedicated 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,” read the official Guru statement.

“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 Solaron behalf myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own.”

Guru, born Keith Elam, rose to fame in the 80’s as the founder of the legendary rap group GangStarr. The group released the classic single Words I Manifest followed by their critically acclaimed debut album No More Mr. Nice Guy (1989) and the classic album Step In The Arena (1991). Guru was the first artist to truly blend Hip-Hop with Live Jazz beginning in 1993, and seeing the vast influences his Jazzmatazzconcept has had on the industry, it is clear that Guru’smusical contributions have been way ahead of their time.Guru has worked with such great artists as Herbie Hancock, Isaac Hayes, Donald Byrd, Ramsey Lewis, Roy Ayers, Chaka Kahn, Branford Marsalis, David Sanborn, Bob James, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Common, Angie Stone, Jamiroquai, Macy Gray and Damien Marley, to name a few. Despite the fact thatGuru isn’t hailing from New York, he is noted as a pioneer of the New York sound and true lyrical Hip-Hop. Guru later on joined forces with hit producer Solar and formed his label 7 Grand Records with the goal to keep “real” Hip-Hop alive.

Guru’s longtime partner, Solar, issues an official statement about the lost of the legendary MC which you can read below:

“The world has lost one of the best MCs and Hip-Hop icons of all time — my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru!Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle! This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it but tragically this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius. For the fans that reached out with love and support, I can’t tell you how much that meant to Guru and myself.Guru prepared this letter [read above] while he was in the hospital for the fans. I hope now that Guru has moved on to a better place! Guru is a great Black American Hero and should always be remembered as such and he is much more that just a Hip-Hop icon — he has changed the world for the better. I salute my fallen brother Guru! He will be missed tremendously!” Solar stated.Click Album Titles to download.

Guru – Jazzmatazz Vol. 1 [1993]

Tracklist:

01. Introduction
02. Loungin’
03. When You’re Near
04. Transit Ride
05. No Time to Play
06. Down the Backstreets
07. Respectful Dedications
08. Take a Look (At Yourself)
09. Trust Me
10. Slicker Than Most
11. Le Bien, Le Mal
12. Sights in the City

Guru – Jazzmatazz Vol. 2 (The New Reality) [1995]

Tracklist:

1. Light it up.
2. Lifesaver.
3. Living in this world.
4. Looking through.
5. Watch what you say.
6. Defining purpose [Jazzalude II].
7. For you.
8. Medicine [Mental relaxation].
9. Lost souls.
10. Nobody knows (the real deal).
11. Hip hop as a way of life [Jazzalude III].
12. Respect the architect.
13. Feel the music.
14. Young ladies.
15. The traveler.
16. Maintaining focus [Jazzlalude IV].
17. Count your blessings.
18. Choice of weapons.
19. Something in the past
20. Revelation (a lot on my mind)

Guru – Jazzmatazz Vol. 3 (Streetsoul) [2000]

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. Keep Your Worries
3. Hustlin’ Daze
4. All I Said
5. Certified
6. Plenty
7. Lift Your Fist
8. Guidance
9. Interlude (Brooklyn skit)
10. Supa Love
11. No More
12. Where’s My Ladies
13. Night Vision
14. Who’s There
15. Mashin’ Up The World
16. Timeless

Guru – Jazzmatazz Vol. 4 (The Hip Hop Jazz Messenger) [2007]

Tracklist:

01. Jazzy Feat. Slum Village
02. State Of Clarity Feat. Common and Bob James
03. Stand Up Feat. Damian Marley
04. Look To The Sun (Solar)
05. Connections Feat. Kem
06. Fine and Free Feat. Vivian Green
07. Wait On Me Feat. Raheem Devaughn
08. International Feat. Bobby Valentino
09. This Is Art Feat. Ronny Laws
10. Fly Magnetic Feat. Dionne Farris
11. The Jazz Style Feat. Omar
12. Follow The Signs Feat. Shelley Harland
13. Universal Struggle Feat. Brownman
14. Infinite Feat. Blackalicious
15. Kissed The World Feat. Caron Wheeler
16. Living Legend Feat. David Sanborn

Guru Presents – Illkid Records [1995]

Tracklist:

01 – Bald Head Slick – IllKid Intro
02 – Bahamadia – Wordplay
03 – M.O.P., Guru, Stikken Moov – Life
04 – Big Shug – Do What Pays Ya
05 – Baybe – Victim Of Society
06 – Jeru The Damaja – Come Clean
07 – True Master – Who’s The Truest
08 – Operation Ratification – Rotten Apple
09 – Fabbiden – Hi Energy
10 – Guru, Big Shug – Momentum
11 – Stikken Moov – Attack
12 – Group Home – So Called Friends

Guru – Baldhead Slick & Da Click [2001]

Tracklist:

Guru – Guru’s Jazzmatazz: The Time Bomb. Back To The Future [2007]

Tracklist:

01 Intro (Don Gurizzy)
02 Knowledge ft. Lord Tariq
03 7 Grand Ya’ll ft. Solar
04 For Ya Mind ft. Zion I
05 Peace! ft. K-Born, Highpower & Solar
06 State of Clarity ft. Common (Solar Remix)
07 Who Got It On Lock ft. Doo Wop
08 B-Boy Kamikaze ft. Tony Touch & Doo Wop (Diaz Brothers)
09 Too Slice ft. Yungun
10 So What It Do Now ft. Aceyalone
11 We Got That ft. Nature & Solar
12 Jazzy Wayz (7 Grand Exclusive)
13 Stand Up (Some Things’ll Never Change) (Reggae Mix) ft. Damian Marley
14 Hot Like That ft. Medinah
15 No Need for Stress
16 Back to the Future ft. Caron Wheeler & C.Knowledge (Digable)
17 Assasino ft. Young Pablo
18 The Game Needs Me ft. Blue Scholars & Common Market
19 Feed the Hungry (Solar Remix)
20 Can’t Stop the Movement (7 Grand) ft. Ms. Camille

Guru – Guru 8.0 Lost And Found [2009]

Tracklist:

01. Lost & Found
02. Fastlane
03. Ride (feat. Omar)
04. No Gimmick Shit (feat. Doo Wop)
05. Read Between Tha Linez (feat. Solar K Born & High Power)
06. Best of My Yearz
07. Divine Rule
08. When U Least Expect (feat. K Born & High Power)
09. After Time (feat. Solar)
10. Those Dayz R Gone
11. Stop Frontin
12. Own Worst Enemy
13. Cee What We Do
14. Love-Hate Thang
15. It’s a Shock
16. 6 Cipher (feat. K Born & High Power)
17. 7 Grand Off tha Chain

Guru – Loungin’ (EP) [1993]

Tracklist:
01. Guru – Introduction
02. Guru – Loungin’ (feat. Donald Byrd)
03. Guru – Transit Ride (feat. Branford Marsalis & Zachary Breux)
04. Guru – Trust Me (feat. N’Dea Devenport)

Guru – The 8.0 Lost And Found (EP) [2009]

Tracklist:
01. Guru – Divine Rule (Main Version)
02. Guru – Divine Rule (Clean Radio Version)
03. Guru – Divine Rule (Instrumental)
04. Guru – Fastlane (Main Version)
05. Guru – Fastlane (Clean Radio Version)
06. Guru – Fastlane (Intrumental)
07. Guru – Ride (Main Radio Version) (feat. Omar)
08. Guru – Ride (Instrumental)
09. Guru – After Time (Main Version) (feat. Solar)
10. Guru – After Time (Clean Radio Version) (feat. Solar)
11. Guru – After Time (Instrumental)
12. Guru – No Gimmick Sh.t (Main Version) (feat. DJ Doo Wop)
13. Guru – No Gimmick Sh.t (Clean Radio Version) (feat. DJ Doo Wop)
14. Guru – No Gimmick Sh.t (Instrumental)

Guru – The Best Of Guru’s Jazzmatazz [2008]

Tracklist:
01. Guru – No Time To Play (feat. Ronnie Jordan & Dee C.Lee)
02. Guru – Trust Me (feat. N’Dea Davenport)
03. Guru – Slicker Than Most (feat. Gary Barnacle)
04. Guru – Down The Backstreets (feat. Lonnie Liston Smith)
05. Guru – Sights In The City (feat. Courtney Pine & Carleen Anderson)
06. Guru – Loungin’ (feat. Donald Byrd)
07. Guru – Respect The Architect (feat. Ramsey Lewis & Bahamadia)
08. Guru – Watch What You Say (feat. Chaka Kahn & Branford Marsalis)
09. Guru – Lost Souls (feat. Jamiroquai)
10. Guru – Choice Of Weapons (feat. Dee C.Lee, Gus Da Vigilante & Courtney Pine)
11. Guru – Looking Through The Darkness (feat. Mica Paris)
12. Guru – Keep Your Worries (feat. Angie Stone)
13. Guru – Supa Love (feat. Kelis)
14. Guru – Lift Your Fist (feat. The Roots)
15. Guru – Plenty (feat. Erykah Badu)
16. Guru – Choices (feat. N’Dea Davenport & Bobbi Humphrey) (BonusTrack)
17. Guru – Loungin’ (Jazz Not Jazz Mix) (BonusTrack)
18. Guru – Respect The Architect (Buckwild Remix) (feat. Ramsey Lewis & Bahamadia) (BonusTrack)