In Memoriam
Guru
July 17, 1961 – April 19, 2010 · aged 48
Hip-Hop · Jazz Rap
Keith Edward Elam, better known by his stage name Guru (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal), was a pioneer of the East Coast hip-hop sound and a true architect of jazz rap. Born in Massachusetts in 1961, Guru rose to legendary status as one half of the duo Gang Starr, alongside producer DJ Premier. Armed with a smooth, monotone delivery and highly intelligent, socially conscious lyrics, he provided the perfect vocal anchor to Premier’s gritty, boom-bap beats. Beyond Gang Starr, Guru revolutionized the genre with his 1993 solo project 'Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1,' one of the first albums to combine a live jazz band with hip-hop production and rapping, featuring legends like Donald Byrd and Roy Ayers. After a long battle with multiple myeloma and a coma following cardiac arrest, Guru passed away on April 19, 2010, at the age of 48. He is remembered as one of hip-hop's most sophisticated and articulate voices.
Milestones
Jazzmatazz, Mass Appeal, Step in the Arena
Also remembered in 2010
- Captain Beefheart (1941–2010)
- Malcolm McLaren (1946–2010)
- Ronnie James Dio (1942–2010)
- Solomon Burke (1940–2010)