Rest in peace Guru, mainstay of legendary rap crew Gang Starr, longtime partner of DJ Premier and creator of the Jazzmatazz series, who has passed away. His contribution to hip-hop culture and the elevation of his artform was unrivalled and his legacy will live on forever.
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I loved all Guru’s stuff from back in 1991, when I bought my first CD ever, the second Gangstarr album.
in 1992, I loved the third album, with the ‘Place that we Dwell – i usta play that on rewind. I can hear it programmed in my mind – ‘…because in Brooklyn we be in to our own thing….ever since then i have been incroporated with select personnel, down in Brooklyn, the place that we dwell.’ Sad to realise he split with Primo, but a real legacy of classic hip hop. Remember Guru brought the words and Primo cut up great samples, introducing me to California Soul, EVA and a whole host of additions to my record collection. Educating me in so many ways.
I remember Gilles having him on during his Kiss days, with Donald Byrds’s Blackjack under the words, with his self-styled ‘monotone style.’ Unteachable and mesmirizing.
A big high light for me was seeing him on stage with Donald Byrd, in the first Jazzmatazz tour around 93-4. I still have the ticket stub in a box. I had to pay double to a tout to get in at the Forum, in Kentish Town. Live jazz and Hip-Hop together, priceless at half the price . Two legends of Black Music together and many more. RIP Keith Elam.
RIP Guru. 43 ain’t no age. Then again, Gang Starr weren’t no small thing.