Rapper Guru of Gang Starr dead aged 43, after secret battle with cancer

Rapper Guru, one of the founders of the jazz influence U.S. hip hop group Gang Starr has died of cancer aged 43


The influential rapper Guru has died in hospital aged 43 following a battle with
cancer.

The Boston-born MC, real name Keith Elam, was hospitalised last month after he suffered a heart attack and had been in a coma.

Guru rose to fame in the 80s as one half of Gang Starr, the conscious rap group he founded with Grammy award-winning producer DJ Premier.

Gang Starr was credited with the birth of the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre.

A statement issued by his friend and producer Solar said: 'Guru has passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer.

'Guru suffered from the malicious illness for over a year and after numerous special treatments under the supervision of medical specialists failed, the legendary MC succumbed to the disease.'

Gang Starr released six highly regarded albums in their time together until 2003
until their acrimonious split.

After his successful run with Premier, which included classic songs such as Jazz Thing which featured in Spike Lee film Mo' Better Blues, Guru founded 7Grand Records with producer Solar.


Guru, real name Keith Elam (right), made six albums with Grammy award-winning producer DJ Premier

Bizarrely Solar released a letter alleged to have been written by Guru to his fans, but the tone of the letter has led fans to doubt its authenticity.


Guru released six albums with DJ Premier


The statement said: '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.'

The letter also contained a pointed reference to former bandmate DJ Premier.

Guru allegedly wrote: '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.'

Following the split Guru released a series of Jazzmatazz albums where he teamed up with classic jazz, soul and hip hop artists.

His Best of Jazzmatazz album included collaborations with hip-hop band The Roots, Brand New Heavies singer N’Dea Davenport, Chaka Khan, Branford Marsalis, Donald Byrd, Kelis, Ramsey Lewis, Erykah Badu, Lonnie Liston Smith, and Jamiroquai.

He continued to tour the world with a band and producer Solar.
The rapper is survived by a son, KC.


source: dailymail