Editing Guru (rapper) (section)

== Death ==
On February 28, 2010, Guru went into [[cardiac arrest]] and, following surgery, fell into a [[coma]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2010/03/02/22138162.aspx?CommentPosted=true|title=UPDATE: Guru Surgery Successful; Full Recovery Expected|publisher=Allhiphop.com|date=March 2, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10731/title.gang-starrs-guru-goes-into-cardiac-arrest-in-a-coma |title=Gang Starr's Guru Goes Into Cardiac Arrest, in a Coma &#124; Get the Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News, and Hip Hop Album Sales |magazine=HipHopDX |date=March 5, 2010 |access-date=May 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100506124233/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10731/title.gang-starrs-guru-goes-into-cardiac-arrest-in-a-coma |archive-date=May 6, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was claimed that Guru had briefly awakened from his coma<ref>Faraone, Chris (March 3, 2010). "Hip-hop Legend [the] Guru out of Coma, Issues Press Release. ''The Boston Phoenix''</ref> but died on April 19, 2010, at the age of 48, from [[multiple myeloma]], a form of blood cancer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=142&csid2=844&fid1=45892|title=Gang Starr's Guru Dies of Cancer|publisher=Exclaim.ca|date=April 20, 2010|access-date=April 21, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424171801/http://exclaim.ca/articles/generalarticlesynopsfullart.aspx?csid1=142&csid2=844&fid1=45892|archive-date=April 24, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/21/arts/music/21guru.html|title=Guru, Rapper Known for Social Themes, Dies at 48|date=April 20, 2010|first=Jon|last= Caramanica|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=November 30, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126219777|title=Guru: Hip-Hop's Elder Statesman Dies Young|website=NPR.org |date=April 23, 2010|access-date=November 30, 2019}}</ref> Guru was survived by his parents, three siblings, and a son named Keith Casim.<ref name="phoenix" /> His production partner, Solar, claimed that Guru had momentarily awakened from his coma to compose a letter to the public,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=17337|title=Gang Starr Guru wakes from coma|publisher=Voice Online|date=March 31, 2010|access-date=April 22, 2010}}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> although DJ Premier and members of Guru's family stated that he never regained consciousness.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1637512/20100421/gang_starr.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423214230/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1637512/20100421/gang_starr.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 23, 2010|title=Guru's Family Releases Statement About His Death|publisher=MTV|date=April 21, 2010|access-date=April 22, 2010|first=Gil|last=Kaufman}}</ref> Guru's family claimed that Solar had prevented them from having contact with Guru during his illness just before his death;<ref name="nme">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/gang-starr/50743 |title=Gang Starr's Guru dies of cancer &#124; News |date=April 20, 2010 |publisher=Nme.Com |access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> the validity of the deathbed letter was consequently challenged by Guru's family.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/gang-starr/50781 |title=Gang Starr rapper Guru's Family Questions Death-Bed Letter &#124; News |publisher=Nme.Com |access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> In an interview on Conspiracy Worldwide Radio, Solar claimed that he was protective of Guru, and everything he had said was true. This interview was met by extreme emotion from the hip hop community and did little to clear the controversy surrounding his actions.{{cn|date=August 2020}}

DJ Premier produced a tribute mix to Guru<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.djpremierblog.com/2010/04/24/keith-guru-elam-tribute-mix-by-dj-premier/ |title=The Only Fan Site Approved by DJ Premier » Blog Archive » Keith "Guru" Elam Tribute Mix by DJ Premier |publisher=DJ Premier Blog |date=April 24, 2010 |access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> and has released a public letter<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.djpremierblog.com/2010/04/21/official-statement-from-dj-premier-on-the-death-of-guru/ |title=The Only Fansite Approved by DJ Premier » Blog Archive » Official Statement From DJ Premier On The Passing Of Guru |publisher=DJ Premier Blog |date=April 21, 2010 |access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> along with Guru's sister Patricia Elam.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.djpremierblog.com/2010/04/21/public-letter-from-gurus-sister-patricia/ |title=The Only Fan Site Approved by DJ Premier » Blog Archive » Public Letter From Guru's Sister Patricia |publisher=DJ Premier Blog |date=April 21, 2010 |access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> Harry J. Elam, an older brother, wrote a personal memoir in remembrance published in ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' on April 23, 2010.<ref name="HarryMemoir">{{cite news|url = https://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2010/04/23/my_brother_gang_starrs_guru/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426150927/https://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2010/04/23/my_brother_gang_starrs_guru/ |archive-date=April 26, 2010 | title = Harry J. Elam Jr. – Remembering My Brother, Guru | publisher = boston.com | access-date= April 23, 2010 | date=April 23, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Elam family had a Guru tribute website set up where visitors were able to view tributes and sign a memorial page.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gurutributes.com/ | title = Guru Tributes – Official Tribute site hosted by Elam family | publisher = gurutributes.com | access-date = May 20, 2010 | archive-date = May 17, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150517051544/http://www.gurutributes.com/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> Guru's nephew Justin Nicholas-Elam Ruff made a 16-minute documentary in which he narrated the story of his late uncle.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gurutributes.com/video/tribute-by-justin/ | title = Guru Tribute By His Nephew Justin Nicholas-Elam Ruff | publisher = gurutributes.com | access-date = July 20, 2010 | archive-date = January 28, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150128132929/http://www.gurutributes.com/video/tribute-by-justin/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>

At the [[2011 Grammy Awards]], Guru's name was not mentioned in the annual retrospective of musicians who had died since the 2010 awards. On April 21, 2011, Revive Da Live Big Band held a tribute show for Guru at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City.<ref>{{cite web|title=G.U.R.U. Tribute At LPR, 4/21|url=http://revivalist.okayplayer.com/2011/04/19/revive-music-group-celebrates-our-5th-year-anniversary-with-a-g-u-r-u-tribute-at-lpr-2/|publisher=Revivalist Music|access-date=April 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316125713/http://revivalist.okayplayer.com/2011/04/19/revive-music-group-celebrates-our-5th-year-anniversary-with-a-g-u-r-u-tribute-at-lpr-2/|archive-date=March 16, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The show paid homage to Guru's Jazzmatazz series and featured a full jazz band tribute, with all proceeds going towards the Elam family. During the concert, [[Babygrande Records]] donated $5000 to Guru's son, K.C. Elam.<ref>{{cite web|title=Babygrande Records Remembers Keith "Guru" Elam With Donation To His Son|url=http://babygrande.com/babygrande-records-remembers-keith-guru-elam-with-donation-to-his-son/|work=Babygrande Records|access-date=April 25, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929103554/http://babygrande.com/babygrande-records-remembers-keith-guru-elam-with-donation-to-his-son/|archive-date=September 29, 2011}}</ref>