Editing Guru (rapper)

{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{short description|American rapper (1961–2010)}}
{{For|the Ghanaian rapper|Guru (Ghanaian rapper)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Guru
| image              = Guru (rapper).jpg
| caption            = Guru in 2006
| alias              = {{hlist|Jazzmattaz|Keithy E.M.C.|Bald Head Slick}}
| birth_name         = Keith Edward Elam
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1961|07|17}}
| birth_place        = [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], U.S.
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2010|04|19|1961|07|17}}
| death_place        = [[New York City]], U.S.
| children           = 1
| alma_mater         = [[Morehouse College]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
| occupation         = {{hlist|Rapper|songwriter|record producer}}
| years_active       = 1986–2010 <!---His first recordings was in 1986 where the X label released various songs to his demo-->
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed              = yes
| label              = {{hlist|7 Grand|[[Noo Trybe Records|Noo Trybe]]|[[Virgin Records|Virgin]]|[[EMI Records|EMI]]|[[Traffic Records|Traffic]]|[[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]]|[[Wild Pitch Records|Wild Pitch]]|[[10 Records|10]]|[[Cooltempo]]}}
| genre              = {{hlist|[[East Coast hip hop]]|[[jazz rap]]}}
| discography        = [[Guru discography]]
| past_member_of     = {{hlist|[[Gang Starr]]|[[Gang Starr Foundation]]}}
| website            = {{URL|gurutributes.com}}
}}
}}

'''Keith Edward Elam''' (July 17, 1961<ref name="passport">{{cite web |title=Scan of the Keith Elam's passport. |url=https://diaryofahollywoodstreetking.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/GURU.KEITH.ELAM-passport.jpg |website=diaryofahollywoodstreetking |publisher=diaryofahollywoodstreetking.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701033609/https://diaryofahollywoodstreetking.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/GURU.KEITH.ELAM-passport.jpg |access-date=July 17, 2018|archive-date=July 1, 2010 }}</ref>{{spaced ndash}}April 19, 2010), better known by his stage name '''Guru''' (a [[backronym]] for '''Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal'''), was an American rapper, record producer and actor. He was a member of the hip hop duo [[Gang Starr]], along with [[DJ Premier]]. He was born in [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gang-starr-mn0000193601/biography|title=Gang Starr {{!}} Biography & History|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason|website=AllMusic|access-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref>

In 2012, [[About.com]] placed him #49 on their list of Top 50 MCs of Our Time,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/ss/Top50Emcees_2.htm |title=Top 50 MCs of Our Time: 1987–2007 – 50 Greatest Emcees of Our Time |publisher=Rap.about.com |date=December 18, 2012 |access-date=October 7, 2022 |archive-date=March 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321131526/http://rap.about.com/od/toppicks/ss/Top50Emcees_2.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> and ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]'' ranked him #30 on their list of Top 50 Lyricists of All Time, saying "Guru dropped some of the most thoughtful rhymes on wax".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hill|first=Daren|issue=253|title=Top 50 Lyrical Leaders|magazine=[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]|page=73}}</ref>

Guru died on April 19, 2010, from [[myeloma]] at age 48.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Rapper Guru dies at 48|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/rapper-guru-dies-48-22812/|access-date=June 29, 2021}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Elam was born in the [[Roxbury, Boston|Roxbury]] neighborhood of [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]]. His father, Harry Justin Elam served both as a judge and a lawyer and he became the first African American judge appointed to the [[Boston Municipal Court]] of Massachusetts and he later also became Chief Justice of the same court and finally as a judge he was appointed as an Associate Justice of the [[Massachusetts Superior Court]]. Prior to his judgeship years, between 1971 and 1988, he was a prominent lawyer in the city of Boston from 1952 to 1971 and his mother, Barbara, was the co-director of libraries in the [[Boston Public Schools]] system. He attended the Advent School on [[Beacon Hill, Boston|Beacon Hill]] in Boston, [[Noble and Greenough School]] in [[Dedham, Massachusetts]],<ref name="HarryMemoir" /> and [[Cohasset High School]] in [[Cohasset, Massachusetts]] for high school.<ref name="phoenix">{{cite news|url=http://thephoenix.com/BLOGS/onthedownload/archive/2010/03/03/gang-starr-legend-guru-out-of-coma-issues-press-release.aspx|title=Gang Starr legend GURU out of coma, issues press release|date=March 3, 2010|access-date=April 24, 2010 | first=Jon | last=Caramanica}}</ref> Elam graduated with a degree in business administration from [[Morehouse College]] in [[Atlanta]]<ref name="guardian_obituary">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/apr/21/guru-obituary|title=Guru obituary|newspaper=Guardian|date=April 21, 2006|access-date=April 24, 2010 | location=London | first=Garth | last=Cartwright}}</ref> and took graduate classes at the [[Fashion Institute of Technology]] in [[Manhattan]].

== Musical career ==
Elam began his music career under the pseudonym '''MC Keithy E''' but later changed his stage name to '''Guru'''.<ref name="phoenix" /> He founded [[Gang Starr]] in 1987. The group initially released three records, produced by [[The 45 King]], on the [[Wild Pitch Records]] record label, but these records received little attention.<ref name="guardian_obituary" /><ref name="45_king">{{cite web|url=http://www.45king.com/disk.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040103181643/http://www.45king.com/disk.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 3, 2004|title=Discography—the Official 45 King Web Site|access-date=June 27, 2010}}</ref> After a change in lineup, the group consisted of [[rapping|rapper]] Guru and producer [[DJ Premier]]. Gang Starr released its first LP ''[[No More Mr. Nice Guy (Gang Starr album)|No More Mr. Nice Guy]]'' on Wild Pitch Records; the group achieved a sizable following and released six critically acclaimed and influential albums from 1989 to 2003. Two albums, ''[[Moment of Truth (Gang Starr album)|Moment of Truth]]'' (1998) and compilation ''[[Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr]]'' (1999) were certified gold in the United States by the [[RIAA]]. Gang Starr made archetypal East Coast hip hop with Guru's rhyming described as sharp-eyed but anti-ostentatious.<ref name="guardian_obituary" />

In 1993, Guru released the first in a series of four solo albums while still a member of Gang Starr. ''[[Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1]]'' featured collaborations with [[Donald Byrd]], [[N'Dea Davenport]], [[MC Solaar]] and [[Roy Ayers]] and received positive reviews.<ref name="allmusic_review">{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r172286|pure_url=yes}}|title=Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 > Overview|publisher=allmusic.com|access-date=April 24, 2010}}</ref> His second solo LP, ''[[Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality]]'', featured [[Chaka Khan]], [[Ramsey Lewis]], [[Branford Marsalis]] and [[Jamiroquai]]. The third installment, ''[[Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul]]'', was released in 2000, but it received less positive reviews.<ref name="allmusic_review2">{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r500750|pure_url=yes}}|title=Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3 > Overview|publisher=allmusic.com|access-date=April 24, 2010}}</ref> In reference to the Jazzmatazz project, Guru told Pete Lewis of ''[[Blues & Soul]]'': "Back around '93—when I first came up with the Jazzmatazz concept—I was noticing how a lot of cats were digging in the crates and sampling jazz breaks to make hip hop records. But while I thought that was cool, I wanted to take it to the next level and actually create a new genre by getting the actual dudes we were sampling into the studio to jam over hip hop beats with some of the top vocalists of the time. You know, the whole thing was experimental, but I knew it was an idea that would spawn some historic music."<ref>[http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/411/guru_and_solar_team_talk/ Guru & Solar interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' May 2009]</ref>

In 1994, Guru appeared on the [[Red Hot Organization]]'s compilation album ''[[Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool]]''. The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in relation to the African American community, was heralded as the album of the year by [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]].{{cn|date=August 2020}}

[[File:Gangstarr-03-mika.jpg|thumbnail|Guru with Gang Starr, Germany, 1999]]

Guru's first solo album not a part the Jazzmatazz series, ''[[Baldhead Slick & da Click]]'', was released in 2001 to poor reviews.<ref>{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r550097|pure_url=yes}}|title=Baldhead Slick & da Click. Overview|publisher=allmusic.com|access-date=June 27, 2010}}</ref> The album reached #22 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop album charts. ''Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures'', was released in 2005 on Guru's own record label, 7 Grand Records. The album was produced by labelmate Solar. It reached #54 on the Billboard R&B albums charts and received mixed reviews.<ref name="allmusic3">{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r733591|pure_url=yes}}|title=Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures > Overview|publisher=allmusic.com|access-date=April 24, 2010}}</ref>

Guru's final releases were the fourth installment in the ''Jazzmatazz'' series, released in June 2007; and ''Guru 8.0: Lost And Found'', released May 19, 2009 (also in collaboration with Solar). A final Gang Starr album, ''[[One of the Best Yet]]'', was released in 2019.

== 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>

== Legacy ==
The French city of [[Montpellier]] named a small street "Allée Guru" after the rapper, citing his influence on both hip hop and jazz.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.montpellier.fr/structure/1510/240-allee-guru-structure.htm|title=Allée Guru|website=montpellier.fr}}</ref>

== Discography ==
{{Main|Guru discography}}

;Studio albums
* ''[[Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality]]'' (1995)
* ''[[Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Baldhead Slick & da Click]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 4: The Hip Hop Jazz Messenger: Back to the Future]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Guru 8.0: Lost and Found]]'' (2009)

== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Who's the Man?]]''
| Lorenzo Martin
|
|-
| 1998
| ''[[The Substitute 2: School's Out]]''
| Little B.
|
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Train Ride]]''
| Jay
|
|-
| 2001
| ''[[3 A.M. (2001 film)|3 A.M.]]''
| Hook-Off
|
|-
| 2002
| ''Urban Massacre''
| Cereal Killah
|
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1994
| ''[[In Living Color]]''
|
| Closing performance, 'Trust Me', featuring [[N'Dea Davenport]]
|-
| 1997
| ''[[NYPD Blue]]''
| Willits
|
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Kung Faux]]''
| Various
| Voice Over
|}

=== Video games ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Grand Theft Auto III]]''
| rowspan=3 |8-Ball
|
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories]]''
|
|-
| 2021
|''[[Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition]]''
| Archival recordings<br />Remaster of ''Grand Theft Auto III'' only.
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Guru (rapper)|Guru}}
*{{official website|http://www.gurutributes.com|Guru}}
*{{Allmusic|class=artist|id=mn0000648951|title=Guru}}
*{{discogs artist|Guru|Guru}}

{{Guru}}
{{Gang Starr}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guru}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from multiple myeloma in the United States]]
[[Category:People from Roxbury, Boston]]
[[Category:Rappers from Boston]]
[[Category:Rappers from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians]]
[[Category:Fashion Institute of Technology alumni]]
[[Category:African-American male rappers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male rappers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male rappers]]
[[Category:Chrysalis Records artists]]
[[Category:DJ Premier]]
[[Category:Five percenters]]
[[Category:Morehouse College alumni]]
[[Category:Virgin Records artists]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Noble and Greenough School alumni]]
[[Category:Cohasset High School alumni]]
[[Category:Gang Starr Foundation members]]