Guru has died

R.I.P

edit: and no hint of a reconciliation with DJ Premier, even on his death bed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFQQeUNaZtc

Damn. R.I.P.

R.I.P.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U76Nde6rMTw

this is horrible news, R.I.P.

this sucks ..just heard full clip on the radio and had totally forgotten about guru being in a coma, so i just sat there boppin my head right up until they said he died today, bah.

A true legend. We will remember you Guru. R.I.P.

Just heard the news.... :( rest in peace, man.

Definitely.

I refuse to believe he wrote that nonsense about Primo. That's just cold if he did.

  On 4/20/2010 at 2:15 PM, bubbhasdance said:

Definitely.

 

I refuse to believe he wrote that nonsense about Primo. That's just cold if he did.

what's the beef? tell me about the beef?

His final statement, apparently.

  On 4/20/2010 at 2:30 PM, bubbhasdance said:

His final statement, apparently.

 

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

  Quote

“I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options. I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. 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,” read the official Guru statement.

 

“My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody’s feelings on the matter. It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of my life, my sun KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by Solar on behalf myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own.”

 

The statement reads on, “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. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. As the sole founder of GangStarr, I am very proud of what GangStarr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of Hip-Hop/Jazz. I am most proud of my leadership and pioneering efforts on Jazzmatazz 4 for reinvigorating the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre in a time when music quality has reached an all time low. Solar and I have toured in places that I have never been before with GangStarr or Jazzmatatazz and we gained a reputation for being the best on the planet at Hip-Hop/Jazz, as well as the biggest and most influential Hip-Hop/Jazz record with Jazzmatazz 4 of the decade to now. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do! As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life.”

 

 

yeah i read solar hadn't let his family or anyone else close to him, anywhere near him for his last months...

maybe solar 'helped' him write it?

yikes. what a bitch ass way to go out.

sounds like he became kind of an asshole in recent years... either that or Solar forged that statement.

thanks for that cold statement

RIP Guru

what's with the guru v premier beef? can anyone tell me about that particular beef?

  On 4/20/2010 at 4:10 PM, Jonas said:

  On 4/20/2010 at 2:38 PM, Jonas said:

Short reaction from Premier on that letter ( http://www.djpremierblog.com/ ):

 

  Quote

This letter is way outta hand Solar. Why the fuck did nobody stopped that dude??? I’m stuck with mix feelings, sorry. I can’t accept this. R.I.P. Guru, play his songs!! He will be remembered for ever and ever!!

 

err, oops. Seems to be a fan site, not a reaction from premier at all.

 

About the supposed beef, I remember hearing on a hip hop radio channel long time ago (interview with Guru), I think even before the moment of truth album, there was tension between the two because of premier getting a lot of production work (= making money) and guru not. Thats when guru started his jazmatazz solo albums. Probably a jealousy money/recognition combo, but I'm not sure.

I hate when falling outs get nasty, and I wasn't aware they had such an issue with each other. DJ Premier doesn't seem like an asshole, you can't blame him for producing so much if he's in demand.

Hell, even Pink Floyd got their shit together (save Barrett) before Richard Wright died.

Oh well, RIP Guru. Gang Starr's legacy will always stand above the duo's personal issues.

r.i.p.

there was only ever 1 mc solaar anyway.

^^ agreed. didn't Guru put him on way back when? Interesting.

I hope Solar wrote that, cause that's cold. Especially when he keeps referring to Preem as "ex-DJ" and not producer.

wow, i just don't believe that was his final statement.

AT ALL

RIP for sure, that whole situation is just weird and wrong though- I don't see how he could put this Solar guy before his family and someone with whom he made his name and produced his best material.

Plus I see Tribe as the ones that really brought Jazz into hip-hop on a larger scale...

"Guru told me slow up the roll cuz science and metaphors will slow up the dough"

so true.

PR-PR-PR-PR-PR-PREMIER-PREMIER-PR-PR-PR-PREMIER

  On 4/20/2010 at 4:26 PM, The Green Kingdom said:

Plus I see Tribe as the ones that really brought Jazz into hip-hop on a larger scale...

yup, i thought that was a bit of grand statement... what about last poets? poetry and jazz was happening long before guru.

rip tho all the same.

i don't think tribe were the progenitors of the whole jazz influence in hip-hop, but definitely helped—wasn't a lot of jazz influence in rap up until the late eighties it seems.

last poets are basically proto-rap though—they're on their own level

PREMIER-PRE-PRE-PR-P-PR-PREMIER-PREMIER

Fuck! RIP

  On 4/20/2010 at 4:26 PM, Captain James Mission said:

Plus I see Stetsasonic as the ones that really brought Jazz into hip-hop on a larger scale...

nevertheless Guru was a true pioneer. ("wild, with my monotone style" - word)