G.U.R.U. of GANGSTARR live radio freestyle - DET STORE MIX - DANMARKS RADIO P3 video free download

video by: Kenneth Skoubølling

http://www.youtube.com/user/Kennethskouboelling

Keith Elam aka. GURU Tribute,video from radio show Det Store Mix, with dj POWER & DJ TYPHOON in Copenhagen Denmark 2002

REST IN PEACE

Cam´n´ Edit : Kenneth Skouboelling

Still Photo : Jesper Skouboelling

Guru

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Keith Edward Elam (July 17, 1961 -- April 19, 2010), better known by his stage name Guru, was an American emcee and member of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr, along with DJ Premier. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The name Guru is a backronym that stands for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal and the less-often used God is Universal; he is the Ruler Universal, which are both references to the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths. He is also known for lending his voice for 8-Ball in Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.

Biography

Early years

Keith Elam was born in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. His father, Harry, was a judge and his mother, Barbara, was the co-director of libraries in the Boston public school system. He attended Noble and Greenough in Dedham, Massachusetts for high school. Elam graduated in business administration from Morehouse College in Atlanta and took graduate classes in the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. He later dropped out to pursue a rap career. Elam worked briefly in social services.

Musical career

Keith Elam began his rap career under the pseudonym, MC Keithy E, but later changed name to Guru. He founded Gang Starr in 1987. The group initially released three records, produced by DJ Mark the 45 King, on the Wild Pitch Records record label but these records received little attention. After a change in line-up, the group now consisting of rapper Elam and DJ Premier, Gang Starr released their first LP No More Mr. Nice Guy on Wild Pitch Records; they achieved a sizable following and released six critically acclaimed and influential albums from 1989 to 2003. Two albums, 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 rap" with Guru's rapping described as sharp eyed but anti-ostentatious.

In 1993, Elam 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. His second solo LP, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality, featured Chaka Khan, Ramsey Lewis, Branford Marsalis and Jamiroquai. The third installment was released in 2000, but received less positive reviews.[9]

In reference to the above mentioned Jazzmatazz project, Elam 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 voclaists of the time. You know, the whole thing was experimental, but I knew it was an idea that would spawn some historic music."

Elam's first solo album not a part the Jazzmatazz series, Baldhead Slick & da Click was released in 2001 to poor reviews. The album reached #22 in the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop album charts. The "seventh chapter in the book of Guru", Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures, was released in 2005 on Elam's record label, 7 Grand Records. The album was produced entirely by labelmate, Solar. It reached #54 on the Billboard R&B albums charts and received mixed reviews.

Elam's final releases were the fourth installment in the Jazzmatazz series, again with production entirely by Solar, released in June 2007, and Guru 8.0: Lost And Found, released May 19, 2009 (also in collaboration with Solar). A Gang Starr reunion album was planned but will never be released due to