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.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.
