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Guru
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist
Guru, in full Keith Edward Elam, was an American rapper, producer and actor, born on 17 July 1961 in Roxbury, a district of Boston. He died on 19 April 2010, at the age of forty-eight, of multiple myeloma. His father Harry Justin Elam Sr. was a lawyer and judge, and the first African American judge to be appointed to the Boston Municipal Court. Elam began under the name MC Keithy E and later changed it to Guru. In 1987 he founded Gang Starr, with DJ Premier. The first records, produced by The 45 King on Wild Pitch Records, attracted little attention. After a change in the line-up the group did break through.
Music and breakthrough
Alongside Gang Starr, Guru began the Jazzmatazz series, of which Volume 1 appeared in 1993 with Loungin'. Volume II followed in 1995, Volume 3 in 2000 and Volume 4 in 2007. He also made solo albums such as Baldhead Slick & Da Click (2001) and Version 7.0 (2005). In 2012 About.com placed him at number 49 of its top 50 MCs, and The Source called his lyrics particularly thoughtful.
Influence
Guru's voice is low, calm and dry, and he talks more than he shouts. In Jazzmatazz he combined hip hop with live jazz musicians, which made him one of the pioneers of jazz-rap fusion. His style proved that a rapper could also sound relaxed and thoughtful, and the combination of jazz and beats was later taken up by many others.
Listening
Loungin' · Guru, 1993
Discography
Studio albums
- 1993Jazzmatazz, Volume 1
- 1993Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1
- 1995Jazzmatazz Volume II: The New Reality
- 2000Jazzmatazz, Volume 3: Streetsoul
- 2001Baldhead Slick & Da Click
- 2005Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures
- 2007Jazzmatazz Vol. 4: The Hip Hop Jazz Messenger: "Back To The Future"
- 2009Guru 8.0: Lost & Found
- 2020Guru’s Jazzmatazz Back to the Future Timebomb Instrumental