Guru (rapper)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Keith Elam (July 17, 1962–April 19, 2010), better known by his stage name Guru, was an American rapper and member of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr. He was born in the Boston neighborhood of Roxbury,. 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.
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Biography
Guru founded Gang Starr in 1987, and built a sizable following in the early 1990s, releasing classic albums such as Step in the Arena (1991) and Daily Operation (1992).
In 1993, he released his first solo album, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1. The album featured collaborations with Donald Byrd, N'Dea Davenport, and Roy Ayers, while his second LP, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality, featured Ramsey Lewis, Branford Marsalis and Jamiroquai.
His "first proper solo album", in his own words, was Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures (2005), released with the help of producer and new backup MC Solar (who is not to be confused with MC Solaar from France). The album reached #1 on the college hip-hop charts, but was a failure with both fans and critics. It still managed to sell relatively well for an independent release.
Guru's last projects were the fourth installment in the Jazzmatazz series, entirely produced by Solar, released in early June 2007, and Guru 8.0: Lost And Found, released May 19, 2008 (also in collaboration with Solar). Although there were hopes for a Gang Starr reunion, Guru stated he would not work with DJ Premier again.
Discography
- Gang Starr albums are listed in the group's main article.
Albums
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Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1
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Guru Presents Ill Kid Records
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Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality
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Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul
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Baldhead Slick & Da Click
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Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures
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Jazzmatazz, Vol. 4: The Hip-Hop Jazz Messenger: Back to the Future
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Guru 8.0: Lost and Found
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Appearances
- 1994: "I've Lost My Ignorance" (from the Dream Warriors album Subliminal Simulation)
- 1994: "Black Monday" (from the Buckshot Lefonque single "Another Day")
- 1996: "Listen Here" (from The New Groove: The Blue Note Remix Project)
- 1999: "NY Niggaz" (from the Sway & King Tech album This or That)
- 1999: "Bare Witness" (from the Choclair album Ice Cold)
- 2005: 5 songs from the Big Shug album Never Say Die
- 2007: "Major Game" (from the Domingo album The Most Underrated)
- "Junk" by Ferry Corsten
- "Knowledge of Self" by BT
Filmography
- Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories 2005 as 8-Ball
- Kung Faux 2003 as Voice Over/Various
- Urban Massacre 2002 as Cereal Killah
- Grand Theft Auto III 2001 as 8-Ball
- 3 A.M. 2001 as Hook-Off
- Train Ride 2000 as Jay
- The Substitute 2: School's Out 1998 as Little B.
- Who's the Man? 1993 as Martin Lorenzo