Rapper Guru, one-half of the great Gang Starr, died yesterday of cancer. He was 43.
Guru was born Keith Elam. He grew up in Boston and founded an early version of Gang Starr in 1985. In 1989 he hooked up with DJ Premier, and they released No More Mr. Nice Guy.
It took a few years, but once they found their groove on 1992’s Daily Operation (their best album), Gang Starr became one of the decade’s top hip-hop crews. Guru and Premier released six albums before calling it quits for good in 2003. They apparently haven’t spoken since.
Guru had been battling cancer for the past year. He had a heart attack in February and went into a coma.
So pull out your copy of Daily Operation and give it a spin in tribute to Guru. It’s a great record. And he was a great rapper. —Michael Gallucci (follow me on Twitter @mgallucci)
This article appears in Apr 14-20, 2010.