Rapper Guru of Gang Starr dies: report
AFP
NEW YORK - The rapper Guru, of Gang Starr, has died after a long battle with cancer, Entertainment Weekly reported online Thursday.
"The New York-based hip-hop legend, born Keith Elam, had a heart attack March 2 and subsequently fell into a coma. After seemingly recovering from that hit, Guru lost his battle with a cancer-related disease on April 19," the entertainment site said.
Born in Massachusetts, Guru was known for rhymes that could be aggressive as well as wry.
On the solo front he fused jazz and hip hop, launching his Jazzmatazz records which included collaborations with the likes of Branford Marsalis, Herbie Hancock and Erykah Badu.
Gang Starr released six albums between 1989 and 2003, including the critically acclaimed 1998 Moment of Truth.
"The world has lost one of the best MCs and hip hop icons of all-time -- my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru," EW quoted his manager Solar as saying.
"The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius."
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On the solo front he fused jazz and hip hop, launching his Jazzmatazz records which included collaborations with the likes of Branford Marsalis, Herbie Hancock and Erykah Badu.
Gang Starr released six albums between 1989 and 2003, including the critically acclaimed 1998 Moment of Truth.
"The world has lost one of the best MCs and hip hop icons of all-time -- my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru," EW quoted his manager Solar as saying.
"The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius."
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