One of the most influential hip-hop artists of the last twenty years (and one of my favorite MCs), GURU (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal, aka Keith Elam) passed away Monday in New York . He was a founding member of the group Gangstarr, and also had a fairly extensive solo career, releasing 4 volumes of his Jazzmatazz series. Apparently, he had been fighting cancer for over a year, though his illness was not made public.

I was quite sad to hear of his passing, as I've been a fan for years. There is some controversy surrounding his death as he wrote a "farewell" letter to his fans in which he publicly distanced himself from his old musical partner DJ Premier. He said that he does not want Premier to participate in any tributes or posthumous awards he may receive. A strange twist that indicates there might be more to this story that comes out in the future.

But the only important fact really is that Guru has passed. He will be missed by hip-hop fans the world over.

RIP Guru.

I thought you said the "Love Guru" and feared Mike Myers was dead. I know I'm an insensitive D bag. Sorry.

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Mike Myers' death actually wouldn't affect me as much as Guru's death. I'm probably the only member of these boards for whom that's true.

I was just kidding. I honestly don't know who is was.

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Really? Nobody here ever listened to Gangstarr??? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller????

OK, I listened to Gangstarr VERY BRIEFLY (my brother is the hip-hop nut, and he's got VERY good taste), but never any of GURU's stuff.

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mechaphil

Well that's a start. Stop listening to 97 Rock you WNY rockers.

Haha I don't listen to the radio at all. Never plays what I like.

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mechaphil

Sad news, but I never heard of him. I listen to Hard Rock, Punk Rock, Metal, and a little rock.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Word. Been listening to some underground hip-hop lately, though.

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Damn, I used to LOVE Gangstarr.....

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"I can't really hear what Jeremy says, because I got my two Stanley Cup Rings plugging my ears...." -Patrick Roy in reference to Jeremy Roenick's trash talking

Finally.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but a friend told me about it and I probably wouldn't have heard otherwise. Figure any fans would want to know.

I've been hearing a lot about this on XM.

If you hear anything about his split w/DJ Premier, or about how he made MC Solaar his medical decision-maker and the drama surrounding those things, keep me posted.