Guru of Gang Starr died Monday night, a month after the cancer-stricken artist collapsed and went into a coma.
The 43-year-old rapper, whose real name is Keith Elam, had been suffering from cancer for over a year. The report quoted a statement from Guru’s camp that inferred the cause was complications from cancer:
?According to [producer] Solar, Guru suffered from the malicious illness for over a year and after numerous special treatments under the supervision of medical specialists failed, the legendary MC succumbed to the disease. Guru always tried to keep this harrowing diagnosis in private but in early 2010 he had to admit himself to hospital due to serious effects caused by the disease.?
Guru’s wikipedia page reports that he suffered a cardiac arrest on February 28 2010 and, following surgery days later, fell into a coma. He woke from the coma but died on April 19, 2010 after his long battle with cancer.
As the duo Gang Starr with DJ Premiere, the group released its most successful album in 1998, Moment Of Truth. They emerged in the ?80s and were featured in Spike Lee’s movie Mo Betta Blues.? Gang Starr released its last album, The Ownerz, in 2003
Gang Starr helped forge the east coast hip hop sound. Guru and Gang Starr were also known as pioneers of the acid jazz sound with their track ?Jazz Thing,? which was featured on the Mo? Better Blues soundtrack:
Video ~ Jazz Thing ~ Gang Starr
R.I.P. Guru