IT WAS A SAD DAY FOR ME TO GET CONFIRMATION ON THE DEATH OF A MAN WHO I WILL CONTINUE TO CALL MY BROTHER, KEITH ELAM, BETTER KNOWN AS GURU OF THE LEGENDARY GANG STARR.
FROM 1988-2004, WE EXPERIENCED SO MUCH SUCCESS TOGETHER THAT WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR BUSINESSES INDEPENDENTLY AND GIVE EACH OTHER WHAT GURU CALLED “CREATIVE SPACE”, BEFORE PLANNING TO REUNITE FOR OUR 7TH LP WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT. TRAGICALLY, WE WILL NEVER REACH THAT DAY.
I’VE BEEN ASKED TO COMMENT ON A LETTER SPEAKING ILL OF ME WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY WRITTEN BY GURU IN HIS DYING DAYS. ALL I WILL SAY ABOUT IT IS THAT OUR TIME TOGETHER WAS BEAUTIFUL, WE BUILT A HIP HOP LEGACY TOGETHER, AND NO ONE CAN RE-WRITE HISTORY OR TAKE AWAY MY LOVE FOR HIM. ONE THING I WOULD NEVER DO IS PLAY AROUND WITH THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS LIFE.
I WILL CELEBRATE GURU’S LIFE… I WILL HONOR HIS MEMORY… I WILL GRIEVE WITH THE ELAM FAMILY OVER HIS UNTIMELY DEATH… I WILL REMEMBER THE GANG STARR FOUNDATION AND ALL OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF GANG STARR WHO CAME BEFORE ME – WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER… MOSTLY, I WILL CHERISH EVERYTHING WE CREATED TOGETHER AS GANG STARR, FOREVER. I’M GONNA MISS HEARING HIS SIGNATURE MONOTONE VOICE WHEN HE WALKS IN THE ROOM, BUT THE SONGS WILL ALWAYS BRING IT BACK TO ME….HIS RHYME FLOWS WERE INSANE, AND I WILL NEVER REMOVE HIM FROM MY HEART AND SOUL…….REST IN PEACE TO THE MAN WHO FELT “SATISFACTION FROM THE STREET CROWD REACTION” … I LOVE YOU GOO…….DJ PREMIER
Public letter from DJ Premier on the tragic death of his partner in crime Guru, keep your head up Premo!! Hip Hop has lost another legend.
The Hip-Hop world will always remember GURU
First lol I always wanted to say that. Anyway much love to all who support Gang Starr and Guru’s legacy will forever reign.
Nice piece, Preemo. RIP Guru…
all i wanna say is earths loss, is god’s gain,
Rest In Peace – the legendary GURU,
and i don’t think anyone should mention ”that guys” name on this page, out of respect, hope everyone agrees
Primo the best
sad
r.i.p Guru!
Well said, tasteful & professional….I must say it was heartfelt and I’m glad you see your glass as half-full and not half-empty.
both of you guys had God-given talents, utilized them productively and made classic, quality music which will stand the test of time..
Thanks GANG STARR for your contribution to hip hop….
L.I.P. Live on in Peace GURU….your legacy lives on…
I hope to make my mark in the game with your inspiration.,,,BLESS!
A Legend that will be missed. Salutes to Primo for keeping it classy through all the turmoil of the last few months.
R.I.P GURU Thanx for the joy in listining ,you will neva be forgotton my brother
neva!!!!!!!!!! BLACKSOUL.
so people its official
its creativity space!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and no beef!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
omg
rip
So heartfelt. If you didn’t feel a tear shedding, you don’t have a soul. GANGSTARR FOREVER!
Thank you Premier.
Much Love and Respect Premier, I’m sorry about your loss. Keep your head up brother. RIP GURU! LOVE YOU!
sad. i just discovered his work.i was never a fan. i feel late. going 2 buy all the gang starr albums on saturday. gotta catch up and expirience what many gang starr fans hace over many years.
@mrdrastickldn
Gifted unlimited rhymes universal, lives on forever. We will remember him for gangstarr creations. Not solar. Justice served through reality. Preemo your words are genuine. Good look. Forget the hate, spread the love, and put this into the music we create and share. Peace to a brother to all real artist, “its the voice that gets you up ” perfection
I agree with all the comments, and they are all well said.
Primo, thanks for sharing your wonderful thoughts.
GURU still lives!
That must have been hard Preemo, well said, nothing less from you was expected! He will truly be missed! From the Jamn family to all of Guru’s family our condolenses go out! R.I.P Your talents will be missed, but never forgotten. Peace
Pup
One word 4 DJ Pemier in those difficult times:
RESPECT
Keep Gangstarr Alive. Keep Guru alive.
http://www.fotolog.com/zengagain/15006069
Man I’m still grieving. Premo is a class act. My prayers with the Elam family. RIP Bald Head Slick.
Very eloquent statement ,Preem you’re always a class act.
RIP Guru !
Thank you, Premier, for the touching letter. And thank you, Guru, for all of the great music you made with your partner as Gang Starr. You touched millions and the records & your impact will live on. You both have much to be proud of and we’ll all keep Guru’s voice, name, and life in our hearts forever. RIP Guru.
True definition of a MC..
Premo you have risen above the drama created by certain people during these tragic times. The world will ultimately remember the music that gang starr created, and nothing else. People may have rode on coat-tails and been given meal tickets, but the hip-hop community is 100% thinking of Guru, his family and YOU, and no-one else.
Well said by a man of class…and with love in his heart. No doubt in my mind that the real truth will come to light reguarding “the other dude”. Love is truth and that devil can’t touch it. “This is in memory of”….the legendary GURU!
RIP Guru.. Stay up Premo!
REAL DOPE!!! … Classic Primo
Respect to Preemo.
Godbless Guru.
Thank you Primo. I, and I’m sure many others, was waiting for your official statement, and it is just as I would expect it: with a lot of class and sincerity. Thank you. All the true Hip-Hop heads around the world are supporting the Elam family and the Gang Starr Foundation, in this hard times.
My heart goes out to you my brother!
We all know Guru did not write that letter. May GURU the legend rest in peace.
The Hip-Hop world has lost one half of the greatest Rap Duo of all time!!!!!!!! Guru may you Rest In Peace!!!!!!!! GANGSTARR FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
please check out a remix i made as a tribute to guru. from a guy that bought every rap cassette from day one back in the 80′s. this is really tough to accept…i’m still waiting for my moment of truth…:(
http://www.myspace.com/haze3000
Mad respect Primo. True class act. RIP Guru.
i can honestly say that guru and gangstarr changed my life.. being like 10 years old already anxiously waiting for any form of music from guru and primo ..changed the way i listened to music.. thought about life.. and gave me that passion.. guru will be forever missed.. and regardless of anything said in the final days for whatever reason possible premier will always have my support and sympathy.. god bless
Premiers humble words bring me tears of joy. RIP Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal. You are a true legend and your devastating battle lyrics, said with sly wit and a monotone voice will always be remembered by me, you were one of my favorite emcees. I too hope to one day follow in Premier’s steps, ever since i started listening to gang starr (1 year ago) i have had this special inspiration and love for hip hop that i just cant get rid of. Word up, what an influential legacy Guru and DJ Premier have. Again, like the other guy said, try to keep certain people out of this. This man needs to rest in peace.
Sad time for hip-hop because another true MC has been lost. What’s even sadder are the circumstances surrounding his death. I feel sorry for everyone caught up in that mess and hope that the truth will come out very soon so that Guru can rest in peace.
Guru,
I have been a fan since the 80s and have followed your career since that time. Even when I didn’t care for rap music as a whole, you were the exception. Through your lyrics, you spoke truth, dropped knowledge and gave encouragement. In my opinion, you were one of the best in the game. A class act. The genuine article. There was nothing fake or phony about you at all. That’s something hard to find in hip-hop nowadays.
My regrets are that I never got a chance to meet you and that you left this planet way too soon and without resolving the issues with your family. Rest in peace Guru. You are in a better place now. Free of hurt and pain. You will never be forgotten by the millions of fans that you’ve left behind.
My condolences to his family. May you find peace and comfort during this difficult time.
Yo Preme, I think your capslock is stuck, homie. LOL
But YO, the world knows SOLAR wrote that letter. He will get his.
It’s good to see your thoughts on the matter, though. Keep spreading the GangStarr love. GANGSTARR FOREVER!
Torino (Italy)
I have no words to express my feelings after this sad news…
This is a sad moment……keith was my boy…
what a big loss for the all entire HipHop comunity!
my prayers is for the fam and close friends…..
too bad, i couldn’t be there now,
im too far away…but u are very close in my heart and my mind.
i know Guru more then 15 years…
since u came to Italy…in the early 90′s.
with GANGSTARR!
I will never forget, when he came to my house, the very first time… it was a such honor for a big fan like me.. a real cool dude and very talented Artist.
Funny..i remenber..he was surprised to see pics of his friends hanged on my wall…..he was laughin’….he felted right away, like being at home! ..after that…we became good friends along with you, Gordon, Black, jeru, Dap and the rest of the crew..
we share lotta great memories together, on stage, backstage, in clubs…everywhere in italy, in Barcelona, in Ny, in Vegas… everywhere we had the chance to see each other around the world! …everytime was like meeting my HipHop fam.
I feel i’m still part of Gangstarr foundation since he put me down…he always used to say..Mauri is fam
I can’t believe my boy Guru is…..i don’t even wanna say that word!
Definitely he ruled a big influence in my life, like for many of us that had the honor and pleasure to see him performing and know him personally.
Hope he’s in a better place now…”Above The clouds”
thank you Guru… I already miss u!!!
mauri
PS: PREMO PLEASE, STAY STRONG BRO…LUV YA FAM!
gifted unlimited rhymes universal/ perfect combo him and premo, wish they reunited once more we neva no whatz in da future so fo the sake of future hip hop generations lets kut the bullshit the industry tries to use to seperate the power we have as a whole gener of our muzik and get back 2 bizness
Premo,
I spent the entire day listening to you guys! Goo with da wit da voice, U you wit da handz.. Prem, my heart feelin mad pain, we lost a legend. U lost a brother! My Word, I loved ur music! YA NICCA’s GOT STRAIGHT CLASSIC’S!!!!!!! Dat “boom bat” wit dat “line 4 line” straight fire, MAAAAAANNNNNNNNNN listen!!!! REAL HIP HOP 4 sure!
I think your official blog abt Goo’s feeling was handled very classily. Hope the things I am reading abt you not able to c UR BROTHER on his death bed was false…
& please @ every show BLAST Guru’s NAME!!!! ONE LOVE!!!
REST IN PEACE Guru
Well said.
R.I.P. Guru.
Rest in Peace Guru, you are now free. Like Primo said the original members of Gang Starr and fans and friends will always remember the music. It’s about the music, the message, about real hip hop.
Guys I happen to know Solar and Premo both and they have both told me it was because Premo slept with Guru’s sister. please feel free to discuss further at my site.
This letter is very well written. GURU was a talented artist. Remember That letter which snake azz Solar claimed Guru released in the middle of march? Dont forget that letter, either.
it said:
“I am doing fine and I am recovering! I’m weak though. Solar is the only person who has the accurate info on my situation. Any info from anybody else is false! I appreciate your well wishes and all the love!”
Highly suspect! THE DUDE WAS IN A COMA IN MARCH!!! I read on a message board that the CNA who was cleaning up GURU said he was in a coma the entire month of march. Im coming back to post the link to the message board, i cant find it…gotta search for it again.
sidenote, please support Ciara and her new RIDE video, thats a bad bish!
Premier, i would never doubt your love for Guru and Gang Starr. Anyone that would is straight stupid. It sucks when rumors get spread, especially during a sad and tragic time like this. Let Guru rest in peace!!! One of the best voices on the mic, you knew exactly who it was, when he would spit a verse. He is a true hip hop legend!
Peace to Dj Premier.You are HipHop,and We Don’t have nothing but Love for You B.
We really need to show Guru some respect. Nothing said by anyone about anything will change what he and Premo did for hip hop. This is a seminal group that changed the game and no personal beefs or issues can ever change that.
Respect to Dj Premier!
What was expected of Premier came and it was as we expected. Nothing else but strong, warm & truthfull words. I don’t care what the ‘letter to the fans’ had to say Premier has every right to response on Guru’s death wether its legal or not.
Guru will be missed and grieved that is for sure. Hiphop lost a pioneer, at the time he was a living legend. Now he’ll remain a legend for eternity. Nevertheless, Guru will never leave our, and every hiphop fans heart or soul. It’s the music that flows in all of us, we all feel it.
My condolences to the Elam family, friends of Guru and everybody whom was close to him.
Live on in eternity, may you rest in peace with Tupac, Big L, Big Pun, ODB and so many more.
Hiphop is more than music, its a lifestyle. Honour those who braught ease to your mind, music to your ears and a goosebump chill when u hear that bombass beat.
Farewell to the mortal world Keith Elam, your music shall live on forever.
A very class act, respetful letter about the man.
Nothing else to say.
Peace Preemo, Stand strong.
Esdee