Guru’s Hip-Hop/Jazz Presence Still Missed on the Second Anniversary of His Passing

April 19 marks the two-year anniversary of Keith Edward “Guru” Elam’s passing, after succumbing to complications from cancer. The Hip-Hop icon and pioneer was 48. Coining himself as the “King of Monotone” and widely regarded by critics as the artist/producer who spearheaded the Hip-Hop and Jazz fusion movement with his critically-acclaimed series Jazzmatazz, Guru’s influence can be seen across the genre. Guru formed Gang Starr in the late 1980s with DJ Mike Dee and a host of others. Disputes would later disband the group, leading him to partner with DJ Premier in 1989, who he signed a deal with under Chrysalis. Over the course of Guru’s career, he reached the Billboard charts several times, peaking at #5 for top Independent Albums with his project BaldHead Slick & da Click. He also reached as high as #8 on the R&B Charts with Jazzmatazz Vol3: Streetsoul. In 1995, Guru’s single ”Watch What You Say,” hit the charts with his song peaking at #13 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi Singles Sales. Despite an illustrious career that includes six critically-acclaimed projects with Gang Starr, including two gold albums Moment of Truth (1998) and Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr (1998), Guru’s final days were unfortunately marred by controversy. After suffering from cardiac arrest and subsequently falling into a coma, Guru’s then production partner Solar, claimed in March 2010 that Guru awoke and wrote a letter to fans. Despite this claim, Guru’s family denied that he ever regained consciousness after falling into a coma, ascertaining that the letter was fraudulently written by Solar. Guru’s family would eventually make their own public statements in the Boston Globe and other publications, while longtime Gang Starr producer, DJ Premier, shared his grief over losing Guru in his own public statement: “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,” DJ Premier told fans in an excerpt from his official statement to the public. “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” Guru, a graduate of Atlanta’s Morehouse University and former student of Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, would have turned 51 this July. He leaves behind a massive catalog of solo and collaborative works that continue to be celebrated, especially by the Hip-Hop and Jazz communities, and was an activist for HIV/AIDS awareness and youth issues.

Finally Nas behind the music!

Nas - Behind The Music (2012)

NAS PERFORMING WITH DJ PREMIER & PETE ROCK

Sadat X of Brand Nubian

“I Don’t Camouflage but I wear camouflage!” – Sadat X of Brand Nubian
Hip-Hop has traditionally prided itself on sticking out, but as of late, as the culture assimilates, that art becomes harder to put to canvas. Standing out in a crowd seemingly becomes synonymous with conformity, if that makes any sense.
Then there are those that push the envelope in other ways: fashion, culture, technology, music, and life. These are the ones that refuse to blend in and who set the barometer. This mark knows no age, genre, gender, or background. It’s universal.
“I Don’t Camouflage” is a new series from cultural rebel Aiko Tanyaka, a native of Japan now residing in Brooklyn, and she’s putting her own spin on nonconformity. The series has started with Sadat X,
Sadat X of Brand Nubian
Sadax X has worn lots of camo, but he still managed to stand out as one of the vocalists in the legendary rap collective, Brand Nubian. He speaks on the concept and what it means to him as he departs on a tour of Japan.

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Marvin Gaye Remembered On 27th Death Anniversary

Twenty-seven years ago today, Marvin Gaye was shot to death by his own father after getting in between his parents in an argument. The tragic event ended the career of an artist now considered a legend.

Gaye is remembered today for his ever-present influence in R&B, making him one of the greatest artists of all time. His solo and duo hits are staples among R&B fans and singers worldwide: hits such as How Sweet It Is, Aint No Mountain High Enough, I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Whats Going On and Sexual Healing.

Among his achievements are 41 Top 40 singles on Billboards Pop Singles chart, 60 Top 40 hits on the R&B Singles chart, and a Grammy award. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and was ranked number 6 on Rolling Stones list of The Greatest Singers of All Time.

Later in his career, Gayes motivations for recording songs had matured. He told NME magazine in a 1982 interview, I don't make records for pleasure. I did when I was a younger artist, but I don't today. I record so that I can feed people what they need, what they feel. Hopefully, I record so that I can help someone overcome a bad time.