There are rappers, and then there are rappers. Keith Elam, aka Guru, one half of Gang Starr, solo artist and innovator in his own right, was born today in 1961. He was one of those dudes,a real rapper. Representing BK via Boston, it was his voice that did it The way he rhymed, the flow, the attitude without being an asshole on the mic made him one of my favorite rappers. His innovative Jazzmatazz series reintroduced people like Lonnie Liston Smith, Donald Byrd, and many other great artists to a whole new generation of Hip Hop fans. This turned them on to the foundations, the original innovators, of who he carryied on the tradition for in Hip Hop. Although he’s gone, he is definitely not forgotten. One of the nicest guys in Hip Hop I have ever met, there will only ever be one Guru: Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal. Today’s a day to celebrate one of the best. I had to pull out my Hard To Earn LP and bump it pretty hard today. One of the best Hip Hop records all the way through IMHO.

Rest In Power Guru.

“It’s mostly the voice that gets you up, It’s mostly tha voice, that makes you buck”

Keep Diggin’!