After over a month in the coma after a heart attack, Guru has finally passed away yesterday, probably from cancer. He was an intelligent writer and gifted performer, one of the most influential artists in all of hip hop.
Apparently, he hadn't been in good terms with the other half of Gang Starr, DJ Premier, for quite some time, as an alleged deathbed letter states. But many are disputing this letter, presented by his recent collaborator Solar and stating that Solar be the go-to and end-all person in charge of Guru's legacy - partly because Solar has been shown to be a lying and controlling man before (including not letting any of Guru's extended family of cousins, uncles and aunts visit him in the hospital) and because it seems strange that a man in a coma could produce a letter.
But there'll be plenty of time to assess the controversy later; I'd rather celebrate the man's legacy
I propose two videos this week, one of Gang Starr, the influential duo, and one from his side-project ''Jazzmatazz'', in which he combined rap with jazz and funk with guest artists on each track - something that was unheard of at the time.
So, first off, Gang Starr's Daily Operation record (1992), ''Ex Girl To Next Girl':
And a collaboration with French rapper MC Solaar (not to be confused with the above-mentioned Solar) for the first Jazzmatazz record, released in 1993, entitled ''Le Bien, Le Mal (The Good, The Bad)'':
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