It is a nasty thing to begin your day with a death. It matters not if you knew the departed on a personal level, especially not for us fans of music. For whatever reason, those of us who need music in our lives have a very close connection with our musical heroes, almost as if we were friends (at the very least, there’s some sort of bizarre hero worship going on). For Mr. Rainwater and I, it’s particularly depressing, given that our work is a massive love letter to them. If they should die before even getting to glimpse it, well, we’ve done them a bit of a disservice.

So, who departed today? That would be The Guru (known to family and friends as Keith Elam), the New England-half of hip-hop supergroup Gang Starr. After years of battling the son-of-a-bitch that is cancer, the biggest talent in hip-hop gave up the ghost and went beyond the veil. An awful shame, all things considered: had it not been for the Guru, who knows how long it would have been before this hack of a writer realized that rap is NOT simply a letter away from “crap” (what a rotten joke, that one!)? When would the gates to such classics as Kool Keith and cLOUDDEAD been opened to this ingrate? It is entirely too likely that I would have remained ignorant of these names for years to come, and would have been a lesser man for it.

While, yes, there is a bit of the normal rap game afoot in the Guru’s work (copious bragging, a good deal of threats are issued, and more than a few references to the number of women our MCs have slept with) than this author is generally accepting of, that it is so masterfully rhymed and metered excuses any downfalls that I might find with it. When he steps away from these simple themes, though, he truly shines (see “Above the Clouds” which, while an ode to the man’s talents, is also a meditation on originality). That this is all set to beats, rhythms and musical schemes more at home in jazz than in typical rap just cements my love for the man’s work. Though I’ve never listened to his work beyond Gang Starr (such as his Jazzmatazz efforts), I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them; I cannot imagine they are anything less than the highest quality works.

Ah, Guru, how we didn’t even know you! At some point during this stupid, long week, I shall pay you proper tribute, in the way that you might have preferred. Until now, though, there is only this abortion of an essay in your memory. Rest in peace; lord knows you have earned it.

– Austin Price

P.S.: I figure it’s not too terribly wrong to link to some of my favorites, just to let you kids have a look-see at what you’re missing out on:

Above the Clouds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IoPeNC4k_0

You Know my Steez:

Militia (my introduction into this wonderful world):