According to Solar, Guru suffered from the malicious illness for over a year and after numerous special treatments under the supervision of medical specialists failed, the legendary MC succumbed to the disease. Guru always tried to keep this harrowing diagnosis in private but in early 2010 he had to admit himself to hospital due to serious effects caused by the disease.

Since the onset of illness, Guru tried to live a “normal” life as an influential and outstanding musician, loving father, family man, and best friend. Doctors encouraged Guru to think positive that the cancer can be arrested and that a full recovery is possible but several special treatments including hard hitting chemotherapies failed.

While in hospital with terminal cancer, Guru wrote a letter, which was provided by Solar, to his fans addressing his illness, his shining music career, his family and loved ones.

“I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options. I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting,” read the official Guru statement.

“My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody’s feelings on the matter. It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of my life, my sun KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by Solar on behalf myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own.”

The statement reads on, “I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this. I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. As the sole founder of GangStarr, I am very proud of what GangStarr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of Hip-Hop/Jazz. I am most proud of my leadership and pioneering efforts on Jazzmatazz 4 for reinvigorating the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre in a time when music quality has reached an all time low. Solar and I have toured in places that I have never been before with GangStarr or Jazzmatatazz and we gained a reputation for being the best on the planet at Hip-Hop/Jazz, as well as the biggest and most influential Hip-Hop/Jazz record with Jazzmatazz 4 of the decade to now. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do! As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life.”

Guru, born Keith Elam, rose to fame in the 80’s as the founder of the legendary rap group GangStarr. The group released the classic single Words I Manifest followed by their critically acclaimed debut album No More Mr. Nice Guy (1989) and the classic album Step In The Arena (1991). Guru was the first artist to truly blend Hip-Hop with Live Jazz beginning in 1993, and seeing the vast influences his Jazzmatazz concept has had on the industry, it is clear that Guru’s musical contributions have been way ahead of their time. Guru has worked with such great artists as Herbie Hancock, Isaac Hayes, Donald Byrd, Ramsey Lewis, Roy Ayers, Chaka Kahn, Branford Marsalis, David Sanborn, Bob James, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Common, Angie Stone, Jamiroquai, Macy Gray and Damien Marley, to name a few. Despite the fact that Guru isn’t hailing from New York, he is noted as a pioneer of the New York sound and true lyrical Hip-Hop. Guru later on joined forces with hit producer Solar and formed his label 7 Grand Records with the goal to keep “real” Hip-Hop alive.

Guru’s longtime partner, Solar, issues an official statement about the lost of the legendary MC which you can read below:

“The world has lost one of the best MCs and Hip-Hop icons of all time — my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru! Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle! This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it but tragically this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius. For the fans that reached out with love and support, I can’t tell you how much that meant to Guru and myself. Guru prepared this letter [read above] while he was in the hospital for the fans. I hope now that Guru has moved on to a better place! Guru is a great Black American Hero and should always be remembered as such and he is much more that just a Hip-Hop icon — he has changed the world for the better. I salute my fallen brother Guru! He will be missed tremendously!” Solar stated.

We will sorely miss Guru, both from a personal and from a professional standpoint. Our warmest condolences to Guru’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.

No way you'll never make it
Come with the weak ****, I break kids
Step into my zone, mad rhymes will stifle ya
Lines like rifles go blast when I kick some ass
A lot of rappers be like one time wonders
Couldn't say a fly rhyme if there was one right under
Their noses, I hate those mother****in posers
But I'm so real to them it's scary
And with my unique skills na g you can't compare me
And no we don't make wack tracks
and all the suckers get pushed back when I'm kickin real facts
I represent set up **** like a tent boy
You're paranoid cause you're my son like Elroy
And you'd be happy as hell to get a record deal
Maybe your soul you'd sell to have mass appeal

In the face of death it is incumbent upon us to end our earthly conflicts, not create them. I dont believe for one second that Guru wrote such a distasteful and disrespectful letter which benefits the interests of one man --- Solar. This is the last chapter in the bizarre saga of the life of Guru.

I dont know if you have been privy to the last few months of Guru's existence, but we saw Guru's coma last month lead to a complete debacle, resulting in Guru's family and close friends accusing Solar of shutting them out of the hospital and creating drama. Rumors of a homosexual relationship intensified and the legacy of Guru and Gangstarr was forever shattered as it appeared that Guru was being taken advantage of by Solar in his weakened state.

And thats the real tragedy here. I've never been the biggest fan of Guru the MC, but thats irrelevant. What does matter is that the combination of Premier's sonic brilliance and the image of Guru as a profound, thoughtful, and deep brotha helped catapult the duo into the stratospheres of hip hop. They were great representatives for hip hop and they truely touched the lives of their fans.

Thats been tainted now.

This story is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better, but it is my hope that this Solar cat doesnt continue to disrespect the memory of Guru, and that the memory of his career will prevail.

Rest in Peace Guru in the truest sense of the phrase.

sebstar wrote:What a shame.

In the face of death it is incumbent upon us to end our earthly conflicts, not create them. I dont believe for one second that Guru wrote such a distasteful and disrespectful letter which benefits the interests of one man --- Solar. This is the last chapter in the bizarre saga of the life of Guru.

I dont know if you have been privy to the last few months of Guru's existence, but we saw Guru's coma last month lead to a complete debacle, resulting in Guru's family and close friends accusing Solar of shutting them out of the hospital and creating drama. Rumors of a homosexual relationship intensified and the legacy of Guru and Gangstarr was forever shattered as it appeared that Guru was being taken advantage of by Solar in his weakened state.

And thats the real tragedy here. I've never been the biggest fan of Guru the MC, but thats irrelevant. What does matter is that the combination of Premier's sonic brilliance and the image of Guru as a profound, thoughtful, and deep brotha help catapult the duo into the stratospheres of hip hop. They were great representatives for hip hop and they truely touched the lives of their fans.

Thats been tainted now.

This story is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better, but it is my hope that this Solar cat doesnt continue to disrespect the memory of Guru, and that the legacy of his career will prevail.

Rest in Peace Guru in the truest sense of the phrase.

agreed bro.

i had heard about the coma he fell into last month and guru's nephew had said that he came out of it but i believe that story was quickly shot down by solar. i also heard the same stories you did about a homosexual relationship there and i'm not totally sure what was going on, but clearly SOMETHING was.

primo tried a few times to get guru back with him to lay down some more tracks but guru refused every single time. primo is one of the most respected dudes in the game so i'm not sure what guru and him were beefin on, but i gotta say i gotta take primos side based on everything ive heard about him over the years.

like you said, this is a real shame because it's clear something is up, but we just don't know what it is. either way, it's certain now that one of the greatest duo's ever will never be again.

nyk4ever wrote:

sebstar wrote:What a shame.

In the face of death it is incumbent upon us to end our earthly conflicts, not create them. I dont believe for one second that Guru wrote such a distasteful and disrespectful letter which benefits the interests of one man --- Solar. This is the last chapter in the bizarre saga of the life of Guru.

I dont know if you have been privy to the last few months of Guru's existence, but we saw Guru's coma last month lead to a complete debacle, resulting in Guru's family and close friends accusing Solar of shutting them out of the hospital and creating drama. Rumors of a homosexual relationship intensified and the legacy of Guru and Gangstarr was forever shattered as it appeared that Guru was being taken advantage of by Solar in his weakened state.

And thats the real tragedy here. I've never been the biggest fan of Guru the MC, but thats irrelevant. What does matter is that the combination of Premier's sonic brilliance and the image of Guru as a profound, thoughtful, and deep brotha help catapult the duo into the stratospheres of hip hop. They were great representatives for hip hop and they truely touched the lives of their fans.

Thats been tainted now.

This story is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better, but it is my hope that this Solar cat doesnt continue to disrespect the memory of Guru, and that the legacy of his career will prevail.

Rest in Peace Guru in the truest sense of the phrase.

agreed bro.

i had heard about the coma he fell into last month and guru's nephew had said that he came out of it but i believe that story was quickly shot down by solar. i also heard the same stories you did about a homosexual relationship there and i'm not totally sure what was going on, but clearly SOMETHING was.

primo tried a few times to get guru back with him to lay down some more tracks but guru refused every single time. primo is one of the most respected dudes in the game so i'm not sure what guru and him were beefin on, but i gotta say i gotta take primos side based on everything ive heard about him over the years.

like you said, this is a real shame because it's clear something is up, but we just don't know what it is. either way, it's certain now that one of the greatest duo's ever will never be again.

Just look at that damn letter which is essentially a last will and testament. Look at the shameless self promotion of Solar and the overall bizarre focus that is placed on that man. This is FUKKIN disgusting, bro.

sebstar wrote:

jimimou wrote:i still remember the last show i saw guru in - he was on the bill w talib, nice and smooth, the roots, and common. we were sitting in orchestra seats and guru was sitting there along side us for a while while th eother groups performed. real cool cat - he was interacting with the rest of us in the row and we lit one up and passed it down the aisle - my man didnt partake but you could tell he wanted to....

rip guru.

agree w seb on premo, he's one of the pioneer dj's in the bizz - whatever beef they had - too bad they couldnt put it to rest before he passed....

Thats a dope ass story, Jimi....thats the way I want to remember Gifted Unlimited.

Rhymes Universal....

"The rejected stone is now the cornerstone/sort of like the master builder when I make my way home" --- Damn, thats so deep.

sebstar wrote:
Just look at that damn letter which is essentially a last will and testament. Look at the shameless self promotion of Solar and the overall bizarre focus that is placed on that man. This is FUKKIN disgusting, bro.

just read that letter seb.. i dunno what to say.

it's hard to even believe if guru even really wrote it. i'm not saying he didn't, but at this point i feel like the doubt in solar is legit. he can't even call primo by his name? pathetic if that's the case.

nyk4ever wrote:

sebstar wrote:
Just look at that damn letter which is essentially a last will and testament. Look at the shameless self promotion of Solar and the overall bizarre focus that is placed on that man. This is FUKKIN disgusting, bro.

just read that letter seb.. i dunno what to say.

it's hard to even believe if guru even really wrote it. i'm not saying he didn't, but at this point i feel like the doubt in solar is legit. he can't even call primo by his name? pathetic if that's the case.

This paragraph right here is just so suspect and foul sounding --- I believe in my heart it was inserted or modified --- "My work with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time"???:

The statement reads on, “I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this. I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. As the sole founder of GangStarr, I am very proud of what GangStarr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of Hip-Hop/Jazz. I am most proud of my leadership and pioneering efforts on Jazzmatazz 4 for reinvigorating the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre in a time when music quality has reached an all time low. Solar and I have toured in places that I have never been before with GangStarr or Jazzmatatazz and we gained a reputation for being the best on the planet at Hip-Hop/Jazz, as well as the biggest and most influential Hip-Hop/Jazz record with Jazzmatazz 4 of the decade to now. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do! As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life.”