If you’re a true hip hop head, you probably remember the exact spot where you were standing and the pair of sneakers you were wearing the first time you heard “Jazz Thing” by Gangstarr. 

Hip hop and jazz, a ridiculous combination at the time.  Even crazier to think bebop and swing records could be cut in with an 808 and a big boom bap beat.  The craziest yet, the fact that a poet - a true lyricist could pull it all together with a butter-smooth voice and an on-point delivery, dropping the science of African music and the power of jazz.

Heads a little newer to the game could probably tell you the club they were at the first time they were blessed with “Mass Appeal.”

Here you had the evolution of gangster rap.  Real stories from the urban landscape but with a bugged out beat and a neck-popping bassline.  Think of all of those kids bobbing their heads while this joint played.  Once again, Guru hit us with knowledge.  A finely crafted lesson plan on what it takes to make it in the shady world of hip hop and what happens to phony rappers that stepped up false.

There’s probably even a hipster out there or a jazz afficianado that has their favorite joint from the Jazzmatazz catalog.  Once again, Guru took risks and broke new ground in the music industry.  Revisiting his jazz roots, here he grabbed old school jazz musicians and combined them with established, as well as up-and-coming hip hop artists.  “Loungin’” led the way, but all four volumes reinvented the genre.

Regardless of your involvement with the culture, there’s no denying that Guru, born Keith Elam in Boston, Massachusetts, later representing Brooklyn to the fullest, had an influence on the game and all those involved.  Whether you are a DJ, a beat-maker, an MC or just a fan, Guru’s presence no doubt effected how you approached your craft...and your headphones.

Sadly, Guru lost his battle with cancer on April 19th, 2010.  After suffering from a heart attack in February, he was never able to properly recover and spent his final days in the hospital with his friend and long time collaborator Solaar.

While there’s a ton of drama surrounding his death and the future of his estate, there’s no question about his legacy and the long-term positive effect Guru will have on the industry and hip hop culture. 

Peace and Blessings.