{"title":"Guru","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout Guru\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeith Edward Elam, performing as Guru (an acronym for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal), was born in Boston, Massachusetts on July 17, 1961. He attended Morehouse College in Atlanta and worked in social services before pursuing music full-time. He launched Gang Starr in Boston in 1985, with DJ Premier joining in 1988. His parallel Jazzmatazz project (1993-2007) brought together hip hop with live jazz musicians including Donald Byrd, Branford Marsalis, MC Solaar, Roy Ayers, Herbie Hancock, and many others - widely cited as a foundational jazz-rap series. He died from cardiac arrest following a battle with multiple myeloma on April 19, 2010 at age 48.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSound and style\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGuru's solo Jazzmatazz catalog combined hip hop, jazz rap, jazz fusion, and conscious hip hop with extensive live jazz musician collaborations. His Gang Starr work combined East Coast hip hop, jazz rap, and conscious hip hop with DJ Premier's signature sample-driven production. His distinctive baritone vocal delivery and lyrical approach are widely cited as foundational templates for conscious hip hop.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDiscography highlights\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJazzmatazz, Volume 1 (1993, Chrysalis)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJazzmatazz, Volume II: The New Reality (1995, Chrysalis)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJazzmatazz, Volume III: Streetsoul (2000, Virgin)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBaldhead Slick \u0026amp; da Click (2001, Virgin)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVersion 7.0: The Street Scriptures (2005, 7 Grand)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJazzmatazz Vol. 4: The Hip Hop Jazz Messenger - Back to the Future (2007, 7 Grand)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSee Gang Starr for primary catalog\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFor collectors\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eChrysalis pressings of Jazzmatazz Volume 1 and Volume 2 are widely collected. Multiple anniversary editions have been issued. See Gang Starr collection for primary catalog context.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhere to start\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eListeners new to Guru typically start with Jazzmatazz Volume 1 (1993), alongside the Gang Starr catalog for primary context. \u003cspan class=\"related-collections\"\u003eExplore more: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hip-hop-vinyl-records\"\u003eHip-Hop\/Rap\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"guru-jazzmatazz-volume-1-vinyl","title":"Jazzmatazz Volume 1 LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eGuru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 is a jazz rap album from Guru, one half of the duo, Gang Star.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540853174455,"sku":"210000032324","price":27.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/819ytdudw2l-sx466.jpg?v=1781154500"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.waxtraxrecords.com\/collections\/guru.oembed","provider":"Wax Trax Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}