Full Clips: The Gangstarr Files

Here's every appearance of a member of the Gang Starr clique on Wavelength, the failed video show that inspired this blog. The last clip, a long talk with Guru and Premier hasn't been seen since it originally aired in 1992. For more on these interviews, with Big Shug, Jeru Da Damaja, DJ Premier and Guru, hit the links like Gary Player.

RIP Guru.

Gang Starr 2003


Jeru Da Damaja - 1996


Big Shug - 1996




Gangstarr - 1992



RIP GURU.

Rap Legend Guru Dies

MTV UK is reporting that Guru, one half of the legendary rap duo Gangstarr, died yesterday. The channel's web site says that the rapper suffered with cancer secretly for several years.

After Guru slipped into a coma on March 2, knowledge of his condition became public. Information about his health was hard to obtain as family and friends fought over access to the 43-year-old rap vet. It was a unfortunate public battle, waged with over twitter, youtube, press releases and radio interviews. It is also one that will also likely continue, given that his producer has him writing a letter from the grave, but that's not where my focus is right now.

Gangstarr was one of the most consistent rap groups of all time. They maintained a formula for their music over the course of six albums, but never fell victim to the law of diminishing returns that plague other acts. While some artists see their careers as a sprint, Guru & Premier were long-distance runners, building endurance with each journey. The left behind a track record that is untouchable.

Gangstarr appeared on the failed video show that inspired this blog twice. You can read about there first appearance here and here. Watch the second here.

DJ Premier Speaks

This is first official statement regarding the condition of his former partner, Guru.

Listen.

What's Really Going On with Guru?

The news that legendary rapper Guru of Gangstarr lay in coma in a New York hospital last week was shocking. As the story unfolded days later, it got stranger and stranger.

In addition to being a substandard producer, Solar, Guru's friend and business partner appears to be as shady as a lady in a mustache. He's reportedly barred some of Guru's family members from seeing him and issuing statements in his name. Recently he's taken to twitter, where "Guru" has been leaving tweets very similar in syntax and content to Solar's own comments. He issued a press release with quotes from Guru that just don't sound right. There have been some other unusual developments as well.

Statik Selektah raises some important issues in this video.


Pray for Guru.

Moments of Truth from Guru's Nephew

Guru's nephew Justin Nicholas-Elam Ruff details the drama behind his uncle's hospitalization. This is not easy to watch.

Gang Starr's Guru in Coma

DJ Premier confirmed yesterday on a radio programs that, Guru, his former partner in the group Gangstarr, is in a coma. The rapper reportedly suffered a heart attack in New York City yesterday and fell into a coma. Premier added that Guru is scheduled for surgery soon.

The duo appeared to have broken up after 2003's "The Ownerz," but their may have been a reconciliation, according to a recent report in The Guardian. The UK media outlet claims that Guru recently hinted on twitter that new Gangstarr music was on the way.