Founded in 1987, Gang Starr built a sizable following in the early 90's, releasing classic albums like Step in the Arena (1991) and Daily Operation (1992). Guru's lyrical style was based on battle rhymes delivered smoothly, modestly, and with sly wit; he typically avoided using overwhelming charisma, focusing instead on his rhyming ability. Over the years he even took on younger rappers, including Jeru the Damaja, as proteges. He is credited, along with DJ Premier, for the executive production of Jeru's debut, The Sun Rises in the East (1994).
In 1993, he released his first solo album, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1. The album featured collaborations with Donald Byrd, N'Dea Davenport, Dee C. Lee, and Roy Ayers, whilst his second LP, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality, featured Ramsey Lewis, Branford Marsalis, and Jamiroquai. The Jazzmatazz albums have been met with mixed reviews, Guru continued with Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul (2000) and Baldhead Slick & Da Click (2001).
Moreover, recent Gang Starr albums have continued to garner Guru critical acclaim. Prominent Boston underground rapper Mr. Lif frequently cites Guru as a major stylistic influence; he appears as a guest with Lif on the Perceptionists' debut album, Black Dialogue (2005).
Besides Gang Starr, his Jazzmatazz and solo albums, Guru collaborated with countless artists since the early 90s. Not only in Hip-Hop, but also with artists from various genres such as pop, electronica/dance, acid jazz, and even brass bands.
His "first proper solo album", in his own words, was Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures (2005), released with the help of producer and new backup MC/producer Solar. The album reached #1 on the college hip-hop charts, but was a failure with both fans and critics. It still managed to sell relatively well for an independent release.
Guru's latest project is the fourth installment in the Jazzmatazz series, entirely produced by Solar. It was released in early June 2007 and received good reviews and comments from fans.
In 2007 Guru was ranked at 45 for the Top 50 MCs of our time: 1987-2007
On February 28th 2010, Guru suffered a severe heart attack and was in a coma. He passed away on April 19, 2010 at the age of 49 after a long battle with cancer.
Theres another artist with the same name:
2. Guru also refers to a Ghanaian hip-hop artist known for his single "LaPaz Toyota" and the song "Akayida" - basis for a azonto dance craze
Certified
Guru Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Niggaz gotta know we've puttin it down
This shit is certified right here (whoo yes, yes)
No games with this right here
Straight to the di-dome, like this (uhh, uhh)
[Chorus: Bilal]
This right here, has been cer-ti-fied,
He's got soul up in his blueprint, and he's ready to vocalize
So we, passin the mic your way, come on testify..
[Guru]
Prepare each element with raw street intelligence
Dig the soul this is, complete elegance
Heartbeat delegates when I spit each melon's hit
Like to build ill like, repeat felons get
Plus I'm jazzy and like to dress to impress
It's the baldhead buddha, with the mic caress
And I might suggest, that you broaden your mind
You spend a lot of your time dancin to fraudulent rhymes
Like a breath of fresh air we gonna, change the pace
Not a mental slave, so save the angry face
It's the return of the mellow voiced maestro, and my flow
Eliminates the comp like Geico,
Insurance - just for your body's endurance
You get more for your money, or your partyin purest
So don't start to get nervous now that we up in the spot
We've been certified for years, you gonna love it a lot
[Chorus]
[Jay Dee]
Who, me? That nigga Jay, Dee (Jay Dee)
Some plod to beats that I, flow to
Run men through, with Gu-are you (Guru)
As for me, I be the nigga that's tight
You got to see
In order for you, to believe
Singin these words, with ease
Talkin bout, boom - a-shaka-laka
-a-laka-laka-BOOM!
Roll the weed and lose the seeds asshole
You can breathe three-hundred-and-sixty degrees
Of heat, sing with the soul
Straight from the streets, of Illadelph
Move your feet - ahh-HAH, pimp shit
(It's that pimp shit) Big whips with full clips
Got mad chicks, on my dick
Ridin by, so say it loud, in your face!
[Chorus]
[Guru]
Soulful
Tinted window whips, lots of chicks lots of chips
Anything ain't right then the brother's gotta flip
Or skinnydip, after a sip of Cognac rap
Any wack wimp with whiskers, I bomb that cat
Alarm that cat, that when we slide through abide to
The rules that's been laid down by (?) true like bibles
I'm liable, to come through, seven deep with Wizzies
And ditch 'em while other ladies whisper, who is he?
Then later leave with eight new ones, me an airtight Willie
Bout to smack you silly with two guns
So hereby I certify don't care if you feel hurt if I
Testify, against your false words or lies
Word to God this is my job I'm workin hard every minute
Movin up in the rat race, city council to senate
So what you don't get it? You can't front no more
Been certified for years, can't speak to chumps no more
[Chorus: x 2]
This one right here
Has been certified, for years
That's right
Soul up in his blueprint, ready to vocalize
Pass the mic this way, testify
Hmm, like they say it doesn't hurt to try
This here, is bonafied baby, certified baby
Jazzmatazz 3rd edition
Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal
No rehearsal, certified with virtue
Respect the circle
It's me and the be -I-L-A-L
You know what I'm sayin' Jay Dee from Pay Jay
Airtight Willie heh, from Boston to New Yiddy
All the way to Philly
Now in the D sittin pretty
Certified
The song "Certified" by Guru feat. Bilal is an empowering hip-hop track that celebrates the authenticity and validity of their music. The song revolves around the message of proving oneself and testifying to the audience that they are legitimate and credible. Guru raps about how he puts down his music with sincerity and raw street intelligence while Bilal testifies that they have been certified for years, coming up with soulful and genuine art that speaks to people. Jay Dee's verse is all about boasting his skills, having faith in himself, and moving up to the top against all odds.
The lyrics are packed with poetic devices, such as alliteration ("complete elegance," "baldhead buddha"), metaphors ("breath of fresh air," "mental slave"), and internal rhyme ("slick speaker," "soulful"). Guru's flow is rhythmic and smooth, blending well with Bilal's soulful and melodic voice, creating a dynamic interplay in the chorus. The upbeat drumbeat, the jazzy piano, the funky bassline, and the horn section all project a positive and upbeat vibe that soothes the soul and inspires the mind.
Overall, "Certified" is a song that encourages listeners to stay true to themselves and speak their truth. It highlights the importance of being authentic and confident in expressing oneself, especially in the ever-competitive music industry. The song also showcases the synergy between rap and soul music, and how they both can create something that speaks to the heart and soul of people.
Line by Line Meaning
Niggaz gotta know we've puttin it down
We are working hard and putting our best effort into this
This shit is certified right here (whoo yes, yes)
This is a high-quality piece of work that has been approved and stands out
No games with this right here
We are serious and focused about what we are doing
Straight to the di-dome, like this (uhh, uhh)
We are diving right into it, without hesitation
This right here, has been cer-ti-fied, For years.. ahhhahhh-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
This work has been thoroughly approved and recognized for its superior quality for a long time
He's got soul up in his blueprint, and he's ready to vocalize
There is a lot of emotion and passion put into this work, and the artist is ready to perform it
So we, passin the mic your way, come on testify..
It's your turn to take the stage and share your thoughts on this work by performing it
Prepare each element with raw street intelligence
Every aspect of this work has been carefully crafted with deep understanding of the streets
Dig the soul this is, complete elegance
The soulful elements of this work are stunning and magnificent
Heartbeat delegates when I spit each melon's hit
Every part of my delivery has a powerful impact on the listener
Like to build ill like, repeat felons get
I enjoy building up my skill and craft, just like felons repeat crimes
Plus I'm jazzy and like to dress to impress
I have a cool and stylish demeanor and enjoy dressing to catch attention
It's the baldhead buddha, with the mic caress
I am confident and have a strong presence on stage; I can make the microphone sound great
And I might suggest, that you broaden your mind
I think you should open your mind to new things and broaden your horizons
You spend a lot of your time dancin to fraudulent rhymes
You listen and dance to songs with fake or unimpressive lyrics too often
Like a breath of fresh air we gonna, change the pace
We are going to bring a refreshing change to the current state of music
Not a mental slave, so save the angry face
We are not slaves to the norm and don't want to deal with anyone's negativity
It's the return of the mellow voiced maestro, and my flow Eliminates the comp like Geico
I am back with my smooth voice and my style is so unique that it outshines the competition
Insurance - just for your body's endurance
Like insurance for your body, our music gets you through tough times and keeps you going
You get more for your money, or your partyin purest
Our music is worth your investment, especially for those who enjoy partying to the fullest
So don't start to get nervous now that we up in the spot
Don't panic now that we are here and about to perform
We've been certified for years, you gonna love it a lot
Our quality has been recognized and appreciated for a long time, and you are going to enjoy it
Who, me? That nigga Jay, Dee (Jay Dee)
Introducing Jay Dee as the singer of the next section
Some plod to beats that I, flow to
I have a special way of flowing to the beat that's unique to me
Run men through, with Gu-are you (Guru)
I work great with Guru and we together create powerful performances
As for me, I be the nigga that's tight
I'm the one who is good-looking and has a great personality
You got to see
My words actually have to be seen through performance to be appreciated
In order for you, to believe
You have to see it to believe it
Singin these words, with ease
Performing these lyrics comes as easily as singing
Talkin bout, boom - a-shaka-laka -a-laka-laka-BOOM!
Our music is vibrant and exciting, making you want to dance and feel good
Roll the weed and lose the seeds asshole
Roll a joint and take out the seeds, because it's time to relax and enjoy the music
You can breathe three-hundred-and-sixty degrees
Our music takes up every aspect of your being
Of heat, sing with the soul
Our music has a lot of passion and soul, which shows as we perform
Straight from the streets, of Illadelph
We come from the streets of Philadelphia
Move your feet - ahh-HAH, pimp shit
Our music makes you want to get up and dance, in a cool, pimped-out kind of way
It's that pimp shit, Big whips with full clips
Our music is of a luxurious and powerful nature, like big cars with loads of ammunition
Got mad chicks, on my dick
We have a huge female following, and it makes us feel good
Ridin by, so say it loud, in your face!
Cruising around proudly with our music blasting, making you take notice of us
Soulful
Our music comes from deep within us, with a lot of soul
Tinted window whips, lots of chicks lots of chips
We have fancy cars with tinted windows, lots of women, and lots of money
Anything ain't right then the brother's gotta flip
If anything is wrong, we react and change things to make them right
Or skinnydip, after a sip of Cognac rap
We are relaxed and enjoy skinny dipping in a pool after having some cognac and rapping
Any wack wimp with whiskers, I bomb that cat
We have no mercy for wimpy people with annoying facial hair
Alarm that cat, that when we slide through abide to The rules that's been laid down by (?) true like bibles
We are the alarm for people to take action when we appear, and we follow the rules set by true leaders
I'm liable, to come through, seven deep with Wizzies
It's possible that we appear with a group of strong and skilled folks, referred to as Wizzies
And ditch 'em while other ladies whisper, who is he?
We ignore other women who gossip about us while we work the room
Then later leave with eight new ones, me an airtight Willie
We leave later with eight more women than before, me and a friend named Airtight Willie
Bout to smack you silly with two guns
We are ready to physically punish anyone who crosses us with two firearms
So hereby I certify don't care if you feel hurt if I, Testify, against your false words or lies
I certify that I will speak out against falsehoods and lies, even if it offends anyone
Word to God this is my job I'm workin hard every minute
This is my job and I work hard tirelessly
Movin up in the rat race, city council to senate
I'm moving up the ranks of society, from city council position toward the senate
So what you don't get it? You can't front no more
Why don't you understand? You can't pretend anymore
Been certified for years, can't speak to chumps no more
Our work has been recognized for a long time, and we won't engage with anyone who doesn't acknowledge it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, O/B/O DistroKid, Songtrust Ave
Written by: DE PAUL, ELAM, GREEN, OLIVER, YANCEY, JAMES DEWITT YANCEY, LYNSEY DE PAUL, BARRY GREEN, KEITH ELAM, BILAL S. OLIVER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind