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
Feed The Hungry
Guru Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feed the hungry, and house the poor
We gotta save these babies and stop the wars. [x2]
[Verse 1]
What is success if we can't reach back
And drop a jewel, in today's schools, they don't teach that
Our ancestors were kings and queens, peep that
From the slum alleyways and the burned-down apartments
TO the drug infested buildings where the gun rounds be barking
I see promise in the eyes of the babies
Still the death toll and trauma, drive me crazy
I watch how they're making us, I spot where they're taking us
In every neighborhood, the block is hot and dangerous
And what's the point of a fist in the air
If the children are starving, and the men don't care
BUt niggaz dont care, and they don't realize
For us to have the chances we got, many have died
And hear the cries of the innocent ones, the victims of guns
And see how shits wickedly run
[Chorus x4]
[Verse 2]
Though they might hate my kind, they cant incarcerate my mind
I control my own fate, watch me break these vines
Who else can enlighten the people and fight against evil
Comes against me, and your plight will be legal
You know they gonna start another war again
We got a few good men, but there's much more of them
And I doubt we'll see another Martin or Malcolm
'Cause the rims and the blimps, have distored the outcome
And how come, we'd rather floss than get our souls right
Still some stay up hustlin the whole night
I Guess that's why we got war in our own hoods
'Cause we can't even save ourselves, for our own good
And what don't kill you can make you stronger
Keep procrasinating, it'll take you longer
But in these trouble times, so many troubled minds
I see them rocking us to sleep like a lullaby
[Chorus x2]
It's easier for one, to give advice
Than it is for a person to run one's own life
That's why I can't get caught up in all the hype
I keep my soul tight and let these lines takes flight
It's easier for one, to give advice
Than it is for a person to run one's own life
That's why I can't get caught up in all the hype
I keep my soul tight and let these lines takes flight
[Chorus x2]
[Female singer]
WE gotta stop the war. Save the children. Yea
Feed the hundry, house the poor. We gotta save
The babies and stop the war. [Voice fades out]
In this powerful song, Guru urges society to focus on humanitarian efforts, such as feeding the hungry and housing the poor, in order to save our future generation and stop wars. He criticizes the educational system for not teaching accurate history, such as the fact that our ancestors were kings and queens, and instead focusing on irrelevant information. He observes the violence and poverty around him and sees potential in the eyes of the children, but is haunted by the number of deaths caused by these issues. Guru believes that many of the problems we face today are due to our collective inability to care for each other and our lack of understanding of our own history.
In the second verse, Guru advocates for taking action against injustice and not getting caught up in materialistic distractions, such as rims and blimps. He believes that even though we may not have leaders as inspiring as Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X, we must still fight for what is right. Guru acknowledges that it's easier to give advice than to enact change, but emphasizes that taking personal responsibility is key in making a difference. The song ends with a powerful plea from a female singer to stop the war, save the children, and feed the hungry.
Line by Line Meaning
Feed the hungry, and house the poor
We need to provide for those who are in need and give shelter to those without a home.
We gotta save these babies and stop the wars.
We need to protect the innocent and work towards peace.
What is success if we can't reach back
Success means nothing if we don't help others achieve their own.
And drop a jewel, in today's schools, they don't teach that
We need to share our knowledge with the younger generations because schools often fail to teach them important things.
Our ancestors were kings and queens, peep that
We come from a rich lineage and should strive to live up to our ancestors.
So-called educators need to learn to teach facts
Teachers should focus more on teaching important information instead of just following curriculum standards.
From the slum alleyways and the burned-down apartments
People are living in terrible conditions and need our help.
To the drug infested buildings where the gun rounds be barking
We need to address the drug problems and violence that plague certain communities.
I see promise in the eyes of the babies
Despite the hardships they face, there is still hope for the younger generations.
Still the death toll and trauma, drive me crazy
The amount of death and suffering is overwhelming and takes a toll on me.
I watch how they're making us, I spot where they're taking us
We need to be aware of how the powers that be are manipulating and controlling us.
In every neighborhood, the block is hot and dangerous
Dangerous situations exist in every community.
And what's the point of a fist in the air
Rallies and protests are meaningless if we are not actively making changes.
If the children are starving, and the men don't care
The lack of care and attention to those in need is unacceptable.
But niggaz don't care, and they don't realize
People are not aware of how they are contributing to the problems in their communities.
For us to have the chances we got, many have died
We have opportunities because others fought for them and lost their lives.
And hear the cries of the innocent ones, the victims of guns
We need to listen to those who are suffering and address the root causes.
And see how shits wickedly run
The corrupt systems in place are causing chaos and suffering.
Though they might hate my kind, they can't incarcerate my mind
Despite discrimination, they cannot control our thoughts and beliefs.
I control my own fate, watch me break these vines
We have the power to shape our own future and overcome obstacles.
Who else can enlighten the people and fight against evil
We need to speak and act against injustices in order to make change.
Comes against me, and your plight will be legal
We are willing to fight for what is right and hold those who oppose us accountable.
You know they gonna start another war again
Those in power are likely to continue creating conflict.
We got a few good men, but there's much more of them
It will take many more people to create meaningful change.
And I doubt we'll see another Martin or Malcolm
It is unlikely that someone as impactful and influential as Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X will emerge.
Cause the rims and the blimps, have distorted the outcome
The focus on material possessions has distracted from the important work that needs to be done.
And how come, we'd rather floss than get our souls right
We prioritize material wealth over our own spiritual well-being.
Still some stay up hustling the whole night
Despite the struggles, some people work hard to make a better life for themselves.
I guess that's why we got war in our own hoods
The desperation to survive leads to conflict in our own communities.
Cause we can't even save ourselves, for our own good
We need to help ourselves before we can help others.
And what don't kill you can make you stronger
We should see our struggles as opportunities to grow.
Keep procrastinating, it'll take you longer
Avoiding our problems only makes them worse.
But in these troubled times, so many troubled minds
The stress and hardship is affecting many people's mental health.
I see them rocking us to sleep like a lullaby
We are being lulled into complacency despite the problems that exist.
It's easier for one, to give advice
Giving advice is simple compared to actually taking action in one's own life.
Than it is for a person to run one's own life
It is difficult to take control and responsibility for our own lives.
That's why I can't get caught up in all the hype
We need to focus on what is important and avoid distractions.
I keep my soul tight and let these lines takes flight
I stay true to myself and let my words have an impact.
WE gotta stop the war. Save the children. Yea
We need to prioritize peace and protect the innocent.
Contributed by Cooper O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.