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
Feel The Music
Guru Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Music!
Music!
[Guru]
Times like this make me clench my fist
Then I'm caught up in the midst of the musical bliss
Guru, blow a kiss to the ladies in my corner
What? You never see the brother Guru falter
Respect is due; praise me like the altar
The crew - we're as true as they come, son
We come from ill life experience, and take rap serious
Feel the music
[Chorus]
We hold the key to our destiny
We can make it, everybody
Feel the music
Just free your mind; sit back, relax, and unwind
To a higher plane, we're going
Can you feel the music?
Music!
[Guru]
Original baldhead Crooklynite, rudebwoy instructor
I came back to lay down law to the suckers
I'll crush ya if you ain't actin' like my brother
Make one false move and with the mic I'll bust ya
Just lay back, and feel the music
[Chorus]
Music!
Music!
Music!
[Guru]
When I step into the club, I come to do work
No hesitation because I'm fully alert
Like Max Julien, I'm an authentic mack
Many others can't compare; I'll bet on that
Dialect and vocal tone, completely exact
I react, then I max in this mellow track
In fact I'm knockin' emcees out the frame
'Cause I'm smooth like jazz
Guru is my name
Feel the music
Music!
We hold the key to our destiny
We can make it, everybody
Feel the music
[Guru]
New reality - a higher level of consciousness
Don't play yourself; get out of line and get stomped with this
Negativity is a chronic disease
But I'm like the cure, causin' infections to freeze
I'm not gonna let up until you get the picture
My sound gets around, so you know I'm always with ya
Feel the music
Music!
[Chorus]
The song "Feel The Music" by Guru and Baybe is a powerful anthem that emphasizes the role of music in empowering people to overcome their struggles and achieve their dreams. The song weaves together different elements of rap, jazz, and funk to create a unique sound that is both energetic and soulful.
In the first verse, Guru describes how music helps him cope with the challenges of life, and how it inspires him to be the best version of himself. He pays homage to his crew, who he notes have come from difficult life experiences and take rap seriously. Throughout the song, Guru uses his smooth vocal flow to deliver clever rhymes and metaphors that create a sense of empowerment and upliftment.
The chorus of "Feel The Music" is both simple and profound, encouraging listeners to "free your mind, sit back, relax and unwind to a higher plane." The song as a whole is a powerful reminder that music can be a transformative force in our lives, helping us to connect with our true selves and transcend the limitations of our circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Music!
Celebration and enjoyment of the power of music.
Music!
A repetition and reinforcement of the celebration of music.
Times like this make me clench my fist
The intense emotions brought about by experiencing the power of music cause a physical response.
Then I'm caught up in the midst of the musical bliss
The emotions caused by music take over fully.
Guru, blow a kiss to the ladies in my corner
A shoutout to specific women in the audience.
Caress the mic, and kick my game like I want to
An expression of control and mastery over the microphone.
What? You never see the brother Guru falter
Expressing confidence in his abilities.
Respect is due; praise me like the altar
Acknowledging that he deserves respect for his work.
The crew - we're as true as they come, son
The people he works with are loyal and authentic.
We come from ill life experience, and take rap serious
The experiences he and his crew have been through are incorporated into their music.
Feel the music
An encouragement to fully immerse oneself in the music.
We hold the key to our destiny
The individuals listening have control over their own lives.
We can make it, everybody
Everyone can achieve their goals.
Just free your mind; sit back, relax, and unwind
To fully experience life, one must let go of worries and appreciate the present moment.
To a higher plane, we're going
Music can elevate one's mood and bring a sense of transcendence.
Can you feel the music?
An invitation to connect with the music on a deep level.
Original baldhead Crooklynite, rudebwoy instructor
Description of himself as an authentic Brooklynite and teacher.
I came back to lay down law to the suckers
Returning to assert his dominance and authority over others in the industry.
I'll crush ya if you ain't actin' like my brother
A warning to behave respectfully towards him and his crew.
Make one false move and with the mic I'll bust ya
He has the power to ruin someone's reputation with his music.
Just lay back, and feel the music
An encouragement to relax and enjoy the music without worrying about anything else.
When I step into the club, I come to do work
He takes his performances seriously and is dedicated to delivering the best experience possible.
No hesitation because I'm fully alert
He is confident in his abilities and ready to perform.
Like Max Julien, I'm an authentic mack
A comparison to the successful pimp portrayed by Max Julien in the movie 'The Mack'.
Many others can't compare; I'll bet on that
He is confident that his skills are unmatched.
Dialect and vocal tone, completely exact
His flow and delivery are precise and well-crafted.
I react, then I max in this mellow track
He is able to respond to the music and perform at his best.
In fact I'm knockin' emcees out the frame
He is confident that his music is superior to that of other rappers.
'Cause I'm smooth like jazz
A comparison to the smoothness and improvisation of jazz music.
Guru is my name
A self-identification and way of claiming his identity as a musician.
New reality - a higher level of consciousness
An acknowledgement of the transformative power of music.
Don't play yourself; get out of line and get stomped with this
A warning to not disrespect his music.
Negativity is a chronic disease
Negativity can be harmful and infectious.
But I'm like the cure, causin' infections to freeze
He believes his music can positively impact others and counteract negativity.
I'm not gonna let up until you get the picture
He will continue to create music until others understand and appreciate its value.
My sound gets around, so you know I'm always with ya
His music is widely listened to and appreciated.
New reality - a higher level of consciousness
A reminder of the transformative power of music.
Feel the music
An encouragement to fully immerse oneself in the music.
Music!
Celebration and enjoyment of the power of music.
Music!
A repetition and reinforcement of the celebration of music.
Music!
Another reminder to celebrate and appreciate music.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC., Royalty Network
Written by: KEITH ELAM, RAY HAYDEN, RAYMOND ALBERT HAYDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jasinalispago6398
Times like this make me clench my fist
Then I'm caught up in the midst of the musical bliss
Guru, blow a kiss to the ladies in my corner
Caress the mic and kick my game like I wanna
What? You never see the brother Guru falter
Respect is due, praise me like the altar
The crew we're as true as they come son
We come from ill life experience, and take rap serious
Feel the music
We hold the key, to our destiny
We can make it everybody feel the music
Just free your mind, sit back relax and unwind
To a higher plane we're going
Can you feel the music?
Feel the music
Original bald head Crooklynite, rudebwoy instructor
I came back to lay down law, to the suckers
I'll crush ya, if you ain't actin like my brother
Make one false move and with the mic, I'll bust ya
Just lay back and feel the music
We hold the key, to our destiny
We can make it everybody feel the music
Just free your mind, sit back relax and unwind
To a higher plane we're going
Can you feel the music?
Feel the music, feel the music, feel the music
When I step into the club, I come to do work
No hesitation, because I'm fully alert
Like Max Julien, I'm an authentic Mack
Many others can't compare, I'll bet on that
Dialect and vocal tone, completely exact
I react, then I max in this mellow track
In fact, I'm knockin MC's out the frame
'Cause I'm smooth like jazz, Guru is my name
Feel the music, feel the music
We hold the key, to our destiny
We can make it everybody
Feel the music
New reality a higher level of consciousness
Don't play yourself, get out of line and get stomped with this
Negativity is a chronic disease
But I'm like the cure, causin' infections to freeze
I'm not gonna let up, until you get the picture
My sound gets around so you know I'm always with ya
Feel the music, feel the music
We hold the key, to our destiny
We can make it everybody feel the music
Just free your mind, sit back relax and unwind
To a higher plane we're going
Can you feel the music?
@eliseuoliveira6488
"negativity is a chronic disease" Guru ⚰️🕊️
@user-fk7sd9uh7o
Respect
@starchild5941
He's not lying
@DJMrBigstuf
He was one of the world's best rappers ever. He was a true legend.
@retsnom4910
Yesssss
@user-ih6fe5ph8j
True.
@morongosteve
I'm done complaining about hip-hop being dead. Let the classics live on in everyday life!
@user-fs5fc1vv7y
thats right
@harvichsambo3331
morongosteve now that's a true comment! 1♡
@JRSmith-bx4cv
Exactly, we don't need new tracks, there are infinitely many of songs like this one to explore (especially for young ones like me). If people were immortal there would be no need to born babies.