Guru (July 17, 1961 – April 19, 2010) was one half of the legendary hip hop… Read Full Bio ↴Guru (July 17, 1961 – April 19, 2010) was one half of the legendary hip hop duo Gang Starr and an accomplished solo artist. Guru, an acronym for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal, originally began his hip hop career in Boston but due to lack of local support moved to New York where Gang Starr then blew up. Guru was well known for his smooth voice; socially conscious and hardcore lyrics; and an effortless, confident delivery.

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

Intro /Jazzalude I: New Reality Style
Guru Lyrics

We have lyrics for these tracks by Guru:

Alkayida Mh eeh, che chede b3 Mo felly me rhymes hahaha MKZ, MKZ Eh…
All I Said [Guru] Yo my girl's heated 'Cause I told her I was busy…
Baby Baby girl baby Girl Baby girl baby Girl ਹੋਕੇ ਨੀ ਤੈਯਾਰ ਕੀਥੇ …
Back 2 Back "Collaborate with live niggaz" "Ill Kid ready to wreck like.…
Bien Le Mal 1993, Paris-Brooklyn La puissance du son What It's the good…
Cave In [Guru] Got games stirrin out my brain and thangs With my 7…
Certified [Guru] Niggaz gotta know we've puttin it down This shit is c…
Choice of Weapons [Chorus x 2] What's the question? Why are you…
Count Your Blessings Too many times I felt bad (count your blessings) Too many…

Cry [talking] Whattup whattup whattup, I got them 5 dolla Baldh…
Down the Backstreets Down the backstreets down the backstreets Down the backstre…
Down to the Backstreets G TOP - GRU... - Guru Lyrics - Down the…
False Prophets Bars are sick, I spit flem in the form of…
Feed The Hungry [Chorus] Feed the hungry, and house the poor We gotta save…
Feel The Music [Baybe] Music! Music! [Guru] Times like this make me clench…
Follow the signs Come and catch us on tour sold out encore were pure so all…
For You [Guru] Dedicated to all my peeps who looked out over the…
Freestyle Calm down watch your mouth You don't wanna go there no…
Guidance Dedicated to my son, that's about to be born So by…
Guru Bitch my name Guru or Lil Pint they call me…
Hall of Fame Yea, it's the Baldhead SLick ya heard, aka dog ruizi, my…
Hood Dreamin [Between or bedwin], I feel the sweet I meen the…
Hood Dreamin' [Between or bedwin] , I feel the sweet I meen…
Hustlin Daze {*Premier scratching: "If you ain't real about it, don't tal…
I Can't Believe I hear you How about now Is this better Even so true I don't…
In Here (feat. Black Jesus, Killah Priest, Timbo King) [Intro: Ti…
In My Life Like this gun, my mama mama It came with a nana And…
Infinity Here's my key Philosophy A freak like me Just needs infinity…
Intro Thank you, thank you Yeah, this is Gifted Unlimited Rhymes …
Introduction Peace yo, and welcome to Jazzmatazz An experimental fusion o…
Johnny Was (wo-o-o-o! wo-o-o-o! wooo!) Woman hold her head and cry, C…
Karma Woooohoooo hoooooo hoooooooo yeah! [Guru] Huh huh ha Ada…
Keep Your Worries [Angie Stone] Ooh-ooh (uh mm) (mmm) Ooh-ooh (uh mm, keep you…
Kingpin [Chorus] Taking off my jacket, my talk is classic 'bout to…
Lapaz Toyota Where is my Grammy DJ DJ Guru, mu filly me rhymes Ha wei…
Le Bien Le Mal 1993, Paris-Brooklyn La puissance du son What It's the good…
Let Me Know Good times for a change See, the luck I've had Can make…
Life Time slips away And we don't give a Fuck what you say Ain't…
Life Saver featuring Lucien * * assistance requested on the French…
Lifesaver featuring Lucien * * assistance requested on the French…
Lift Your Fist Yeah.. Guru, huh, The Roots Yeah, c'mon y'all uh, lift your…
Lift%20Your%20Fist%20feat.%20The%20Roots Guru: Yeah.. Guru, huh, The Roots Yeah, c'mon y'all…
List Your Fist Yeah.. Guru, huh, The Roots Yeah, c'mon y'all uh, lift your…
Livin' in this world [Sweet Sable] Living in this world What's happening? Livi…
Looking Through Darkness [Guru] You know sometimes I be lookin' through the darkness…
Lost and Found xjdsnsnnznzznzkzmxncnxjdjnxdkdmdndnfnfnfnffkdkskxjcndnsjskdn…
Lost Soul Doing it in the house like this Going out to…
Loungin Yeah I'm loungin' I got my man Donald Byrd I…
Mashin' Up Da World Junior Reid: Sound your horn! Stiggetty-yooour-higg…
Night Vision When the sun goes down and the moon comes up You…
No More Aight, aight, don't be yellin yo Calm down man, can we…
No Surviving [Chorus] Bout to send you to your maker, ya move faker You…
No Time [Chorus] No time to wait, gotta make cake Keep your burner…
No Time To Play Yo, I'm tired of chumps tryin' to waste my time I…
O.G. Talk [Hook: x 2] Used to run with the older dudes That's how…
Open House [Chorus] Money, cars, clothes, give me all of that FLows, …
Plenty Plenty of other fish in the sea Plenty of other fish…
Plenty (feat. Erykah Badu) [Chorus One: Erykah Badu] When she wants plenty, she gets pl…
Plenty feat. Erykah Badu Plenty of other fish in the sea Plenty of other fish…
Plenty ft. Erykah Badu (Chorus One: Erykah Badu) When she wants plenty, she gets…
Pooley Pooley wo swag no akye (home use, home use) Afe yi…
Red Yeah yeah Yeah yeah Maybach truck with the red guts, convert…
Respect "So, respect the architect." "So, respect the architect." "S…
Respectful Dedications Yeah like I was saying, who's real smooth working with…
Rollin' Dolo (feat. Big Shug, Ed O.G., Krumbsnatcha) That's right, Bosto…
Sights In The City (feat. Carleen Anderson, Courtney Pine, Simon Law) [Carle…
Skit A / Watch What You Say Coming with the realness lyrics of life Some people need…
Slicker Than Most All around the city and from coast to coast I'm…
Something in the Past I haven't seen you in a while, since you sparked…
Special Baby Tell me how it feel when you get in the…
State of Clarity My mind blows decisions at times indecisive, I think about…
State of Clarity (feat. Common & Bob James) My mind blows decisions at times indecisive I think about th…
Step In The Arena "Police sirens" [Doo Wop] Once you step in the arena, cheat…
Straight to Your Heart Guru Guru Wahe Guru Guru Ram Das Guru Open up your…
Supa Love [Kelis] From - last night... yeah baby Last night was You k…
Supa Love (feat. Kelis) [Kelis] From - last night (repeat 9X) [Kelis - talking over…
Take A Look (A lot of people don't realize that The reason why I'm…
Talkin Loud and Frontin He was talkin' all 'loud and he knew that he…
Talkin' Loud and Frontin' [Chorus] He was talking all loud and he knew that he…
tere bina ((dum dara dum dara mast mast dara) - 2 dum dara…
The Anthem [Guru] Yo fuck the kiddy crap, I did that stupid shit…
The Traveler Somethin' to motivate to Somethin' to motivate you …
Timeless [Chorus: Guru] This is history right here in the makin So ca…
Too Dark 2 See It's yo man Guru. Building right now in the lab With…
Too Dark See It's yo man Guru, building right now in the lab…
Transit Ride 'Watch the closing doors!' Right now I'm gonna take you for…
Trust Me I wanna trust you baby I wanna trust you baby…
Universal struggle It's a struggle - it's got a hold on me The…
Watch What You Say Coming with the realness lyrics of life Some people need…
We Got That feat. Nature & Solar It don't mean a thing If it ain't got that swing (doo…
What's My Life? Like this gun, my mama mama It came with a nana And…
When You Uh, yeah you're something else You know I love it when…
Where [Guru] Whassup sweetheart? Of course you're always lookin th…
Where's Our Money?! [Guru talking] Yeah, heh-heh, it's time y'all.. It's yours…
who Jump on it, jump on it, jump on it if…
who's there These distraught thoughts of a single mother in a homeless s…
Who's There (feat. Les Nubians) [Guru] These distraught thoughts of a single mother in a ho…
Who's There? These distraught thoughts of a single mother in a homeless s…

Young Ladies [Patra] Yeah, this is the real vibes, okay? To all…

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