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
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
Le Bien%2C Le Mal
Guru Lyrics
1993, Paris-Brooklyn
La puissance du son
What
It's the good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
The good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
Il était vraisemblable que tous les faux semblants
De la farce humanitaire aboutiraient au néant
C'est une boule à facettes comme dans les discothèques
Ca reflète à la lumière et sans elle, ffft! Du vent
J'aime les images fortes car je suis comme toi
Le poids des mots et le choc des photos
Ay yo, it's time to get up
Time to change the world, 'cause I'm fed up
We're gonna expose the wrong that's been going on
There's people dying in the streets still
In every city, lots of kids they be ill
I live in Brooklyn, got boys all over been
Around the world and you know that I know
The good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
The good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
L'homme qui prend le microphone se nomme Solaar
Maître de la rime urbaine accompagné des comparses et de Gangstarr
A Paris en France comme dans la Rome antique
Imite le maître, malgré le mythe comme Spartacus (limitait le mec)
Qui millimètre après millimètre check l'intellect à des kilomètres
It's your turn, Guru
Crazy madness, it's all I see out my window
It doesn't matter who's the president, yo
I hate to tell ya, but slavery is still in effect
Haven't you checked, us black folks create for ya I make a bet, if you
Don't let the truth out huh
Evil will rule without a doubt and it's
The good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
The good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
Solaar
C'est le monde des affaires, OPA sur la misère
Le réel me nargue, tralalalalère
L'air de rien je doute de l'existance des Dieux
De l'existance du mieux dans un lieu plus pieux
Alors je prends de l'avance, en prenant du recul
Car prendre du recul c'est prendre de l'élan
I come in peace, but sucka's always trying to front, so
I gotta let 'em know, gotta let 'em know
This ain't no game, punk, 'cause you could wind up dead
With bullets to the head from the posse's lead
I'm like your mentor, and this is for your benefit
So hear the noise, 'cause the rude boys ain't havin' it
It's
The good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
The good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
En prophète de la fête, je suis contre ceux qui fêtent
La défaite de la fête, alors faites attention
Cette recette intercepte les adeptes trouble-fête
Et le son, domine la situation
Le bien et le mal, situation critique
Problème politique, éthique et techniques, OK man, tout s'explique
Yeah, my man MC Solaar in the house
I'm known as the Guru, you know that
I got the whole posse: Jimmy James, Mikey Moos-Moos, Louche, Blackjack
The Mack, The Ramses, Soon-E MC, Menelik, Bambi Cruz, Planet Mars
Strike, Kéry James, Boom Bass, Zdar, Démocrates D
And their whole entire crew
You know what I'm sayin'? Taking no shorts in 1993
Peace, it's the good and the bad, and I'm out
La puissance du son
What
It's the good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
The good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
Il était vraisemblable que tous les faux semblants
C'est une boule à facettes comme dans les discothèques
Ca reflète à la lumière et sans elle, ffft! Du vent
J'aime les images fortes car je suis comme toi
Le poids des mots et le choc des photos
Ay yo, it's time to get up
Time to change the world, 'cause I'm fed up
We're gonna expose the wrong that's been going on
There's people dying in the streets still
In every city, lots of kids they be ill
I live in Brooklyn, got boys all over been
Around the world and you know that I know
The good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
The good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
L'homme qui prend le microphone se nomme Solaar
Maître de la rime urbaine accompagné des comparses et de Gangstarr
A Paris en France comme dans la Rome antique
Imite le maître, malgré le mythe comme Spartacus (limitait le mec)
Qui millimètre après millimètre check l'intellect à des kilomètres
It's your turn, Guru
Crazy madness, it's all I see out my window
It doesn't matter who's the president, yo
I hate to tell ya, but slavery is still in effect
Haven't you checked, us black folks create for ya I make a bet, if you
Don't let the truth out huh
Evil will rule without a doubt and it's
The good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
The good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
Solaar
C'est le monde des affaires, OPA sur la misère
Le réel me nargue, tralalalalère
L'air de rien je doute de l'existance des Dieux
De l'existance du mieux dans un lieu plus pieux
Alors je prends de l'avance, en prenant du recul
Car prendre du recul c'est prendre de l'élan
I come in peace, but sucka's always trying to front, so
I gotta let 'em know, gotta let 'em know
This ain't no game, punk, 'cause you could wind up dead
With bullets to the head from the posse's lead
I'm like your mentor, and this is for your benefit
So hear the noise, 'cause the rude boys ain't havin' it
It's
The good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
The good, the bad
Le bien, le mal
En prophète de la fête, je suis contre ceux qui fêtent
La défaite de la fête, alors faites attention
Cette recette intercepte les adeptes trouble-fête
Et le son, domine la situation
Le bien et le mal, situation critique
Problème politique, éthique et techniques, OK man, tout s'explique
Yeah, my man MC Solaar in the house
I'm known as the Guru, you know that
I got the whole posse: Jimmy James, Mikey Moos-Moos, Louche, Blackjack
The Mack, The Ramses, Soon-E MC, Menelik, Bambi Cruz, Planet Mars
Strike, Kéry James, Boom Bass, Zdar, Démocrates D
And their whole entire crew
You know what I'm sayin'? Taking no shorts in 1993
Peace, it's the good and the bad, and I'm out
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Keith Elam, Christophe Roger Viguier, Claude Honore M'barali, MC SOLAAR, JIMMY JAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@gonderage
My linguistic anthropologist professor showed this in our class as an example of code switching and questioning the elements used in both the English and the French verses that make them both a part of the same speech community, despite being different languages. My professor knows the classics.
@leffphield
This song was chosen? Wow!
@leffphield
🙏🏿
@Hippotrague
WISE professer!
@stefdub7331
Ton professeur est super cool,ce morceau est terrible......salut de France l ami...
@XandiMusic
Strong example of the possibilities of unity through linguistics and shared culture, in this case hip-hop, and rap music, of course.
@Neillan
We really need more cross cultural collabs like this nowadays. The video is incredible!
@ok-sh9ew
My cut...I heard this at 19...soundtrack to my youth..so glad I grew up in this time period of hip hop
@stewarteasy72
Guru is "the King Of Monotone". R.I.P.
@lmckinney9369
Bad as jam!