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
Sights In The City
Guru Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Carleen Anderson]
Sights in the city got people cryin..
Sights in the city got people cryin..
Sights in the city got people dyin..
Sights in the city got people cryin..
In the city..
[Guru]
One Friday, little Emmitt reached his limit
School was wack, he wasn't with it
His man told him, that he could make some dough
Deliverin packages, for Mac Money Joe
So he said, "Cool.. yo I need a hustle
Yo hook me up, plus I need a pistol or
A .380, a two-two or a .25
I'm gonna get large kid, I'm all the way live"
But he was sadly mistaken
Now he's locked up, he's doin time and he's thinkin
[Carleen Anderson]
Sights in the city got people cryin..
Sights in the city got people dyin..
In the city..
[Guru]
One Saturday, sweet Renee ran away
Couldn't take moms yellin, didn't wanna stay
Her girl told her, that she could get quick cash
Goin on dates, for Pimp Daddy Nash
She said, "Well I don't know, I gotta meet him
You say he's fly, mmm? I gotta see him"
The next thing you know she's out late nights
Makin dollars for Nash, wearin her skirts tight
Now she's a victim of the system
Man what happened to her dreams, and her ambition?
[Carleen Anderson]
Sights in the city got people cryin..
Sights in the city got people dyin..
Sights in the city got people cryin..
Sights in the city got people dyin..
In the city..
[Guru]
Old Mr. Fillmore, he owns a grocery store
It's a small little shop, the children call him Pop
But of course he keeps a shotgun
Just for protection, cause he's got a little grandson
On Sunday, while he was there cleanin
He heard the front door slam, a lady screamin
He grabbed the shottie and walked out from the back
All he saw was two kids, wearin black ski masks
He fired, they fired, all at the same time
Now there's a funeral on Wednesay, a quarter to nine
[Carleen Anderson]
Sights in the city got people cryin..
Sights in the city got people dyin..
In the city.. in the city.. in the city..
In the city! In the city.. in the city..
In the city.. in the city.. in the city..
In the city! In the city!
[Guru]
Many sights and sounds in the city, knahmsayin?
People dyin, innocent victims
The babies ain't got no future
What are we gon' do? Brothers can't make a buck
Mmm, just some of the sights and sounds, that's all
Gues I'm just gonna get mine
The lyrics of Guru's song Sights in the City featuring Carleen Anderson, Courtney Pine, and Simon Law explore the darker side of urban life. The first part of the song talks about people crying and dying in the city due to various reasons like crime, poverty, and desperation. The second part of the song tells the stories of three individuals who fall victim to the challenges of the city. The first story revolves around Emmitt, a school-going boy who gets lured into a life of crime by a friend. He ends up in prison, regretting his choices. The second story is about a girl named Renee who runs away from home to escape her mother's yelling. She ends up being drawn into prostitution to make quick money for a pimp. The third story is about Mr. Fillmore, an old man who owns a grocery store and carries a shotgun. He becomes a victim of a robbery attempt and ends up killing two young robbers.
The song is a commentary on the challenges that come with living in a city. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the bleak realities that many people face when living in an urban environment. The song is a call for action to address these issues and create a better future for the youth.
Line by Line Meaning
Sights in the city got people cryin..
The city's unpleasant environment makes people feel upset
Sights in the city got people dyin..
The city's dangerous atmosphere is fatal for human beings
In the city..
These unfortunate occurrences are happening within the city limits
One Friday, little Emmitt reached his limit
A young boy named Emmitt became fed up with school and his lifestyle
School was wack, he wasn't with it
Emmitt did not enjoy attending school
His man told him, that he could make some dough
Emmitt's friend promised him he could make money
Deliverin packages, for Mac Money Joe
Emmitt was offered the opportunity to work for a drug dealer named Mac Money Joe
So he said, 'Cool.. yo I need a hustle
Emmitt agreed to take the job
Yo hook me up, plus I need a pistol or
Emmitt requested a firearm
A .380, a two-two or a .25
Emmitt was considering different types of handguns
I'm gonna get large kid, I'm all the way live'
Emmitt believed he would become successful and prosperous
But he was sadly mistaken
Emmitt was unaware of the grave danger he was in
Now he's locked up, he's doin time and he's thinkin
Emmitt is currently in jail and contemplating his mistakes
One Saturday, sweet Renee ran away
A young girl named Renee ran away from home
Couldn't take moms yellin, didn't wanna stay
Renee was tired of her mother's constant criticism and decided to leave home
Her girl told her, that she could get quick cash
Renee's friend suggested she could earn money quickly
Goin on dates, for Pimp Daddy Nash
Renee was offered the chance to become a prostitute
She said, 'Well I don't know, I gotta meet him
Renee was hesitant about meeting the person her friend recommended
The next thing you know she's out late nights
Renee soon started working as a prostitute at night
Makin dollars for Nash, wearin her skirts tight
Renee became a prostitute under the supervision of Pimp Daddy Nash and was paid in cash
Now she's a victim of the system
Renee became trapped in the harsh reality of prostitution and human trafficking
Man what happened to her dreams, and her ambition?
Renee's ambition to achieve a better life was compromised by the dangerous lifestyle of prostitution
Old Mr. Fillmore, he owns a grocery store
An elderly man named Mr. Fillmore is the proprietor of a small grocery store
It's a small little shop, the children call him Pop
The store is a popular hangout spot for children, and they affectionately refer to the owner as Pop
But of course he keeps a shotgun
Mr. Fillmore kept a shotgun for protection
Just for protection, cause he's got a little grandson
Mr. Fillmore keeps a gun in order to protect his young grandson
On Sunday, while he was there cleanin
While working at the store on a Sunday,
He heard the front door slam, a lady screamin
Mr. Fillmore heard the sound of the front door being abruptly slammed shut, and a woman screaming for help
He grabbed the shottie and walked out from the back
Mr. Fillmore immediately retrieved his shotgun and walked towards the front of the store
All he saw was two kids, wearin black ski masks
As he walked to the front of the store, he encountered two children with black ski masks, presumably attempting to rob the store
He fired, they fired, all at the same time
Gunshots were exchanged by both parties simultaneously
Now there's a funeral on Wednesay, a quarter to nine
As a result of the gunfire, a funeral is being held on Wednesday at 8:45 pm
Many sights and sounds in the city, knahmsayin?
The city is full of various, complex occurrences
People dyin, innocent victims
People are losing their lives, despite being innocent and undeserving of such fate
The babies ain't got no future
Young children have no hope of a better future in this environment
What are we gon' do? Brothers can't make a buck
The dissatisfactory situation leaves us asking, 'What will we do to make changes?'
Mmm, just some of the sights and sounds, that's all
These unfortunate occurrences are just some of the many diverse things that happen in the city
Gues I'm just gonna get mine
I must focus on my own success and well-being in spite of the difficult and discouraging circumstances
Contributed by Lucas V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stanislav Ovchinnikov
Sights in the city got people cryin'
Sights in the city got people dyin'
Sights in the city got people cryin'
Sights in the city got people dyin'
In the city
One Friday, little Emmitt reached his limit
School was wack, he wasn't with it
His man told him, that he could make some dough
Deliverin' packages, for Mac Money Joe
So he said, "Cool, yo I need a hustle
Yo hook me up, plus I need a pistol or
A .380, a two-two or a .25
I'm gonna get large kid, I'm all the way live"
But he was sadly mistaken
Now he's locked up, he's doin' time and he's thinkin'
Sights in the city got people cryin'
Sights in the city got people dyin'
In the city
One Saturday, sweet Renee ran away
Couldn't take moms yellin', didn't wanna stay
Her girl told her, that she could get quick cash
Goin' on dates, for Pimp Daddy Nash
She said, "Well I don't know, I gotta meet him
You say he's fly, mmm? I gotta see him"
The next thing you know she's out late nights
Makin' dollars for Nash, wearin' her skirts tight
Now she's a victim of the system
Man what happened to her dreams, and her ambition?
Sights in the city got people cryin'
Sights in the city got people dyin'
Sights in the city got people cryin'
Sights in the city got people dyin'
In the city
Old Mr. Fillmore, he owns a grocery store
It's a small little shop, the children call him Pop
But of course he keeps a shotgun
Just for protection, cause he's got a little grandson
On Sunday, while he was there cleanin'
He heard the front door slam, a lady screamin'
He grabbed the shottie and walked out from the back
All he saw was two kids, wearin' black ski masks
He fired, they fired, all at the same time
Now there's a funeral on Wednesay, a quarter to nine
Sights in the city got people cryin'
Sights in the city got people dyin'
In the city
Many sights and sounds in the city, namsayin'?
People dyin', innocent victims
The babies ain't got no future
What are we gon' do? Brothers can't make a buck
Mmm, just some of the sights and sounds, that's all
Guess I'm just gonna get mine
Tristian Thornton
Such a musical genius. One hell of a wordsmith taken away way too early! RIP KEITH ELAM. 10 YEARS AGO TODAY WE LOST HIM AT AGE 48! #RIPGURU
Lebesh Ahmed
Courtney Pine’s solo at the end is just, soul touching. I can’t help but to smile and admire its beauty every time I hear it.
Ashley Jones
Lebesh Ahmed I agree but I think the saxophonist is Courtney Pine.
Mr
Super dope!
MarkHaze
I had to listen to this when I came home, because that beautiful singing was stuck in my head while driving.
MarkHaze
This really makes me miss days when I would go to the City in the 90's. Nobody had the cell phones we have now, people had pagers, sometimes BIG mobile phones, and pay phones on corners. This REALLY makes me feel like those days when I was just a kid 'people-watching' in the city. The World felt so much bigger. THAT SAXAPHONE is partly the reason whenever I hear a sax, I think of the city.
gabyalon
I had this album back in the days in ISRAEL! Guru is LEGENDARY
Phillip Williams
Bro guru music is one of a kind...
Leoking83
Its just to damn smooth it makes my soul feel good
baby london9
Tru indeed! ✊