G.U.R.U.
Marco Polo f/ Talib Kweli & DJ Premier Lyrics

I remember Bahamadia told me once, when she was rollin' around with Guru
I recall a time when Bahamadia told me a story of her and Guru traveling together

That he rolled up on this wack MC and said, "You cannot test the lyrical manifestations of the Guru."
Guru once confronted a poor MC with the statement, 'You cannot challenge the lyrical abilities of Guru'

Rest in peace!
This line is a tribute to Guru's passing and wishing him peaceful rest in the afterlife

Keith E.E.!
This line is a shoutout to Keith Elam, the birth name of Guru

It's the gifted, his presence was so influential
Guru was a naturally talented individual, and his presence alone had great impact

Unlimited, that was his reach and his potential
Guru's potential and influence were seemingly boundless

Rhymes gonna keep you alive, you live through
Guru's legacy and contributions through his lyrics will keep his memory alive

Universal - love and respect go out to Guru
This line expresses the universality of the love and respect felt for Guru

It's a brand new year, you can tell when you hear the cannons
This line represents the start of a new year, as suggested by loud noises

Brooklyn is the heart of the city from where I'm standing
Brooklyn is the cultural hub of the city, as observed from the singer's perspective

Watching Ralph McDaniels kept me up on my music
Ralph McDaniels was a significant influence and source of information for the singer regarding music

Friday afternoon 4 o'clock, you catch the new shit
This line is a reference to the time when new music was typically released and the singer's excitement to hear it

A day I will never forget, when I heard Premier cut
The singer has an unforgettable memory of when they first heard Premier's work

"These are the words that I manifest"
This line refers to the signature sound and style of Premier

Blew my mind , I'm like "I bet this album fresh"
The singer was impressed by Premier's work and anticipating the release of an album

Premier was dressed like King, Guru was Malcolm X
Premier and Guru had very distinct fashion styles, Premier dressing like a King and Guru like Malcolm X

In the video for "Who's Gonna Take The Weight?"
This line is a reference to the music video for Guru's track of the same name

I came from the same place, I can straight relate
The singer can identify with Guru and his roots as they are from the same place

I mean one was from Boston, the other one was from Texas
This line is a nod to the diversity of Guru and Premier's backgrounds

But when they got together in Brooklyn it was the next shit
Their collaboration in Brooklyn was revolutionary and game-changing

"No More Mr. Nice Guy" was good
The singer enjoyed the album 'No More Mr. Nice Guy'

They got a greater next album, stepped in the arena like gladiators
Their subsequent album was even better and they cemented themselves as powerful figures in the industry

It's a daily operation, no opponents for these dudes
Guru and Premier were a well-oiled machine in their work and had no opposition

Respect is hard to earn without a moment of truth
Guru's assertion that honesty is a crucial factor in earning respect

You always reminded me of what I'm rhyming for
Guru was an inspiration and a reminder of the singer's passion for their craft

Got me in a New Music Seminar back in '94
Guru played an instrumental part in the singer's attendance of the New Music Seminar in 1994

You and Black, I was with Rubix, JuJu, and Forté
The singer spent time with Guru and another individual named Black while in the company of others named Rubix, JuJu, and Forté

We was snot-nosed kids, but you showed us love all day
Guru was kind and welcoming to the singer and their friends despite their young age and inexperience

Then we got the pleasure to tour, you was the realest
The singer had the opportunity to tour with Guru and found him to be genuine

You showed us love, it was us, Bahamadia, and Slum Village
Guru was welcoming to the singer and others such as Bahamadia and Slum Village

Rest in peace Dilla, R.I.P. Guru
This line is a tribute to both J Dilla and Guru, both of whom have passed away

I rocked with the greats backed up by The Roots crew
The singer had the opportunity to perform with legends and receive support from The Roots crew

Blowing a tree with Tariq, overseas we would speak
The singer and Tariq would smoke and converse while overseas

It was mostly the voice, so unique
Guru's voice was the most distinct and notable part of his artistry

I could hear you put your most to the beat, so complete
Guru was fully dedicated to his craft and put his all into every beat

No matter how big you got you was close to the street
Guru remained grounded and connected to his roots despite his fame

Me and Baldhead Slick would sit down over a beer
The singer and Baldhead Slick would relax and chat over drinks

We'd laugh about how people said I look like Premier
The singer and Baldhead Slick found humor in others mistaking the singer for Premier

At the end of the day all you wanted was respect
Guru's main objective was to earn and maintain respect from others

And when people fronted it was just to get a rep
Those who disrespected Guru were simply trying to gain credibility or reputation

Life is just a dream and what you make of it
This line expresses the idea that life is what you make of it and nothing more

People never understood you and Solar's relationship
Guru's relationship with Solar was often misunderstood by others

But who am I to question it?
The singer acknowledges that they are not in a place to question the relationship between Guru and Solar

If you say that's your peoples that's your peoples
The singer recognizes and respects Guru and Solar's friendship

It ain't transparent for me to see through
The dynamics of Guru and Solar's relationship are not entirely clear to the singer

But all I know is that you showed me love when you was with us
Guru was always kind and welcoming to the singer despite the unclear nature of his relationship with Solar

You lived for the music, your life was what you give us
Guru dedicated his life and energy to his music, leaving a powerful legacy for others to enjoy

Hear your style, your influence, your life, it still hit us
Guru's style, influence, and life continue to have an impact and resonate with others

With the right document the fight is still in us
Through the right documentation, Guru's fight and legacy can continue to inspire and motivate

I will never stop, cause whether or not if radio play us
The singer will continue to create and share their music regardless of mainstream radio play

My ability should display a soliloquy of chaos
The singer's skills are powerful and can create intense emotions and chaos

Painting the perfect picture
The singer is creating the ideal representation of their art through their work

Trust me when I say that we miss ya
This line acknowledges Guru's absence and the longing for his presence

I felt like getting Freddie Foxxx and Big Shug
The singer has the desire to collaborate with Freddie Foxxx and Big Shug

Reforming the militia, swarming on these niggas
Collaborating with these artists would create a powerful force to confront other emcees

Threw on Jazzmatazz and let my thoughts simmer then
The singer reflects on Guru's work and its impact on their thoughts

A storm started blowing in my eyes, I want to eulogize
The singer becomes emotional and feels the urge to commemorate Guru

The truest rhymes gonna keep Guru alive
Guru's genuine and impactful lyrics will keep his memory and legacy alive

Some things in this industry, shit be so fake
The music industry has a lot of inauthenticity and phoniness

Make no mistake, one of the best of all time
There is no doubt that Guru is one of the greatest of all time

The God Universal, Ruler Universal
These titles express Guru's place as a legendary and influential figure in the music industry

The seventh letter, man, ain't got no time for petty speakin'
Guru goes by the seventh letter of the alphabet, G, and has no time for trivial conversations