Keith Edward Elam died from complications of cancer on April 19. Elam, known as Guru from the group Gang Starr, suffered a heart attack in February and fell into a coma. He came out of the coma March 3. The rapper was diagnosed with multiple myeloma more than a year ago.
Before his death, Elam wrote a letter to his fans.
“I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options. I have a nonprofit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting.”
Gang Starr was one of the first hip-hop groups to use jazz samples in their music. Their most successful album was the 1998 classic, Moment of Truth. –amir shaw
