Gang Starr (Guru, Dj Premier)
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Guru, one half of the rap duo Gang Starr, was born Keith Edward Elam on July 17, 1966 in Boston, Massachusetts and grew up in a comfortable middle class neighborhood. The last thing his parents expected was for him to become a rap star. He was the youngest child child of a judge and librarian and also the one with somewhat of a rebellious nature. He attended college at Morehouse University, graduating with a degree in business management and then headed to New York to explore the music scene. His rap moniker, Guru, is an acronym that stands for “Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal”.
The group Gang Starr, though never reaching the heights of fame of other rap groups, has been one of the most influential forces behind the hip hop scene. Founded by Guru and friends in 1987, the original rap group consisted of Guru , DJ 2,2 B Down and Mike Dee. Some of their first works included three 12” vinyl singles released on the famous Wild Pitch label. However, in 1989, the group disbanded, and Guru remained the sole member willing to continue under the name Gang Starr. Gang Starr was back on the scene shortly after, when Guru contacted DJ Premier who had sent him a mix tape as way of audition. The rap duo went on to become pioneers of the New York hip hop sound and produced six albums together, the first being “No More Mr. Nice Guy”, which included the ambitious first single, “Words I Manifest”. Gang Starr became known for its jazzy sound and socially conscious lyrics. Though the duo is not currently producing any new sounds, their music remains well respected within the hip hop community. |
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