Hours after the legendary Gangstarr artist Guru succumbed to cancer, the internet is blazing with speculation over the letter that was released to fans by friend and producer Solar.
The letter (see an excerpt below) explains the legendary rapper’s bout with cancer and even details how the assets and his son’s should be taken care of listing Solar as primary beneficiary and caregiver. The fact that this is Guru’s “final letter” ,which reads more like a will, and Solar being placed to handle all of his estates’ issues and finances including the care of his son has many questioning the legitimacy of the letter.
“My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody’s feelings on the matter.
It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of my life, my sun KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by Solar on behalf myself and my son until he is of age to [accept] on his own.”
The real blow came to his partner in rhyme DJ Premier, who according to the letter can no longer use anything affiliated with Guru’s name or likeness. Premier who co-founded the legendary Hip-Hop group Gangstarr with Guru is now prohibited from performing a concert to benefit or in memoriam of his former friend.
“I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events, tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this. I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death.
Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. As the sole founder of GangStarr, I am very proud of what GangStarr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of Hip-Hop/Jazz.”
Solar has decided to respond back to allegations that the letter was not written by Guru, by releasing a statement via Twitter letting fans know that he did not write the letter:
“Guru made this statement from his own mouth and anybody saying different is insane with hate!”
The artist, born Keith Elam, died on Monday April 19. He was 43 years old. Solar, Guru’s partner, expressed sadness over the loss in a statement.
“The world has lost one of the best MCs and Hip-Hop icons of all-time — my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru. Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle! This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it, but tragically, this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius.”
This sounds more like a will than his last words but at this point in time only Solar can truthfully answer that.
Despite the drama, [SMH], DJ Premier offers his condolences to Guru’s family and offers fans a way to leave their most memorable moments of the legendary MC on his blogsite: http://www.djpremierblog.com/guru/
Drama aside, the Hip-Hop world will never be the same, as we have truly lost a legend.
