In light of the recent health issues of Gang Star's legendary artist and producer, we wanted to delve into Guru's career and long-lasting impact on us, our followers and the music hungry hip-hop nation that he helped to feed back in the day.
The influence of Guru and his partner, DJ Premier stretches throughout the hip-hop universe. They were defined by Guru's monotone flow - one of, if not, the most thought-provoking and conscious storytelling of the '90s and DJ Premier's unique innovations in sampling and beat production.
Since their first successful album Step In The Arena was put out into the public in 1991, the rap and hip-hop world spit out some dynamic duos, groups, solo artists and producers borrowed elements of their fundamental, eclectic and street sound. Mass arrays of cd's that carried their sound were stock piled out to the hip hop nation leading right up to the current mixtape culture. Some time back in '90's, acts such as Pete Rock & CL Smooth, A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, Brand Nubian and even Gil Scott Heron were coming out from similar sonic space with a defined and united message: jazz influenced, soulful beats and substantial lyrics with stories that went beyond party anthems and had an uplifting and enlightening purpose.
The jazz-influenced, street-prophet style that Gang Starr helped build became the foundation for a whole generation of backpack rappers like Mos Def, Talib Kweli or even Prodigy throughout the '90s and into the '00s. Carrying the torch forward were artists like Common, Lupe Fiasco and Kanye West.
Guru's "truth meets craft" storytelling on tracks like "Soliloquy of Chaos" (from 1992's Daily Operation) can often be heard influencing verses crafted by Wu-tang's Raekwon and Ghostface. Their core theme to their lyrics is to help the listener visulaize everyhting from the gritty situations they were in to the emotions they were feeling at the time. And that formula gave an extreme advantage to all three artists' lyrical approach.
The path to Jay Electronica and Just Blaze's recent track "Exhibit C" can be traced back to Gang Starr's sound. DJ Premier's sampling wizardry is most present in Just Blaze's body of work, and Jay Electronica's lyrical content is intellectual and visual (not unlike Guru's).
As Gang Starr continues to resonate throughout the hip-hop universe even with the untimely news, we embrace the fact that they were, they are and they forever will be present within the hip-hop culture and within the hearts of those who listened to them. The news of Guru's health ... we will "Take It Personal".
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