RIP GURU: INFINITE SKILLS CREATE MIRACLES
Dj Premier and Guru of Gang Starr
I uploaded this track and had a post half written the day before I heard the news that Guru had gone into a coma after suffering a heart attack. At the time I was writing more about where my head was at, but once I heard that news I felt it wasn’t the time to be posting this track. Sadly, Guru lost his battle and passed away Monday February 19.
I’ve been a huge Gang Starr fan since the early 90s, bumping joints like Just To Get A Rep and Ex Girl To The Next Girl, but to me it was Moment of Truth that was Gang Starr at their finest, and to this day it is one of my all time favorite hip hop records. The Militia featuring Big Shug and Freddie Foxxx was pure hardcore street rap, straight fire. Above The Clouds with Inspectah Deck of Wu Tang Clan is a more melancholic joint showing off Guru’s deeper lyrical flows and You Know My Steez, The Rep Gets Bigger, She Knowz What She Wantz and the title track Moment Of Truth, to me, represent what real hip hop is all about. And as for the production by the man Dj Premier — shit is untouchable: every beat on that album is completely off the hook. Gang Starr were one of the most influential hip hop acts to come out of New York, and it’s not hard to see why.
I’ve written a more in depth tribute to Guru of Gangstarr / Jazzmatazz for old school rap and electro funk blog Cold Crush, check it out.
In something much closer to home, my own old man suffered a heart attack over the weekend. The shock of hearing about somebody you have admired and being a fan of for years having a heart attack is one thing, but when it’s your own family shit is on a whole new level. Thankfully though I can say that he is ok, he needed three stents put into his heart but the doctors are pretty happy with how he is doing. Keep my Dad in your thoughts. One love
