Guru (rapper)
Encyclopedia
Keith Edward Elam better known by his stage name Guru, was an American
emcee and member of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr
, along with DJ Premier
. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts
. The name Guru is a backronym
that stands for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal and the less-often used God is Universal; he is the Ruler Universal, which are both references to the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths
. He was also known for lending his voice for 8-Ball in Grand Theft Auto III
and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
.
neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. His father, Harry, was a judge and his mother, Barbara, was the co-director of libraries in the Boston public school system. He attended Cohasset High School
in Cohasset, Massachusetts
for high school. Elam graduated with a degree in business administration from Morehouse College
in Atlanta and took graduate classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology
in Manhattan
. He later dropped out to pursue a hip hop career. Elam worked briefly in social services.
in 1987. The group initially released three records, produced by DJ Mark the 45 King
, on the Wild Pitch Records
record label, but these records received little attention. After a change in line-up, the group consisted of rapper Elam and beat maker DJ Premier
. Gang Starr released its first LP No More Mr. Nice Guy
on Wild Pitch Records; the group achieved a sizable following and released six critically acclaimed and influential albums from 1989 to 2003. Two albums, Moment of Truth (1998) and compilation Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr
(1999) were certified gold in the United States by the RIAA. Gang Starr made archetypal East Coast hip hop with Guru's rhyming described as sharp-eyed but anti-ostentatious.
In 1993, Guru released the first in a series of four solo albums while still a member of Gang Starr. Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1
featured collaborations with Donald Byrd
, N'Dea Davenport
, MC Solaar
, and Roy Ayers
and received positive reviews. His second solo LP, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality
, featured Chaka Khan
, Ramsey Lewis
, Branford Marsalis
, and Jamiroquai
. The third installment
was released in 2000, but it received less positive reviews.
In 1994, Guru appeared on the Red Hot Organization
's compilation album Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in relation to the African American community, was heralded as the album of the year by Time Magazine.
In reference to the above mentioned Jazzmatazz project, Elam told Pete Lewis of Blues & Soul
: "Back around ’93—when I first came up with the Jazzmatazz concept—I was noticing how a lot of cats were digging in the crates and sampling jazz breaks to make hip hop records. But while I thought that was cool, I wanted to take it to the next level and actually create a new genre by getting the actual dudes we were sampling into the studio to jam over hip hop beats with some of the top vocalists of the time. You know, the whole thing was experimental, but I knew it was an idea that would spawn some historic music."
Elam's first solo album not a part the Jazzmatazz series, Baldhead Slick & da Click
, was released in 2001 to poor reviews. The album reached #22 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop album charts. The seventh chapter in the book of Guru, Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures, was released in 2005 on Elam's own record label, 7 Grand Records. The album was produced entirely by labelmate Solar. It reached #54 on the Billboard R&B albums charts and received mixed reviews.
Elam's final releases were the fourth installment in the Jazzmatazz series, released in June 2007; and Guru 8.0: Lost And Found, released May 19, 2009 (also in collaboration with Solar). A Gang Starr reunion album was planned but will never be released because of Guru's death.
and, following surgery, fell into a coma
. It was claimed that Guru had briefly awakened from his coma but died on April 19, 2010, at the age of 48, from cancer. Keith Elam (Guru) was survived by his parents, three siblings, and a son named Keith Casim. His production partner, Solar, claimed that Elam had momentarily awakened from his coma to compose a letter to the public, although DJ Premier and members of the emcee's family stated that he never regained consciousness. Elam's family claimed that Solar had prevented them from having contact with Elam during his illness just before his death. The validity of the death-bed letter was challenged by Guru's family. In an interview on Conspiracy Worldwide Radio, Solar claimed that he was protective of Elam, and everything he had said was true. This interview was met by extreme emotion from the hip hop community and did little to clear the controversy surrounding his actions.
DJ Premier produced a tribute mix to Elam and has released a public letter along with Elam's sister Patricia Elam. Harry J. Elam, an older brother, wrote a personal memoir in remembrance published in The Boston Globe
on April 23, 2010. The Elam family had a Guru Tribute Web Site set up where visitors were able to view tributes and sign a memorial page. Guru's nephew Justin Nicholas-Elam Ruff made a 16-minute documentary in which he narrated the story of his late uncle. The video can be seen at DJPremierBlog.com, http://www.gurutributes.com, and http://thexlabel.wordpress.com/.
At the 2011 Grammy Awards, Guru's name was not mentioned in the annual retrospective of musicians who had died since the 2010 awards. On April 21, 2011, Revive Da Live Big Band held a tribute show for Elam at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. The show paid homage to Guru's Jazzmatazz series and featured a full jazz band tribute, with all proceeds going towards the Elam family. During the concert, Babygrande Records
donated $5000 to Guru's son, K.C. Elam.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
emcee and member of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr
Gang Starr
Gang Starr was an influential East Coast hip hop duo that consisted of the late MC Guru and DJ/producer DJ Premier. Their style combined elements of New York jazz and hip hop.-Background:...
, along with DJ Premier
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin , better known by his stage name DJ Premier , is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with emcee Guru...
. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, and became a city in 1846 until annexed to Boston on January 5, 1868...
. The name Guru is a backronym
Backronym
A backronym or bacronym is a phrase constructed purposely, such that an acronym can be formed to a specific desired word. Backronyms may be invented with serious or humorous intent, or may be a type of false or folk etymology....
that stands for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal and the less-often used God is Universal; he is the Ruler Universal, which are both references to the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths
The Nation of Gods and Earths
The Nation of Gods and Earths, sometimes referred to as NGE or NOGE, the Five-Percent Nation, or the Five Percenters is an American organization founded in 1964 in the Harlem section of the borough of Manhattan, New York City, by Clarence 13X, a former student of Malcolm X, who left his mosque...
. He was also known for lending his voice for 8-Ball in Grand Theft Auto III
Grand Theft Auto III
Grand Theft Auto III is a 2001 open world action computer and video game developed by DMA Design in the United Kingdom, and published by Rockstar Games. It is the first 3D title in the Grand Theft Auto series. It was released in October 2001 for the PlayStation 2, May 2002 for Microsoft Windows,...
and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories is a 2005 sandbox-style action video game developed by Rockstar North and Rockstar Leeds. It is the ninth game in the Grand Theft Auto series...
.
Early years
Elam was born in the RoxburyRoxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, and became a city in 1846 until annexed to Boston on January 5, 1868...
neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. His father, Harry, was a judge and his mother, Barbara, was the co-director of libraries in the Boston public school system. He attended Cohasset High School
Cohasset High School
Cohasset High School is a public high school located in Cohasset, Massachusetts, USA. It is located at 143 Pond St. and has an enrollment of 364 students in grades 9-12. The school's mascot is the Skippers and the school colors are navy blue, silver, and white...
in Cohasset, Massachusetts
Cohasset, Massachusetts
Cohasset is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, though it is not contiguous with the main body of the county. The population was 7,542 at the 2010 census.- History :...
for high school. Elam graduated with a degree in business administration from Morehouse College
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
in Atlanta and took graduate classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology
Fashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology, generally known as FIT, is a State University of New York college of art, business, design, and technology connected to the fashion industry, with an urban campus located on West 27th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Chelsea neighborhood of...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. He later dropped out to pursue a hip hop career. Elam worked briefly in social services.
Musical career
Elam began his rap career under the pseudonym MC Keithy E but later changed name to Guru. He founded Gang StarrGang Starr
Gang Starr was an influential East Coast hip hop duo that consisted of the late MC Guru and DJ/producer DJ Premier. Their style combined elements of New York jazz and hip hop.-Background:...
in 1987. The group initially released three records, produced by DJ Mark the 45 King
DJ Mark the 45 King
DJ Mark the 45 King , also known as the 45 King, started DJing in New Jersey in the mid-1980s. The nickname "the 45 King" comes from his ability to make beats using obscure 45 RPM records.-Career:...
, on the Wild Pitch Records
Wild Pitch Records
Wild Pitch Records was a hip hop record label started in the mid 1980s by Stuart Fine and was eventually distributed by EMI and eventually acquired by Jay Faires, who tried to reactivate it as part of his short-lived JCOR Entertainment label...
record label, but these records received little attention. After a change in line-up, the group consisted of rapper Elam and beat maker DJ Premier
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin , better known by his stage name DJ Premier , is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with emcee Guru...
. Gang Starr released its first LP No More Mr. Nice Guy
No More Mr. Nice Guy (Gang Starr album)
No More Mr. Nice Guy is the debut album by hip hop duo Gang Starr, which was released in 1989 . Although it was regarded as a critical success amid the first wave of alternative hip hop acts such as Jungle Brothers and De La Soul. No More Mr. Nice Guy remains somewhat overshadowed by the highly...
on Wild Pitch Records; the group achieved a sizable following and released six critically acclaimed and influential albums from 1989 to 2003. Two albums, Moment of Truth (1998) and compilation Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr
Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr
Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr is a compilation album, featuring 32 songs released by Hip Hop duo Gang Starr between 1989 and 1999, plus a brief 'intro' track...
(1999) were certified gold in the United States by the RIAA. Gang Starr made archetypal East Coast hip hop with Guru's rhyming described as sharp-eyed but anti-ostentatious.
In 1993, Guru released the first in a series of four solo albums while still a member of Gang Starr. Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1
Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1
Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 is a jazz rap album by alternative hip hop artist Guru, released on May 18, 1993 on Chrysalis Records. This album is one of the first albums to combine a live jazz band with hip hop production and rapping. It is the first such project to feature established rappers...
featured collaborations with Donald Byrd
Donald Byrd
Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II, is an American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd is best known as one of the only bebop jazz musicians who successfully pioneered the funk and soul genres while simultaneously remaining a...
, N'Dea Davenport
N'Dea Davenport
N'Dea Davenport is an American recording artist, dancer, performer and producer, best known for her work as a vocalist in the UK funk band, The Brand New Heavies, and her pioneering contributions to the genre of acid jazz.-Biography:...
, MC Solaar
MC Solaar
MC Solaar is a francophone hip hop and rap artist. He is one of the most internationally popular and influential French rappers....
, and Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers
Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers...
and received positive reviews. His second solo LP, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality
Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality
Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality, was the follow-up to the well-received Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1. This second release to the Jazzmatazz series slightly toned down the jazz rap punch that made the first volume memorable. It was nevertheless critically acclaimed in its own right...
, featured Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
, Ramsey Lewis
Ramsey Lewis
Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr. is an American jazz composer, pianist and radio personality. Ramsey Lewis has recorded over 80 albums and has received seven gold records and three Grammy Awards so far in his career.-Biography:...
, Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis
Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.-Biography:Marsalis was born...
, and Jamiroquai
Jamiroquai
Jamiroquai is a British jazz funk and acid jazz band formed in 1992. Jamiroquai were initially the most prominent component in the early-1990s London-based acid jazz movement, alongside groups such as Incognito, the James Taylor Quartet, and the Brand New Heavies. Other Acid Jazz artists such as...
. The third installment
Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul
Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul is the third entry in the Jazzmatazz series from Guru of Gang Starr.-Synopsis:As the title seems to suggest, this volume featured a blend of Soul with R&B. The decline in Jazz inflections that made Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 popular continued on this release Guru's...
was released in 2000, but it received less positive reviews.
In 1994, Guru appeared on the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
's compilation album Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in relation to the African American community, was heralded as the album of the year by Time Magazine.
In reference to the above mentioned Jazzmatazz project, Elam told Pete Lewis of Blues & Soul
Blues & Soul
Blues & Soul is a British music magazine covering black music. Genres covered include soul, R&B, jazz, hip hop, reggae and world music. It was first published in 1966 and is known for first using the term Northern Soul....
: "Back around ’93—when I first came up with the Jazzmatazz concept—I was noticing how a lot of cats were digging in the crates and sampling jazz breaks to make hip hop records. But while I thought that was cool, I wanted to take it to the next level and actually create a new genre by getting the actual dudes we were sampling into the studio to jam over hip hop beats with some of the top vocalists of the time. You know, the whole thing was experimental, but I knew it was an idea that would spawn some historic music."
Elam's first solo album not a part the Jazzmatazz series, Baldhead Slick & da Click
Baldhead Slick & Da Click
Baldhead Slick & da Click, the 2001 release from American rapper Guru is his first solo recording outside his Jazzmatazz series of albums.-Track listing:#"Where's Our Money?!" – 3:23#"Back 2 Back" – 2:59...
, was released in 2001 to poor reviews. The album reached #22 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop album charts. The seventh chapter in the book of Guru, Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures, was released in 2005 on Elam's own record label, 7 Grand Records. The album was produced entirely by labelmate Solar. It reached #54 on the Billboard R&B albums charts and received mixed reviews.
Elam's final releases were the fourth installment in the Jazzmatazz series, released in June 2007; and Guru 8.0: Lost And Found, released May 19, 2009 (also in collaboration with Solar). A Gang Starr reunion album was planned but will never be released because of Guru's death.
Death
On February 28, 2010, Elam went into cardiac arrestCardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
and, following surgery, fell into a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
. It was claimed that Guru had briefly awakened from his coma but died on April 19, 2010, at the age of 48, from cancer. Keith Elam (Guru) was survived by his parents, three siblings, and a son named Keith Casim. His production partner, Solar, claimed that Elam had momentarily awakened from his coma to compose a letter to the public, although DJ Premier and members of the emcee's family stated that he never regained consciousness. Elam's family claimed that Solar had prevented them from having contact with Elam during his illness just before his death. The validity of the death-bed letter was challenged by Guru's family. In an interview on Conspiracy Worldwide Radio, Solar claimed that he was protective of Elam, and everything he had said was true. This interview was met by extreme emotion from the hip hop community and did little to clear the controversy surrounding his actions.
DJ Premier produced a tribute mix to Elam and has released a public letter along with Elam's sister Patricia Elam. Harry J. Elam, an older brother, wrote a personal memoir in remembrance published in The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
on April 23, 2010. The Elam family had a Guru Tribute Web Site set up where visitors were able to view tributes and sign a memorial page. Guru's nephew Justin Nicholas-Elam Ruff made a 16-minute documentary in which he narrated the story of his late uncle. The video can be seen at DJPremierBlog.com, http://www.gurutributes.com, and http://thexlabel.wordpress.com/.
At the 2011 Grammy Awards, Guru's name was not mentioned in the annual retrospective of musicians who had died since the 2010 awards. On April 21, 2011, Revive Da Live Big Band held a tribute show for Elam at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. The show paid homage to Guru's Jazzmatazz series and featured a full jazz band tribute, with all proceeds going towards the Elam family. During the concert, Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records is an independent record label based in New York City founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by the The Orchard, and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood.-Discography:...
donated $5000 to Guru's son, K.C. Elam.
Albums
| Album information |
|---|
Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1
|
| Guru Presents Ill Kid Records
|
| Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality
|
| Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul
|
| Baldhead Slick & da Click Baldhead Slick & Da Click Baldhead Slick & da Click, the 2001 release from American rapper Guru is his first solo recording outside his Jazzmatazz series of albums.-Track listing:#"Where's Our Money?!" – 3:23#"Back 2 Back" – 2:59... |
| Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures is the second solo album by Gang Starr member, Guru.-Track listing:# "No Time" – 3:12# "False Prophets" – 3:07# "Step in the Arena 2 " – 2:35... |
| Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 4: The Hip Hop Jazz Messenger: Back to the Future
|
| The Timebomb: Back To The Future Mixtape The Timebomb: Back to the Future Mixtape The Timebomb: Back To The Future Mixtape , is a commercial mixtape album released by Guru through 7 Grand Records, hosted by DJ Doo Wop and produced by Solar.Released soon after Jazzmatazz, Vol... |
| The Best of Guru's Jazzmatazz The Best of Guru's Jazzmatazz The Best of Guru's Jazzmatazz is a greatest hits album released by Guru through Virgin Records. This compilation includes tracks from the first three volumes of the Jazzmatazz series, as well as remixes and alternate versions. Tracks 1-6 & 17 , Tracks 7-11 & 18 , & Tracks 12-16 .-Track... |
| Guru 8.0: Lost and Found Guru 8.0: Lost and Found Guru 8.0: Lost & Found is the fourth album Guru released through 7 Grand Records. It was Guru's final commercial release before his death in 2010.-Track listing:#"Lost and Found" #"Fastlane" #"Ride"... |
Guest appearances
- 1990: "Jazz Thing" (from the soundtrack of Mo' Better BluesMo' Better BluesMo' Better Blues is a 1990 drama film starring Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, and Spike Lee, who also directed. It follows a period in the life of a fictional jazz trumpeter Bleek Gilliam as a series of bad decisions result in his jeopardizing both his relationships and his playing career...
) - 1991: "Qui Semé Le Vent Recolte Le Tempo (Gang Starr Remix)" (from an MC SolaarMC SolaarMC Solaar is a francophone hip hop and rap artist. He is one of the most internationally popular and influential French rappers....
12" single) - 1992: "A Buncha Niggas" (from the Heavy D & The BoyzHeavy D & the BoyzDwight Arrington Myers , better known as Heavy D, was a Jamaican-born American actor, rapper, record producer, singer and former leader of Heavy D & the Boyz, a hip hop group which included G-Whiz , "Trouble" T. Roy , and Eddie F...
album Blue FunkBlue Funk-Reception:The album was released on January 12, 1993 for Uptown Records and was produced by DJ Eddie F, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Jesse West aka 3rd Eye and Tony Dofat. Blue Funk made it to #40 on the Billboard 200 and #7 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and was certified gold. The album...
, also featuring Biggie Smalls, Busta RhymesBusta RhymesTrevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
, Rob-O, Third EyeThird eyeThe third eye is a mystical and esoteric concept referring in part to the ajna chakra in certain spiritual traditions. It is also spoken of as the gate that leads within to inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness...
) - 1992: "It's Getting Hectic" (from the Brand New HeaviesBrand New HeaviesThe Brand New Heavies are an acid jazz and funk group formed in 1985 in Ealing, a suburb of London, England.-Biography:The Brand New Heavies began in the 1980s as an instrumental acid jazz group called Brother International....
album Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol. 1Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol. 1Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol. 1 was a studio album by Brand New Heavies. It included collaborations with Guru of Gang Starr, Grand Puba, Main Source and The Pharcyde, among others, but lacked any female vocals...
) - 1992: "Sassy" (from the Neneh CherryNeneh CherryNeneh Mariann Cherry is a Swedish singer-songwriter, rapper, and occasional DJ and broadcaster...
album "HomebrewHomebrewHomebrew may refer to:* Homebrewing of alcoholic beverages and other drinks* Homebrew * Homebrew - A package manager for Mac OS X* Homebrew ** Wii homebrew...
") - 1993: "Patti Dooke" (from De La SoulDe La SoulDe La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
album Buhloone MindstateBuhloone MindstateBuhloone Mindstate is De La Soul's third full-length album. It was the last De La Soul album to be produced with Prince Paul. Comedian Chris Rock ranked it 10th in his list of the top 25 hip-hop albums of all time that was published in Rolling Stone in 2005.- Title significance :The title refers...
) - 1993: "Season For Change" (from the Ronny JordanRonny JordanRonny Jordan is a guitarist at the forefront of the acid jazz movement at the end of the twentieth century. Additionally, Jordan can be included in several other jazz genres such as urban jazz, jazz funk, crossover jazz, and smooth jazz...
album The Quiet Revolution) - 1993: "Listen (Guru Remix)" (from a Urban Species 12" single)
- 1993: "Stop Lookin' at Me" (In collaboration with The Cutthroats from the soundtrack of Menace II SocietyMenace II SocietyMenace II Society is a 1993 urban crime drama and the directorial debut of twin brothers Allen and Albert Hughes. Menace II Society is set in South Central Los Angeles and follows the life of a hoodlum named Caine Lawson and his close friends. The film gained notoriety for its frequent scenes of...
) - 1994: "Borough Check" (from the Digable PlanetsDigable PlanetsDigable Planets is an American alternative hip hop trio based in New York City, composed of Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler , Mary Ann "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira and Craig "Doodlebug" Irving . They released their debut album Reachin' in 1993, and their follow-up album Blowout Comb in 1994...
album Blowout CombBlowout CombBlowout Comb is the second studio album by American hip hop group Digable Planets, released October 18, 1994, on Pendulum/EMI Records. The album is titled after a grooming product that was used popularly by African Americans during the 1970s, amid the trend of the Afro hair style...
) - 1994: "I've Lost My Ignorance" (from the Dream WarriorsDream WarriorsDream Warriors were a Canadian hip hop duo from Toronto, Ontario, comprising King Lou and Capital Q. Described as "a pair of deft, intelligent rappers" by Allmusic, they were major contributors to the jazz rap movement of the early 1990s. Their 1991 debut album, And Now the Legacy Begins, is...
album Subliminal SimulationSubliminal SimulationSubliminal Simulation is the second studio album by Canadian hip hop group Dream Warriors, released in 1994 in Canada and worldwide in 1995, on EMI/Pendulum Records...
) - 1994: "Black Monday" (from the Buckshot LeFonqueBuckshot LeFonqueBuckshot LeFonque was a musical group project of Branford Marsalis. The name Buckshot LeFonque was a pseudonym used by jazz saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley for contractual reasons on the album Here Comes Louis Smith...
single "Another Day") - 1995: "B-Boy Mastermind" (from the DJ KrushDJ Krush, better known as DJ Krush, is a producer and DJ. He is known for his atmospheric instrumental production which incorporates sound elements from nature and extensive use of jazz and soul samples.-Biography:...
album KrushKrush (album)For the electronic music group, see Krush.Krush is the debut album from DJ Krush.-Track listing:#"AM 300 Tag" 0:52#"Keepin the Motion" 6:37 contains a sample of "Our Generation" by Ernie Hines#"Mixed Nuts" 1:11#"Roll & Tumble" 5:08...
) – This appears on the Japanese import only. - 1995: "Serious Rap Shit" (from the Group HomeGroup HomeGroup Home is a hip hop duo, composed of members Lil' Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker . They came to prominence as members of the Gang Starr Foundation. Lil' Dap made his rhyming debut on Gang Starr's 1992 classic Daily Operation on the song "I'm the Man"...
album Livin' ProofLivin' ProofLivin' Proof is the debut album from Gang Starr affiliates Group Home. The album featured the hit underground single "Supa Star" and featured the acclaimed production work of the legendary DJ Premier. The album is known both for the supposed sub-par rhyming and superior instrumental work...
) - 1996: "Fed Up (Remix)" (from House of PainHouse of PainHouse of Pain is an American hip hop group who released three albums in the 1990s before lead rapper Everlast left to pursue his solo career again. The group's name is a reference to the H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr...
album Truth Crushed to Earth Shall Rise AgainTruth Crushed To Earth Shall Rise AgainTruth Crushed to Earth Shall Rise Again is the third album from House of Pain, released in 1996 .-Track listing:#"The Have Nots" - 4:24#"Fed Up" - 5:01#"What's That Smell" - 3:04#"Heart Full of Sorrow" - 3:44...
) - 1996: "Listen Here" (from The New Groove: The Blue Note Remix ProjectThe New Groove: The Blue Note Remix ProjectThe New Groove: The Blue Note Remix Project is a 1996 Blue Note Records remix-compilation, released on that label.-Tracklisting:#Kofi - Donald Byrd remixed by Heavy Beats#Hummin' - Cannonball Adderley remixed by Large Professor...
) - 1997: "The Way it Iz" (from Rhyme & Reason (soundtrack)Rhyme & Reason (soundtrack)Rhyme & Reason is the soundtrack to the documentary film, Rhyme & Reason. It was released on January 14, 1997 through Priority Records and featured production from the likes of The Ummah, RZA and Beats By the Pound...
) - 1997: "For Da Love" (from Afu-RaAfu-RaAaron Phillip better known by his stage names, Afu-Ra & Afu is a New York-based American underground rapper. Afu, born Aaron Phillip, is a devout student of the Martial arts, as well as Chess...
and EZD unofficial release "A D&D Project In Association With DJ Premier Vol. 1") - 1998: "Salute part II" (from the M.O.P.M.O.P.M.O.P., short for Mash Out Posse, is an American hip hop duo. The duo, composed of Billy Danze and Lil' Fame, is known for the aggressive delivery typically employed by both emcees. Although they maintain a strong underground following, they are mainly known for the song "Ante Up," released on...
album First Family 4 LifeFirst Family 4 LifeFirst Family 4 Life is the third full-length album released by M.O.P., and their second to be released through Relativity Records. DJ Premier produces five songs on the album and also serves as an executive producer of the project . The LP features more guest-appearances than previous M.O.P....
) - 1998: "Trilogy Of Terror" (from the Afu-RaAfu-RaAaron Phillip better known by his stage names, Afu-Ra & Afu is a New York-based American underground rapper. Afu, born Aaron Phillip, is a devout student of the Martial arts, as well as Chess...
12 "Whirlwind Thru Cities") - 1999: "NY Niggaz" (from the Sway & King TechSway & King TechSway & King Tech is an American hip hop group composed of Bay Area rapper Sway and DJ King Tech. Also known as Flynamic Force or Sway & Tech, they are the hosts of the nationally syndicated show, The Wake Up Show...
album This or ThatThis or That (album)This or That is the second album released by Sway & King Tech. It was released on June 15, 1999 through Interscope Records and was produced by King Tech and DJ Revolution...
) - 1999: "The Legacy" (from the Group HomeGroup HomeGroup Home is a hip hop duo, composed of members Lil' Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker . They came to prominence as members of the Gang Starr Foundation. Lil' Dap made his rhyming debut on Gang Starr's 1992 classic Daily Operation on the song "I'm the Man"...
album A Tear For The GhettoA Tear for the GhettoA Tear for the Ghetto is the second album released by the hip-hop duo Group Home. Released June 1, 1999, on Replay Records, the album featured one hit single, "Make It In Life," which made to #16 on the Hot Rap Singles and production by Agallah, Guru, DJ Premier and group member Lil' Dap.-Track...
) - 1999: "Bare Witness" (from the ChoclairChoclairKareem Blake, better known by his stage name Choclair, is a Canadian rapper. He helped develop Canadian hip hop in the 1990s, as a member of the Circle.-Career:...
album Ice ColdIce ColdIce Cold is the debut studio album of Canadian rapper Choclair, released November 2, 1999 in Canada and March 14, 2000 in the United States. It was released on major label Virgin/Priority Records. The album's early success was driven by the first single, "Let's Ride", which reached #37 on the...
) - 1999: "Whatever Happened to Gus" (Word to the Drums mix) (from the Medeski Martin & WoodMedeski Martin & WoodMedeski Martin & Wood is an American jazz trio formed in 1991, consisting of John Medeski on keyboards and piano, Billy Martin on drums and percussion, and Chris Wood on double bass and bass guitar....
album Combustication Remix EPCombustication Remix EPCombustication Remix EP, also called Combustication Remixes, is an EP released by Medeski Martin & Wood. It consists of various artists' remixes of songs from their album Combustication.- Track listing :# "Hey-Hee-Hi-Ho" – 3:54...
) - 2000: "Games" (from the Big LBig LBig L may refer to:* Lamont Coleman , better know by Big L, American hip-hop artist.Or a number of British radio stations:*Big L 1395, a British radio station.*Radio Luxembourg's English-language progammes ....
album "The Big PictureThe Big PictureThe Big Picture may refer to:In magazines:*Big Picture, a magazine by the Wellcome TrustIn painting*The Big Picture , a 1903 painting by Tom Roberts, formally known as The Opening of the First Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia by H.R.H. The Duke of Cornwall and York The Big Picture may...
, also featuring Sadat XSadat XSadat X is an American rapper, most famed as a member of Alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.... - 2001: "Hot Shit" (from a D&D All Stars 12" single, also featuring Big Daddy KaneBig Daddy KaneAntonio Hardy better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who started his career in 1986 as a member of the rap group the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MC's in Hip Hop...
, Sadat XSadat XSadat X is an American rapper, most famed as a member of Alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat....
, and Greg Nice) - 2001: "Worst Comes to Worst" (from the Dilated PeoplesDilated PeoplesDilated Peoples is an American hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. The group achieved notability in the underground hip hop community, although they have had little mainstream success in the US, with the exception of the song "This Way," a 2004 collaboration with Kanye West and Xzibit...
album Expansion TeamExpansion Team (album)Expansion Team is the second album from West Coast hip hop group Dilated Peoples. The release is widely considered the group's best album, led by the hit rap single "Worst Comes to Worst", sampled from William Bell's "I Forgot to Be Your Lover"...
) - 2002: "Blvd." (from the Afu-RaAfu-RaAaron Phillip better known by his stage names, Afu-Ra & Afu is a New York-based American underground rapper. Afu, born Aaron Phillip, is a devout student of the Martial arts, as well as Chess...
album Life Force RadioLife Force RadioLife Force Radio is the second album from hip hop artist Afu-Ra. The album features production from DJ Premier, Easy Mo Bee and Ayatollah amongst many younger producers. It contains guest appearances from Big Daddy Kane, Gang Starr, M.O.P... - 2002: "Karma" (from the Adam FAdam FAdam F is an English jungle and drum and bass DJ, and film actor.-Career:An early album was the techstep effort, Metropolis/Mother Earth, released in 1997 on the Metalheadz record label. His other early successes were the tracks "F-Jam" and "Circles"...
12" single also featuring Carl Thomas) - 2003: "Weed Sciented" (from the A.G. album The Dirty VersionThe Dirty VersionThe Dirty Version is the solo debut from D.I.T.C. rapper A.G. of the duo Showbiz and A.G. The two temporarily split after their 1998 release Full Scale to pursue solo careers. The album features production from former partner Showbiz, as well as DJ Premier and D.I.T.C. members Lord Finesse,...
) - 2003: "Condor (Espionage)" (from the DJ CamDJ CamDJ Cam is a French DJ. His tunes are almost entirely a hybrid of both hip-hop and jazz music, and is presented in an abstract manner. His first LP was Underground Vibes in 1994, and was revolutionary for its time, featuring familiar jazz samples and many vibe samples and heavy hip-hop influences...
album SoulshineSoulshineSoulshine, released in 2002, is the 11th album released by French DJ and recording artist DJ Cam.Soulshine marks a departure from DJ Cam's regular sound, however the tracks still feature his trademark mix of hip-hop and jazz elements. As a whole, Soulshine is a cohesive collection of relaxed,...
) - 2003: "Knowledge of Self" (from the BTBT (musician)Brian Wayne Transeau is a classically trained and Grammy-nominated American music producer, composer, audio technician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter better known by his stage name, BT. He is an artist in the electronic genre...
album Emotional TechnologyEmotional TechnologyEmotional Technology is the fourth album by electronica artist BT. Transitioning towards a poppier sound, the album features some of BT's well-known hits, including "Somnambulist", "The Force of Gravity" and "Superfabulous". "Somnambulist", also known as "Simply Being Loved", holds the Guinness...
) - 2004: "The Best" (from the Chief Kamachi album Cult Status)
- 2004: "Αυτή τη ζωή (This Life)" (from the Goin' Through album La Sagrada Familia)
- 2004: "Home" (from the Kreators album "Live Coverage", also featuring AkrobatikAkrobatikAkrobatik is a rapper from the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. He has collaborated numerous times with many fellow Boston rappers , and recently formed a hip hop collective named The Perceptionists with Mr. Lif and DJ Fakts One....
, Big ShugBig ShugBig Shug is a hip hop artist from Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of the Gang Starr Foundation collective.-Biography:...
, Ed O.G, Krumbsnatcha) - 2005: "Party Hard" (from the The PerceptionistsThe PerceptionistsThe Perceptionists are an American hip hop group on the Definitive Jux label. The group is made up of MCs Akrobatik and Mr Lif, along with DJ Fakts One. They hail from Boston, Massachusetts...
album Black DialogueBlack DialogueBlack Dialogue is the debut full-length album by hip hop group The Perceptionists, released on March 22, 2005 on Definitive Jux. The song "Let's Move" was featured in the EA video games Need For Speed: Most Wanted and NBA Live 06, and 'Party Hard' was featured on EA's Skate 3 and DLC for DJ Hero 2...
feat. Camu Tao & Prod. Camu Tao) - 2005: "Counter Punch" (from the Big ShugBig ShugBig Shug is a hip hop artist from Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of the Gang Starr Foundation collective.-Biography:...
album Never Say Die) - 2005: "Gangsta Luv" (from the Big ShugBig ShugBig Shug is a hip hop artist from Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of the Gang Starr Foundation collective.-Biography:...
album Never Say Die) - 2006: "Junk" (from the Ferry CorstenFerry CorstenFerry Corsten, also known under the alias System F, is a Dutch producer of trance music, in addition to being a DJ and remixer. He also hosts his own weekly radio show, Corsten's Countdown. He routinely plays at events all over the world with crowds in excess of tens of thousands. In 2009 Ferry...
album L.E.F.L.E.F.Bonus tracks * Daylight* I Love You* System F - Insolation * Prison Break Theme...
) - 2007: "Major Game" (from the DomingoDomingo (producer)Domingo Padilla, better known as Domingo, is a producer from New York of Latin origin. He has produced for some of hip hop's most respected and well-known artists.-Albums:*Domingo Presents—Behind the Doors of the 13th Floor compilation...
album The Most Underrated) - 2007: "The Otherside" (from the Slightly StoopidSlightly StoopidSlightly Stoopid is an American band based in Ocean Beach, San Diego, California, who describe their music as "a fusion of acoustic rock and blues with reggae, hip-hop, and punk". As a band, they have released eight albums with their sixth studio album, entitled Slightly Not Stoned Enough To Eat...
album "ChronchitisChronchitisChronchitis is Slightly Stoopid's fifth studio album, produced by Mario C, Paul Leary, Miguel and Chris DiBeneditto, released on August 7, 2007 on Stoopid Records/Controlled Substance Sound Labs. This album features artists such as G Love, Guru of Gang Starr, Angelo Moore of Fishbone, Toko Tasi...
") - 2008: "Watucamehere 4" (from the DownsydeDownsydeDownsyde are an Australian hip hop group from Perth, Western Australia. The group is composed of six members, Optamus, Dazastah, Dyna-Mikes, DJ Armee, Cheeky, and Hi-Hat.- History :...
album All CityAll City (album)All City is the fourth studio album from Western Australian hip hop group, Downsyde. It was released in October 2008 through their new label, Illusive Sounds....
) - 2010: "You Got To Luv It" (from the Cradle OrchestraCradle OrchestraCradle Orchestra is a Japanese Jazz/Hip Hop band which mixes live orchestral instrumentation with the flows of underground rappers. They have produced two albums.-Discography:*2006: Attitude*2009: Velvet Ballads*2009: Aurora Collection...
album Transcended Elements)
Filmography
- Main SourceMain SourceMain Source was an innovative, acclaimed Toronto and New York-based hip hop group comprising Toronto natives Sir Scratch, K-Cut, and Queens native Large Professor...
music video "Watch Roger Do His Thing" (1990) (Cameo) - Who's the Man?Who's the Man?Who's the Man? is a 1993 comedy film, directed by Ted Demme. The film stars Yo! MTV Raps hosts Doctor Dré and Ed Lover as its two main protagonists., it features dozens of cameo appearances from some of the top rap/hip-hop acts of the time, including Busta Rhymes, Eric B., House of Pain, Ice-T,...
(1993) as Martin Lorenzo - The Substitute 2: School's OutThe Substitute 2: School's OutThe Substitute 2: School's Out is a 1998 straight-to-DVD action-crime-thriller film directed by Steven Pearl and starring Treat Williams as Carl Thomasson , a mercenary who masquerades as a teacher in order to enter a tough urban school and wreak his revenge upon his brother's killer.The film has...
(1998) as Little B. - Train RideTrain RideTrain Ride is an award-winning, critically acclaimed feature thriller film written and directed by Rel Dowdell, which was released in 2005 by RuffNation Films via Sony Entertainment...
(2000) as Jay - Grand Theft Auto IIIGrand Theft Auto IIIGrand Theft Auto III is a 2001 open world action computer and video game developed by DMA Design in the United Kingdom, and published by Rockstar Games. It is the first 3D title in the Grand Theft Auto series. It was released in October 2001 for the PlayStation 2, May 2002 for Microsoft Windows,...
(2001) as 8-Ball - 3 A.M.3 A.M. (film)3 A.M. is the first film directed by Lee Davis, a protege of Spike Lee. It was also written by Lee Davis and stars Danny Glover, Sergej Trifunovic, and Michelle Rodriguez. The film follows the lives of several New York taxi drivers.....
(2001) as Hook-Off - Urban Massacre (2002) as Cereal Killah
- Kung FauxKung FauxKung Faux is a critically acclaimed comedy television and DVD series created by Mic Neumann that remixes classic kung fu movies with popular music, comic book style editing and video game style special effects, and new voice-over dubbing from primarily hip hop personalities and pop culture...
(2003) as Voice Over/Various - Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City StoriesGrand Theft Auto: Liberty City StoriesGrand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories is a 2005 sandbox-style action video game developed by Rockstar North and Rockstar Leeds. It is the ninth game in the Grand Theft Auto series...
(2005) as 8-Ball