RIP Guru

Keith Elam aka Guru – July 17, 1966 – April 19, 2010

Having struggled with a long, hard battle against cancer, hip-hop legend Guru – best known for his seminal work with DJ Premier on the Gang Starr discography – finally succumbed to what some had felt to be a long time coming but, ultimately, proved a shock nonetheless.

Rare is it that a character from popular culture is mentioned upon this very site without a caustic spittle spraying forth at their very utterance, but in the late MC a chord struck with me. The simple monotone and easy delivery which became his trademark coupled with his customary tales of street drama and dryly witty escapades, were traits which engrained him into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame.

Sadly neither fully managing to shine from under the shadow cast by DJ Premier – to whom many said that Guru was indebted, was made to look better than he was on a classic Premo beat – nor fully recover from the coma into which he fell in February 2010, the legend of Guru Jazzmatazz from Roxbury, Boston is one which is sure to fall under the sadly growing umbrella of hip-hop artists never fully appreciated during their lifetime.

Classic.

SX – Woooooo Riddim

By far the biggest grime instrumental of the year so far (can’t imagine too many topping it come December, neither) and as per usual anyone who’s anyone has been frothing at the teat to jump onna riddim.

I for one am awaiting the rumoured version by Newham General’s D Double E with bated breath.