Family, producer Solar respond in wake of hip-hop pioneer Guru’s death

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The family of MC Guru, a.k.a. Keith Elam, publicly expressed grief Wednesday following the hip-hop pioneer’s death Monday from complications of his fight against the blood cancer multiple myeloma, MTV reports.

‘Our hearts are broken by the loss of someone we loved so much,’ the family said in a statement. ‘Guru was devoted to his young son, who will most keenly feel his absence.’

Family members are working on a way fans can acknowledge Guru’s passing. ‘We are planning a memorial event in the near future that will be all-inclusive,’ the statement said.

Producer Solar, who’d been closest to Guru in recent months, spoke to MTV News on Tuesday and addressed a wave of skepticism about the authenticity of a farewell letter written before Guru’s death.

‘Guru knew this time would come,’ Solar told MTV News. ‘The great artist he is, us being intelligent people, we knew there was going to have to be a statement relating to this. ... He arranged his press release. I’m the repository of Guru’s life story. I recorded his life story for book and for movies. We’re not foolish.’

He said they knew at the beginning of the year that the cancer was terminal. Skeptics questioned the letter’s strong tone regarding DJ Premier, Guru’s Gang Starr collaborator.

Solar had defended the letter via Twitter as well: ‘Guru made this statement from his own mouth and anybody saying different is insane with Hate! (via @solar_7grand)’

-- Christie D’Zurilla

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