R.I.P. Guru: Remember The Career Of A Hip-Hop Icon

The Gang Star legend has lost his battle with cancer. Check out our look back at his complete discography.

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Complex Original

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Today we woke up to the unexpected news that hip-hop legend Keith "Guru" Elam passed away yesterday after a long battle with Cancer at the age of 43. We say unexpected not only because the Gang Starr MC was a relatively young man, but because the last we heard of his bizarre health situation—through his secretive music and business partner Solar—was that Guru had surgery following a heart attack and he was expected to make a full recovery.

Well, now that we've learned the true nature of his health problems, it's too late. All we have left to remember Guru by is an impressive catalog of music than spans his 20 year career, from his truly unparalleled work with DJ Premier to his innovative Jazzmatazz projects. When Guru's health problems first came to light last month, we put together a beginner's guide to Guru's complete discography (yep, even the stuff he did with Solar), so we're reposting it below to honor the man's music on this truly sad day...

ALBUM: GURU 8.0: LOST & FOUND
SINGLE: "Lost & Found"
RELEASED: 2009
If the title track is to be believed, Lost & Found is Guru at his most comfortable, again teamed up with Solar, splicing a street corner aesthetic with divine wisdom and highbrow wit, the sole captain of his ship. It's a harder reality to accept when hung next to the majesty of the Gang Starr catalogue, but one no less acceptable when supported by bright spots like "Ride" and "Divine Rule."

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