Biography of guru ghanaian musician

American rapper (1961–2010)

For the Ghanaian rapper, see Guru (Ghanaian rapper).

Keith Edward Elam (July 17, 1961 – April 19, 2010), better known by his stage name Guru (a backronym for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal), was an American rapper, record producer and actor. He was a member of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, along with DJ Premier. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts.

In 2012, About.com placed him #49 on their list of Top 50 MCs of Our Time, and The Source ranked him #30 on their list of Top 50 Lyricists of All Time, saying "Guru dropped some of the most thoughtful rhymes on wax".

Guru died on April 19, 2010, from myeloma at age 48.

Early life

Elam was born in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. His father, Harry Justin Elam served both as a judge and a lawyer and he became the first African American judge appointed to the Boston Municipal Court of Massachusetts and he later also became Chief Justice of the same court and finally as a judge he was appointed as an Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court. Prior to his judgeship years, between 1971 and 1988, he was a prominent lawyer in the city of Boston from 1952 to 1971 and his mother, Barbara, was the co-director of libraries in the Boston Public Schools system. He attended the Advent School on Beacon Hill in Boston, Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts, and 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.

Musical career

Elam began his music career under the pseudonym MC Keithy E but later changed his stage name to Guru. He founded Gang Starr in 1987. The group initially released three records, produced by

Maradona Yeboah Adjei, known by his stage names Guru and Gurunkz, is a Ghanaian rapper and fashion designer. Guru is one of the most successful hiplife artiste in Ghana. He is known for his contemporary hiplife rap style that combines English and Ghanaian indigenous languages.

Guru's breakthrough was in 2011 when his hit song "Lapaz Toyota" appeared on the Ghanaian music charts. Guru's is considered a contemporary hiplife artist, as his songs venture new ground in the Ghanaian music scene mixing hip-hop, afrobeat, highlife, and dancehall sounds.

Early life

Guru was born on May 7, 1987, in Accra and grew up in the small town of Nkoranza, in the Brong/Ahafo Region in Ghana. As a child, he attended the Reverend John Teye Memorial Institute and went to secondary school in Apam.

He continued his education at NIIT and IPMC studying architecture and computer networking. Afterward, attended Zenith College in Accra, Ghana to study marketing.

Guru says his interest in music started when he was very young, but he did not pursue it as a career until he found himself performing at large events while in school like Miss SSS, a national contest in Ghana. He also made appearances on national radio programs. Guru was the first artist to win the WAPPI Talent Discovery Program in 2008, a national contest seeking underground music artists.

Music career

Guru recorded his first mixtape video with Ghanaian music artist Sarkodie in late 2009. His first major feature, bringing him into the national spotlight, was on Obrafour's song "Kasiebo", where he was named best-featured artist by 4Syte TV Music Video Awards. He came out with his first studio album titled Platform, which also featured Sarkodie. The platform received six Vodafone Ghana Music Award nominations.

In 2011, he released the single "Lapaz Toyota". Influenced by the Azonto-style sounds, the song became a hit. It was referenced by politicians during ca

Ghanaian rapper and fashion designer

Musical artist

Maradona Yeboah Adjei (born May 7, 1987), also known by his stage names Guru and Gurunkz, is a Ghanaianrapper and fashion designer. He is known for his contemporary hip-hop rap style that combines English and Ghanaian indigenous languages. Guru's breakthrough was in 2011, when his hit song "Lapaz Toyota" appeared on the Ghanaian music charts.

Early life and education

Guru was born on May 7, 1987 in Accra, and grew up in the small town of Nkoranza, in the Brong/Ahafo Region of Ghana. As an adolescent, he attended the Reverend John Teye Memorial Institute and studied at a secondary school in Apam. He continued his education at NIIT and at IPMC, studying architecture and computer networking. Afterwards, he attended Zenith College in Accra to study marketing.

Guru did not pursue music as a career until he found himself performing at large events while in school, like Miss SSS, a national contest in Ghana. He also made appearances on national radio programs. Guru was the first artist to win the WAPPI Talent Discovery Program in 2008, a national contest seeking underground music artists.

On 18 September 2024, Guru won the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) presidential election at the University of Ghana.

Music career

Guru recorded his first mixtape video with Ghanaian music artist Sarkodie in late 2009. His first major feature, was on Obrafour's song "Kasiebo", where he was named best featured artist by the 4Syte TV Music Video Awards. He came out with his first studio album, Platform, which also featured Sarkodie.Platform received six Vodafone Ghana Music Award nominations.

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Keith Edward Elam (July 17, 1961 – April 19, 2010) - known professionally as Guru - was one half of the legendary hip hop duo Gang Starr and an accomplished solo artist. Guru, an acronym for Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal, originally began his hip hop career in Boston but due to lack of local support moved to New York where Gang Starr then blew up. Guru was well known for his smooth voice; socially conscious and hardcore lyrics; and an effortless, confident delivery.

Founded in 1987, Gang Starr built a sizable following in the early 90's, releasing classic albums like Step in the Arena (1991) and Daily Operation (1992). Guru's lyrical style was based on battle rhymes delivered smoothly, modestly, and with sly wit; he typically avoided using overwhelming charisma, focusing instead on his rhyming ability. Over the years he even took on younger rappers, including Jeru the Damaja, as proteges. He is credited, along with DJ Premier, for the executive production of Jeru's debut, The Sun Rises in the East (1994).

In 1993, he released his first solo album, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1. The album featured collaborations with Donald Byrd, N'Dea Davenport, Dee C. Lee, and Roy Ayers, whilst his second LP, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality, featured Ramsey Lewis, Branford Marsalis, and Jamiroquai. The Jazzmatazz albums have been met with mixed reviews, Guru continued with Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul (2000) and Baldhead Slick & Da Click (2001).

Moreover, recent Gang Starr albums have continued to garner Guru critical acclaim. Prominent Boston underground rapper Mr. Lif frequently cites Guru as a major stylistic influence; he appears as a guest with Lif on the Perceptionists' debut album, Black Dialogue (2005).

Besides Gang Starr, his Jazzmatazz and solo albums, Guru collaborated with countless artists since the early 90s. Not only in Hip-Hop, but also with artists from various genres such as pop, electronica/dance, acid jazz, and even brass