Guru founded Gang Starr in 1987, and built a sizable following in the early 1990s, releasing classic albums such as Step in the Arena (1991) and Daily Operation (1992).
In 1993, he released his first solo album, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1. The album featured collaborations with Donald Byrd, N'Dea Davenport, and Roy Ayers, while his second LP, Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality, featured Ramsey Lewis, Branford Marsalis and Jamiroquai.
His "first proper solo album", in his own words, was Version 7.0: The Street Scriptures (2005), released with the help of producer and new backup MC Solar (who is not to be confused with MC Solaar from France). The album reached #1 on the college hip-hop charts, but was a failure with both fans and critics. It still managed to sell relatively well for an independent release.
Guru's last projects were the fourth installment in the Jazzmatazz series, entirely produced by Solar, released in early June 2007, and Guru 8.0: Lost And Found, released May 19, 2008 (also in collaboration with Solar). Although there were hopes for a Gang Starr reunion, Guru stated he would not work with DJ Premier again.[4]
Death
On February 28, 2010, Guru went into cardiac arrest and, following surgery, fell into a coma.[5][6] He was said to have woken from the coma[7]but died on April 19, 2010, after a long battle with multiple myeloma.[8]
In a letter allegedly written by Guru on his deathbed, asked that Solar should manage his posthumous image, likeness, etc. on behalf of himself, and his son KC, and wished that DJ Premier not associate himself with Guru.[9]. Members of Guru's family have claimed that Solar prevented contact with him during his fatal illness.[9]
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