Artist:Guru f/MC Solaar
Song:Le Bien, Le Mal
Album:Jazzmatazz Vol. 1
Keith "Guru" Elam was the lead rapper for Gang Starr. He also recorded several solo albums which were more jazz influenced than most rap of the 90s. This kind of rap did better in Europe than in the US. Guru's first three albums did well. But he never had a hit single so he faded after that. He was born July 17, 1961 in the Roxbury section of Boston. His father was a judge in the Massachusetts Supreme Court. His mother was co-director of libraries in the Boston Public Schools. Elam graduated with a degree in business administration from Morehouse College in Atlanta and he took graduate classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. When Elan started rapping, he called himself MC Keithy E and then he changed it to Guru which stands for Gifted Unlimited Rhythms Universal. Gang Starr was formed in 1987. After they had success, Guru decided to record solo. He's a big jazz fan and he wanted his music to reflect that influence. He signed with EMI's Chrysalis label. Le Bien, Le Mal is from Guru's 1993 album Jazzmatazz Vol. 1. The album did well on the Hip Hop chart and in Europe. There are plenty of guests on the album. Le Bien, Le Mal features French rapper MC Solaar. Other guests include trumpeter Donald Byrd, N'Dea Davenport of Brand New Heavies, jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis, guitarist Ronny Jordan of War, and jazz keyboardists Lonnie Liston Smith and Roy Ayers. Elam released three volumes of Jazzmatazz. The other two albums had similar guests. But he neverhad a hit single so Elam lost his major label deal. He continued to release albums but none of them charted. Then Elam died of a heart attack on Apr. 19, 2010 at age 48. Jazzmatazz Vol. 1 is available on CD. It is recommended to rap fans who also enjoy jazz. Here's the video for Le Bien, Le Mal by Guru featuring MC Solaar.
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