Guru: Gang Starr Rapper Succumbs to Cancer

After suffering a heart attack on Feb.28 and falling into a coma, veteran rapper Guru, of the popular old school hip-hop duo Gang Starr, died April 19 on cancer-related causes.

The 43 year-old rapper, whose real name is Keith Elam, underwent surgery on March 1, and was -- according to his longtime production partner Superproducer Solar -- said to be "resting and doing well." Guru echoed that in a statement he released soon thereafter, which said, "I am doing fine and I am recovering."

Today, Solar released a statement confirming that the Morehouse College graduate died of cancer-related causes.

"Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle," he said.

"This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it, but tragically, this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius."

Guru's group-mate Christopher 'DJ Premier' Martin wrote on Twitter, "I can't believe it...RIP Guru."

According to Solar, Guru wrote a letter to his fans before he died, but there has been confusion as to how Guru would have been able to write a letter given his condition.

No details have been released regarding funeral services.

Since founding Gang Starr in 1985, Guru has remained the only founding member of the hip-hop group. After teaming with DJ Premier in 1989, the duo rose to success with the single 'Words I Manafest' from the 1989 album 'No More Mr. Nice Guy.'

The group was best known for merging a gritty New York hip-hop sound with jazz elements. Most notably, their track 'Jazz Thing' was featured on the soundtrack to Spike Lee's film 'Mo' Better Blues.'

Guru's 1993 debut solo album 'Jazzmatazz, Vol.1' featured collaborations with Roy Ayers, Chaka Khan and N'Dea Davenport and its follow-up 'Jazzmatazz, Vol.2' included appearances from Ramsey Lewis, Branford Marsalis and Jamiroquai. His most recent solo album 'Guru 8.0' was released in May of 2009.

UPDATE: Official documentation indicate that Elam was 48 years of age at the time of his death.