The rap world has lost Guru, the MC half of the legendary duo Gang Starr. Guru, whose birth name is Keith Elam, suffered a cardiac arrest back in February, and fell into a coma. There’s no confirmation yet on the cause of death, but reports suggest it was the result of cancer. He was 43.

Gang Starr, which also featured production genius DJ Premier, was a trailblazing force in hip-hop, combining Guru’s worldly lyrics and laid-back flow with a smooth sampling technique that drew heavily on jazz.

Guru explored this groove even further with his 1993 solo album Jazzmatazz Vol. 1; subtitled “an experimental fusion of hip-hop and jazz,” the disc showcased jazzbos like trumpeter Donald Byrd and saxophonist Branford Marsalis, and was a key release in the oft-derided genre known as acid jazz. (Guru released Jazzmatazz Vol. 2 in 1995.)

To quote one of Guru’s own songs, it seems time to respect the architect..

Please Note: I did not record this for the sake of putting out a ‘Michael Jackson’ set or mixtape.  As sad as his death was, it reminded all of us just how much great music this one man made in his lifetime.

He spent 45 years dedicating his heart & soul to us through the gift of music.  This is just my celebrating, rediscovering, and enjoying his craft and talent for what it is..

I felt like it was impossible to contain his musical span into one mixtape or set, so these are just some of my favorite songs and melodies, blended and mixed together.  From early Jackson 5 material, to features from Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, DJ Spinna, etc., and classics as well.  2 hours & 7 minutes. Thank you for listening!

Click on the artwork below to download via My Mixtapes.

Side A
01. Never Can Say Goodbye [The Jackson 5]
02. The Girl Is Mine Feat. Paul McCartney
03. Got To Be There [The Jackson 5]
04. Human Nature
05. I’ll Be There [The Jackson 5]
06. Butterflies [Wristpect Remix]
07. We’re Almost There [DJ Spinna Remix]
08. You Rock My World
09. I Want You Back [The Jackson 5]
10. ABC [The Jackson 5]
11. I Just Can’t Stop Loving You Feat. Siedah Garret
12. Man In The Mirror
13. Wanna Be Where You Are [The Jackson 5]
14. Liberian Girl
15. Girlfriend
16. Who Is It
17. Scream (Remix) Feat. Janet Jackson
18. Another Part Of Me
19. Can’t Let Her Get Away
20. It’s The Falling In Love
21. Remember The Time
22. She Drives Me Wild
23. In The Closet
24. Why You Wanna Trip On Me
25. Dancing Machine [The Jackson 5]
26. Baby Be Mine
27. I Can’t Help It [Tango Remix]
28. The Love You Save [The Jackson 5]
29. Rock With You
30. The Way You Make Me Feel

Side B
31. Dangerous
32. Bad
33. Blame It On The Boogie [The Jackson 5]
34. Jam
35. Burn This Disco Out
36. Shake Your Body [Down To The Ground]
37. Black Or White
38. Smooth Criminal
39. Billie Jean
40. You Are Not Alone [Wristpect Remix]
41. Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
42. Thriller
43. Off The Wall
44. Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough
45. Get On The Floor
46. Leave Me Alone
47. Just Good Friends Feat. Stevie Wonder
48. Somebody’s Watching Me [Rockwell Feat. Michael Jackson]
49. Can You Feel It [The Jackson 5]
50. PYT [Pretty Young Thing]
51. Working Day And Night
52. Beat It
53. Dirty Diana
54. The Lady In My Life
55. Ben
56. With A Child’s Heart
57. Carousel
58. Will You Be There
59. Maybe Tomorrow [The Jackson 5]
60. She’s Out Of My life