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Guru

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Name: Keith Elam

Reppin': Boston, MA

Breakthrough: After a few false starts in the late '80s, Guru connected with legendary producer DJ Premier in 1989 to form one of the most revered hip hop groups of all time, Gang Starr. Although the duo didn't achieve breakout commercial success until their fifth album, Moment of Truth (Noo Trybe/Virgin, 1998), which went gold, Gang Starr put out a series of critically-adored albums throughout the early '90s, including Step in the Arena (Chrysalis, 1991), Daily Operation (Chrysalis/EMI, 1992), and Hard to Earn (Chrysalis, 1994). In 1993, Guru released the innovative solo album Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 (Virgin), which was one of the first albums to combine a live jazz band with hip hop production, and featured the talents of Lonnie Liston Smith, Branford Marsalis, Donald Byrd, the Brand New Heavies' N'Dea Davenport.

Now You Know: In the mid-'90s, Guru established the imprint Ill Kid Records, releasing the 1995 compilation Guru Presents Ill Kid Records, which featured such acts as Bahamadia, Jeru the Damaja, and the Gang Starr frontman.