“What they did was, which was so ingenious, was create a whole form of urban style music from just 2 turntables and 2 records, and a microphone.” –Guru

I’m a man who’s constantly thinking and recently I thought about a great shot that my good friend Ernie Paniccioli took. The shot in question was a candid portrait of the late, great, Keith Elam bka Guru and his man DJ Premier. As if the untimely passing of my friend and Flavor Unit MC ‘Apache’ in 2010 wasn’t enough, we lost a poet’s poet shortly thereafter. Personally, I still find it a bit surreal that Guru is gone. I have fond memories of 1989’s Manifest video and knew then that Guru & Premier were about to make Hip-Hop music that much liver.

Guru’s conscious rhymes and dignified persona; his lyrical integrity and creative vision, coupled with the unmatched production of DJ Premier did much for the group, and Hip-Hop. Testament to the true art of beats & rhymes, Hip-Hop’s dynamic duo successfully planted their flag deep in the culture and went on to produce an outstanding body of work that will rock long after our asses are taking dirt naps.

ATW contributor and Hip-Hop’s “Dean of Photography,” Ernie Paniccioli, had this to say about his late friend and the man who graced his camera on many fine occasions, “Guru’s life is reflected in one of his songs called Just To Get A Rep. For a little skinny cat from Boston to make it in hardcore New York, he did everything he had to do as a rapper, just to get a rep. Guru was not only liked, but loved. It’s difficult to imagine him not on the scene.”

Sorely missed and a man who will forever be remembered, I dedicate my second ATW post to a Hip-Hop group for the ages and one of the most influential MCs of all time – G.ifted U.nlimited R.hymes. U.niversal.  -Koe Rodriguez