‘I felt the same way I felt when Jam Master Jay got murdered,’ MC says. By Steven Roberts Photo: Cary Hammond/ Redferns The hip-hop world is still reeling from the passing of legendary Gang Starr MC Guru (real name: Keith Elam), who died Monday at the age of 43 from cancer. Fans have reacted to his death with found memories of Guru’s work with DJ Premiere for Gang Starr and his Jazzmatazz series, and artists like Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj and Fabolous reached out via Twitter to share their condolences. When MTV News caught up with Game in Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon, he said he was caught off-guard by the news. “It happens so fast sometimes. I felt the same way I felt when I woke up and they said that Jam Master Jay got murdered, and then I woke up this morning to a text [saying], ‘Guru is dead.’ ” Game said he got the text from a DJ in New York, and things like that can serve as a wake-up call, especially when people pass in an untimely fashion. He even compared the late, legendary MC’s impact on East Coast hip-hop to Ice Cube’s influence on the West. “That’s like waking up tomorrow — and knock on wood — and somebody like Cube died,” Game said. “So my condolences to his family and to hip-hop for losing a legend.” Share your memories of Guru and Gang Starr in the comments below. Related Videos Gang Starr’s Guru Passes Away Gang Starr’s Guru: Music Videos Related Photos Gang Starr’s Guru: A Life In Photos Related Artists Guru The Game Gang Starr
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Game Calls Gang Starr MC Guru ‘A Legend’