Gang Starr fans have been in a good place of late. Last year saw the release of a fully-fleshed out album from the legendary duo, One Of The Best Yet, the first since Guru passed away on April 19th, 2010. Now, DJ Premier has come through with another piece of history, sharing a rare acapella Guru freestyle on his Instagram page. 

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“Don’t base my whole life on loot,” raps Guru, the camera fixed on his focused face. “But money sure help, I keep it tight like army boots / to ensure wealth, used to hang with the older dudes / so I know the rules, notice how these fools hold mics but can’t hold the tool / my struggle is hard, the jungle is large, my man’s locked in the valley, probably walking the yard.” There’s a way about Guru’s delivery that speaks to self-assurance, a charm that speaks to his grounded nature; he told it like it is, never wasting words or Primo beats. 

Deemed a “natural talent” by his longtime friend and collaborator DJ Premier, it’s clear to see why Guru remains a respected figure long after his passing. Check out the raw and uncut bars below, and show some love one of hip-hop’s lost ones. Otherwise, run the risk of being stuck down right where you stand. 

There is only one, Keith Edward Elam, AKA, Gifted Rapping Unusual Rhymes, better know simply as Guru. The Boston-bred emcee originally conceptualized the collective known as Gang Starr alongside DJ 1 2 B-Down and a group of producers before leaving the co-op and teaming up with DJ Premier. The “Mass Appeal” rapper recruited the now-world renowned producer after receiving an instrumental tape from the Houston-based disc jockey and created one of the most notorious hip-hop group legacies in the culture’s history. Now, following the death of the legendary rapper, DJ Premier has helped conduct the release of Gang Starr’s seventh and final album, One of the Best Yet (2019). And in commemoration of his friend and collaborator, DJ Premier debuted unreleased footage of the hip-hop pioneer freestyling early this weekend. 

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During the short clip, Guru can be seen in the zone as he aggressively delivers his bars flawlessly, stating:

“Don’t base my whole life on loot
But money sure helps, I keep it tight like army boots
To ensure wealth, I used to hang with the older dudes
So I know the rules, notice how these fools talk mics but can’t hold the tools
My struggle is hard, the jungle is large
My man’s locked in the belly, probably walking the yard
I meet suckas every day that rhyme, they say they rhyme
Most of them are corny as hell won’t get paid a dime”

Ultimately, part of this freestyle ended up on songs like “Where’s Our Money?” and “Bring It Back Here.” Guru’s white Kangol golf fitted and blue-tinted glasses are a permanent aesthetic in the hip-hop realm alongside his classic vibrations. Check out the Jazzmatazz curator’s secret file freestyle below and listen to Gang Starr’s final album, One of the Best Yet, here.