Producer Solar has questioned recent remarks made by DJ Premier regarding the healthcare of late rapper and close associate Guru.
In a statement, Solar questions Premier’s alleged final visit to see Guru.
“Guru was cared for in the CCU at their highest level of care for a patient in his condition. I was at the hospital every day — some days numerous times to check on Guru,” Solar claimed. “He was always clean and well attended too. Guru was in a room equipped with around-the-clock video surveillance as well as hospital personnel. Premier’s visit can be easily verified. The hospital has a strict visiting policy which includes signing in to see a patient. The CCU has an even stricter policy which is very thoroughly enforced. They will most certainly ask what day this visit took place and what time did he visit to facilitate process. My people and I would never tolerate any mistreatment of Guru in any way, shape, or form. Did DJ Premier complain to the hospital authorities about what he claims he saw?! If so who were the hospital authority? [sic] What was their response?” (All Hip Hop)
During a radio broadcast, Preem described seeing Guru in a coma.
“If you love him, and you’re taking care of him, why the f**k did his nails look longer than a f*cking ruler?!” Premier accused during a Sirius broadcast. “[And] a clump Afro?! I’ve taken care of people in the hospital [before]. You can wash their hair and clean their nails off. His feet were swollen and his toenails were really disgusting…I took the logo on my shirt and rubbed it against his whole body and told him a message from me about how much I loved him, and that we were for life and still were for life. Then I kissed him on his face and let him know that I was going to miss him because it seemed like he was already gone.” (Sirius Satellite Radio)
Guru’s brother, Harry Elam, inked an editorial piece speaking on his condition.
“My brother Keith Elam, the hip-hop artist known as GURU–Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal–died this week at the too-young age of 48 because of complications from cancer. ‘Positivity’ was what he sought to bring to the music and to his life, and for me that will be a large part of his legacy,” he wrote. “In February of this year, my brother went into a coma, and I traveled across the country from my home in California to see him. At his bedside, I stood and stared at his overly frail frame, his head that he had kept clean-shaven for the last 20 years uncommonly covered with hair, hisbody connected to a sea of tubes and wires. I listened to the whirl of machines around us and took his hand. As I did, my mind flashed back to now-distant times, so many memories…” (Boston Globe)
Predicting his death, Guru allegedly prepared a letter addressing his legacy.
“I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world,” he wrote. “I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options…My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody’s feelings on the matter. It is my wish that counts.” (Dime Wars)
Check out Raekwon remembering Guru’s legacy down below: