Of course this excellent piece isn’t published on any hip-hop blog, but The Awl. And by an author likely unknown in rap circles. He is spot on with respect to Guru’s distinctive voice, well known work ethic and ability to articulate without having to over rely on slang.
I would say he is a bit off target by suggesting Guru was received as a mid-tier rapper. We would have to define who did the receiving. If, when Roth mentions the people who will remember quotable Guru lines, he means the masses that comprise popular culture, he might have a point. But to the rap community, and especially the narrower more intimate rap community that existed in the late 80s and early 90s, Guru quotables will not be drawn from his one crossover hit.
Besides being mature and dealing in-depth with relatable and meaningful life experiences, Guru also had an overwhelming energy of Positivity and “overcoming” that I wish more people would touch on and possibly juxtapose with the reality of his life. He consistently expressed his desire for self improvement, empowerment and naturally expressed a penchant for intellectual exploration. This intellectual curiosity, likely rooted in his family’s educational background, is a force that impacted countless youths and I would argue was one of his most significant and lasting contributions to the hip-hop community and popular culture. Link
