After a long battle with cancer, Keith Alam, who was better known as Guru of Gang Starr, died yesterday (April 19) at the age of 43. He had suffered cardiac arrest on March 2 and was in a coma for several weeks. It was later revealed that he had Anoxia, a condition that affects both breathing and oxygen levels for organ tissues. According to Consequence of Sound, Guru’s producer and spokesman Solar said that he “suffered from the malicious illness for over a year and after numerous special treatments under the supervision of medical specialists failed, the legendary MC succumbed to the disease. Guru always tried to keep this harrowing diagnosis in private but in early 2010 he had to admit himself to hospital due to serious effects caused by the disease.”

Although it’s not confirmed as to whether or not Guru wrote a letter concerning his illness or not, the following was released by Solar:

I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. 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. I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting.

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