
Guru Starts Label, Working On New Projects
By Jigsaw
Date: 12/10/2004
Guru, the mouthpiece for Gangstarr, has embarked on a solo deal that will spawn a pair of albums for the veteran rapper in 2005.
“We have a new project, a new venture. The label is called 7 Grand and the project is called Guru 7.0,” the veteran rapper announced to AllHipHop.com.
Additionally, Guru revealed that he’s already secured worldwide distribution though Studio Distribution, who has also released projects for Freddie Foxxx, Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, Jazzy Jeff, Pete Rock and Marley Marl.
The Guru 7.0 album is slated to drop on April 19, 2005.
The rapper said that he’s found a new start with a relatively new partner in producer Solar, who co-crafted the music with Guru.
“We're very excited about a label because it’s a chance for myself and Solar to take total control over our musical destinies, so to speak,” Guru explained. “I came in the game at a time when everybody was signing to the majors. The independence wasn’t that big. That stuff came after my [initial] era.”
With the advent the indie market, Guru said that he’s been able to exchange information with his younger peers and shifted the direction of his career.
“I was able to look at the younger cats and see what they were doing and learn from them as opposed to being one of those bitter cats looking at the young dudes in a spiteful way. I could never be that dude,” he continued.
Agreeing, Solar said, “In essence, [we’re saying] how can we take this to the next level. We learned from [younger artists], but it’s also an opportunity for them to learn from us as opposed to being preachy.”
In the past Guru has dabbled in the independent market with labels like Ill Kid Records, which spawned acts like Jeru Tha Damaja, Group Home and Bahamadia.
“7 Grand is more thought out [than previous ventures]. This is one stage, for lack of a better word. Ill Kid was more underground,” Guru stated. “7 Grand is an opportunity to be that great entity in the marketplace in the template of a Bad Boy or Roc-A-Fella. This is just a different version.”
Presently, Guru is the first artist on the label with others to be revealed at a later date. Guru also stated that the fourth installment of his Jazzmatazz series would drop in 2005.
While rumors have been rampant that Gangstarr had broken up, Guru clarified that he and DJ Premier were still a unit.