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.
