Rapper Guru has died in hospital after a long battle with cancer. He was 43.
The star, one half of pioneering hip-hop duo Gang Starr, was admitted to a New York medical facility in February after he suffered a heart attack and slipped into a coma. He was diagnosed with anoxia, a condition where the body lacks an adequate supply of oxygen.
It has now been revealed Guru, real name Keith Elam, was also battling cancer, but chose to keep the news private.
He spent two months in hospital before he passed away on Monday morning.
A statement from Guru's business partner, Solar, reads, "The world has lost one of the best MCs and hip-hop icons of all-time - my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru. Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle. This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it, but tragically, this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius."
Solar has also released a letter, written by his pal during his hospital stay, in which he acknowledges he is not going to recover from the condition.
It reads, "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 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."
Tributes have poured in from the hip-hop world - rap guru Sean 'Diddy' Combs honoured the star in a post on his Twitter.com page, writing, "RIP Guru! Hip-Hop lost an icon today - but you'll always be with us because legends live on 4ever (sic)."
Mariah Carey's husband Nick Cannon adds, "R.I.P. Guru. God is with my man!"
Guru shot to fame with Gang Starr in the 1990s, and built up a solo career alongside the success of the group. He appeared in various films over the years, including 1993's Who's the Man? and The Substitute 2: School's Out in 1998.
He released his final album, Guru 8.0: Lost And Found, in 2009.
