Contributed by Step Above Most on 8/6/07 

For those of y’all who don’t know, Guru is one of the most respected MC’s in the history of hip hop. After a lengthy stint teaming up with legendary producer DJ Premier in the group Gang Starr, Guru made his move to releasing a series of highly-acclaimed, groundbreaking albums known as Jazzmatazz. For the recently released, highly anticipated fourth installment of Jazzmatazz, Guru enlisted the help of producer Solar (not the French MC) to help him yet again bridge the gap between hip hop and jazz. Between tour stops in Europe, Guru and Solar found some time to answer a few questions we had ranging from the new album to the current state of hip hop. It’s worth giving this a listen just to hear Guru smooth as silk voice (pause)… hot damn!

1. Who’s on the new Jazzmatazz and what’s special about this one?

2. In past interviews you’ve expressed discontent with major labels insofar as feeling pressured to do a certain kinds of music. Given the sort of freedom it appears you get on your Jazzmatazz albums, how would you assess your Jazzmatazz experiences versus that of your other releases?

3. What is your take on the state of modern hip hop today? How does this new Jazzmatazz fit in to what hip hop is (has become) today?

4. Solar, what role has international audiences played in your careers?

5. You both come from underprivileged minorities groups in two of the world’s most affluent societies. What can be said about being black in the United States??

6. What role has international audiences played in both of your careers?

7. Guru & Solar, do you speak any other languages?

8. What music do you guys typically listen to past and present? What musical genres are most important to the kind of music you make?

9. What’s next? Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

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