The Truth Behind Guru (RIP), Dj Premier, & Solar Situation (Industry Insider Version)

[Mike the Executioner]

I think (possibly) the answer has always been way more simple than people want to believe


since everyone wants a premo beat, its hard for people to comprehend

they both are to blame and had a falling out, drug problems, etc whatever youd want to call it

since premo is giving people beats and getting all this recognition, and now getting the credit for the career you created.... you'd say fukk this dude too, just to prove a point. Its like the ultimate fukk you to just avoid one of the greatest producers in hiphop history

I got good friends I dont talk to anymore because business or life went funny... and out of principle I just dont fukk with them to prove a point
what better way to prove that point than to say fukk the person everyone wants on an album who sold your groups sound out and had a falling out with you


circumstance aside, at that age ... maybe he didnt really care about music as much maybe Solar made it fun and different again and kept Guru at least making money and keeping his name alive

not saying this is what happened or is right... but it seems like the answer is way more simple than people are making it



People expect him to be money hungry, which he never was... and just live in this parallel shadow of long forgotten friendships and music because it pleases their own desires for fame and money. Who knows what happened, I always said it was fukked up that premo sold out their sound because if all them beats stayed just with Gangstarr.... they would without a doubt be the best rap group of all time.... like 600 hits

Yeah, it doesn't get mentioned that Gang Starr was Guru's creation. He co-founded it with Big Shug and Premier came in later. After the first album, Guru told Premier that he has to do more as a producer and you can hear the improvement on Step in the Arena, then on Daily Operation. At some point, people started getting the idea that Premier was Gang Starr. He would get called "Gang Starr" when Guru was not around. Everyone forgets it was a team effort. It's not like Premier was an in-demand producer and Guru came to him. They both worked as partners to make Gang Starr what it was.

As for the beats thing, I definitely see your point, but the way Premier works is different from other producers. He's not like Dre where he'll just make tons of beats that he never uses and give them to whoever. He always made beats depending on who he was working with. It would be right there in the studio on the spot. There might be a rare case where that doesn't happen ("Devil's Pie"), but for the most part, Premier tailored his sound around the artist. If he's not currently working on a project or song, he doesn't make beats at all.

 

[Greenhornet]

Yeah, it doesn't get mentioned that Gang Starr was Guru's creation. He co-founded it with Big Shug and Premier came in later. After the first album, Guru told Premier that he has to do more as a producer and you can hear the improvement on Step in the Arena, then on Daily Operation. At some point, people started getting the idea that Premier was Gang Starr. He would get called "Gang Starr" when Guru was not around. Everyone forgets it was a team effort. It's not like Premier was an in-demand producer and Guru came to him. They both worked as partners to make Gang Starr what it was.

As for the beats thing, I definitely see your point, but the way Premier works is different from other producers. He's not like Dre where he'll just make tons of beats that he never uses and give them to whoever. He always made beats depending on who he was working with. It would be right there in the studio on the spot. There might be a rare case where that doesn't happen ("Devil's Pie"), but for the most part, Premier tailored his sound around the artist. If he's not currently working on a project or song, he doesn't make beats at all.

still should have never gave or made beats for anyone else (just my opinion)
Its kind of like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis getting fired by Prince

then Janet Jackson has MJ's access and Prince's producers
it makes sense to sell out your sound... but you arent doing yourself or your group any favors

fukk when the beat is made, just make it for the group in general if people want it, they can jump on our song and pay us

if a group has a distinct sound, its weird to me to sell it out to other people ... Redman's whole beginning is based off EPMD breaking up... imagine if those first 4 albums were still EPMD and they added those to the discography... people would be saying they are 1-2 or 3 just based off sheer depth of catalogue

Imagine adding 6-7 CDs extra to Gangstarr's discography

 

[Mike the Executioner]

still should have never gave or made beats for anyone else (just my opinion)
Its kind of like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis getting fired by Prince

then Janet Jackson has MJ's access and Prince's producers
it makes sense to sell out your sound... but you arent doing yourself or your group any favors

fukk when the beat is made, just make it for the group in general if people want it, they can jump on our song and pay us

if a group has a distinct sound, its weird to me to sell it out to other people ... Redman's whole beginning is based off EPMD breaking up... imagine if those first 4 albums were still EPMD and they added those to the discography... people would be saying they are 1-2 or 3 just based off sheer depth of catalogue

Imagine adding 6-7 CDs extra to Gangstarr's discography

I mean, you could say that about any producer that started in a group and became in-demand. Imagine if Q-Tip saved "One Love" and "Drink Away the Pain" for A Tribe Called Quest. Imagine if Prince Paul saved "It's Hard Being the Kane" for De La Soul. Even moving past hip hop, imagine if Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis decided not to work with New Edition and gave all those songs to Janet Jackson. What if Teddy Riley never gave "My Prerogative" to Bobby Brown and saved it for Guy? I think it worked out. Guru was still getting great production, and Premier wasn't trying to make Gang Starr records for Nas or Jay because they're different artists. The original version of "Memory Lane" sounded more like something on Hard to Earn before it became what we know it to be now.

There are cases where producers aren't looking out for artists, though. Kanye took the time to make a really good album with Pusha T. He had Nas trapped in a car writing his verses to beats that weren't even finished yet. If he put the same effort into Nasir that he did with Daytona, and stayed out of trouble, he would still be looked at as a genius and get a lot of positive press.

 

[get these nets]

EXCLUSIVE: Solar Won't Leave DJ Premier Alone—Once Again Suing Over "Gang Starr" Name

Infamous producer Solar is suing DJ Premier over Gang Starr royalties and trademarks and attempting to take control of the name.

allhiphop.com

06/24/25

Solar, the controversial producer once branded the most “evil man in Hip-Hop,” is suing DJ Premier in a new bid to block him from using the Gang Starr name and logo while also demanding a share of the group’s earnings.


The lawsuit accuses Premier, along with Ill Kid Music Inc., Guru Productions Inc. and unnamed parties, of copyright and trademark infringement.

Solar, who worked with the late Guru during the rapper’s final years, claims he owns rights to the Gang Starr brand and wants the court to stop Premier from profiting off it.


According to court documents, Solar alleges that Premier and his affiliates “have used and continue to use Plaintiff’s copyrighted works and trademarks without authorization and have failed to pay royalties owed.”

He also claims they “have received and retained royalties and other income from the exploitation of Plaintiff’s works.”


The legal dispute stems from Solar’s collaboration with Guru on multiple projects under the 7 Grand banner. Solar says he co-wrote, produced and/or performed on Gang Starr’s album The Ownerz as well as their final release, One of the Best Yet, and the track “Battle” from the 8 Mile soundtrack.
After Guru passed away from cancer on April 19, 2010, a bitter legal fight erupted over his intellectual property.


A lower court eventually ruled against Solar, and in March 2014, ruled in favor of Guru’s estate. The ruling stated that Solar did not own or have any rights to Guru’s creative works, recordings or certain trademarks, including “Gang Starr” and Jazzmatazz.



The court also found Solar to be dishonest and ordered him not to use or transfer those trademarks except to Guru’s estate.


On appeal, the Appellate Division partly agreed, retaining the decisions regarding trademarks and embezzlement of estate funds, but overturned the rulings concerning some of Guru’s creative works.


It also reduced the amount Solar had to pay the estate and removed some restrictions from the original order.



However, in December 2024, a judge permanently dismissed the Trademark Infringement, false designation of origin and copyright infringement claims.


Solar’s claim for unfair competition and conversion was dismissed as well, but the judge allowed them to be brought to court again in the future. Solar appealed the decision, which is still pending.

Despite the earlier dismissal of Solar’s claims for Copyright and Trademark Infringement being made permanent, he’s pursuing DJ Premier and the others again.



His latest attempt claims that Premier is using his contributions without credit or compensation and he’s once again suing the legendary producer for copyright and trademark infringement.


Solar is now seeking to have the court award damages, block further use of the disputed material and cover his legal fees.


Trademark records viewed by AllHipHop indicate that the original Gang Starr trademark was registered by Guru Productions in 2007, but it was subsequently abandoned. Solar filed for the trademark in 2011 and again in 2021; however, both applications were abandoned and are currently listed as “dead.”



Solar’s role in Guru’s final years remains a sore spot in the Hip-Hop world. He was accused of isolating the rapper from his family, controlling his communications and allegedly pushing him to keep working despite his illness.


Solar has denied those claims, insisting Guru was entirely in control of his decisions, but Guru’s family and much of the Hip-Hop community have long questioned Solar’s intentions. The lawsuit, filed more than 15 years after Guru’s death, is likely to reignite those tensions.

 

[patscorpio]

solar needs his ass kicked...like seriously

 

[987654321]

It might be time for somebody to just put money on John “Solar” Mosher’s head at this point

 

[Piff Perkins]

The legal dispute stems from Solar’s collaboration with Guru on multiple projects under the 7 Grand banner. Solar says he co-wrote, produced and/or performed on Gang Starr’s album The Ownerz as well as their final release, One of the Best Yet, and the track “Battle” from the 8 Mile soundtrack.

This is insane

 

[Barney Rubble]

How did this leech attach himself to Guru This is some high-key evil ass shyt.

 

[DaHNIC82]

And this bytch ass faggit is trying to sue Premo for the Gangstarr name

EXCLUSIVE: Solar Won't Leave DJ Premier Alone—Once Again Suing Over "Gang Starr" Name

Infamous producer Solar is suing DJ Premier over Gang Starr royalties and trademarks and attempting to take control of the name.

allhiphop.com

 

[TGainz]

MC Solaar needs to slap the shyt out this “solar” dude for biting his name too

Style jockin lawsuit filing cock jocking fakkit

 

[thesandman]

How is this dude still walking around....

 

[BEN23]

met him twice…once at the african street festival…he performed manifest…the 2nd time was weird af…walking home from work…about to cross the street when a black mercedes jeep pulled up…window drops down and it’s fukking guru…some light skin chic was driving the car…this nikka ask me how to get to far rockaway…shyt threw me off cuz I felt like both he and the driver shoulda known that…random but cool encounter tho…had to be the early 00’s

what year was the street festival?

 

[Mikeatris]

Good and disturbing read.

The addiction explanation is plausible, but I don't know. Let another man abuse you ? Separate you from your family ?

They seem like gay lovers in an abusive relationship... Maybe I'm wrong but that's the impression. Or Solar was blackmailing Guru ?

So pathetic and obvious that these are all faked That beat was just doing wayyy too much. Wayy wayy too much.

K-Rino and Solar need to collab though. For real. Hip Hop needs that.

As much as I like K-Rino, this comment was funny as fukk

 

[Ironman]

The fukk?? Wasn't this dude excommunicated from the culture already?? How dare you try to sue DJ. PREMIER?!!! OVER GANGSTARR