Stars from the hip-hop world and beyond have been paying their respects to Gang Starr MC Guru who died on Monday, aged 43, following a year-long battle with cancer.

Rap megastar P Diddy paid tribute to Guru on Twitter, writing: “RIP Guru! Hip-Hop lost an icon today-but u'll always be w/ us b/c Legends live on 4ever.”

Meanwhile, Q-Tip said he was proud to be Guru's friend of over two decades.

“From Allah we come to Allah we return. R.I.P. Keith GURU,” he Tweeted “A great man, poet, and I'm proud to say friend... 23 yrs. Damn!

Legendary hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons also paid poignant tribute to the influential rapper.

“During ur time here u will be forced to recognize that sweet inspiring uplifting things outweigh small heavy toxic things,” he Tweeted.

“Guru was a sweet inspiring uplifting person.. rip// rest in perfection Guru. Thanx for the inspiration”

Jazz musician Branford Marsalis, who had collaborated with Guru in the studio, paid tribute to his musicianship to the Boston Globe.

"It’s like Keith Richards,” he said. “Nobody is going to remember him as the world’s greatest guitar player, but when you needed an iconic lick for you song, he’s your guy. That’s what Guru did; his sound really set it off."

(by Scott Colothan)