If you need evidence that time heals all wounds, look no further than Saturday's UNITY FEST, arriving a bit more than a year following Guru's tragic passing, and marking the first Boston appearance since his death by Gang Starr brethren DJ PREMIER. Whereas last May's tribute show at the Middle East was understandably bogged down with some weighty connotations (both mourning his death and calling for Solar's head), Saturday felt more like a straight up celebration of the man's life.

This week in the Phoenix, Chris Faraone talks to PACEY FOSTER -- "the biggest nerd hip-hop historian in all of Boston" -- about Pacey's Boston chapter in the upcoming HIP HOP IN AMERICA: A REGIONAL GUIDE, and specifically about the early days of Boston hip-hop. Topics include Magnus Johnstone's groundbreaking WMBR show "Lecco's Lemma," extremely rare demos from Edo G's original Fresh To Impress Crew and Keithy E, who later had more success as GURU of Gang Starr.