Like what you hear in GURU’s featured videos? Two of those tracks come care of New York garage pop band ModRocket, founded in 2001 when all four members were in junior high.

They’re all still in their teens and channeling their Daria-esque wit and angst into tunes like “Sonic” (featured this month in our “Lazy Sunday” GURU video) and “July 5th” (featured in our “Shower” video), with their sound falling somewhere between the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and an all-lady version of The Virgins (with some sprinklings of Sonic Youth and the Libertines for good measure).

ModRocket’s good vibe and energy has such broad appeal they’ve been featured in both Teen Vogue and on Vice TV (video below), where they can be seen practicing in the East Village equivalent of a garage and, uh, stuffing their face with Oreos. What? What do you want them to do? They can’t even drink yet (at least not legally).

Watch this space for GURU Energy Drink’s continuing quest for fresh sounds, and check out ModRocket’s MySpace for more info on the band.

Good things may come to those who wait, but there’s nothing like getting something early!

Jay-Z’s anticipated new album, The Blueprint 3, is available now, ahead of schedule (thanks, internet leak!) and already garnering rave reviews. The UK’s Daily Telegraph gave it four stars and said of the accomplished artist: “At 40 years old, [he] comes across as a well-rounded, sophisticated and diplomatic human being, more reliant on wit, charm and persuasive argument than all-out verbal assault.”

The first “Blueprint” album was released September 11, 2001, and Brooklyn native Jay-Z made waves last week with a 9/11 benefit show at Madison Square Garden, with appearances by artists like Rihanna and John Mayer.

Jay-Z also recently made a rare appearance on Bill Maher, who gave the rapper a gift of all his lyrics bound up in a book (aww, could it be that sharp-tongued Maher is just a big ol’ softie?).

Need more evidence that the rapper’s in line with the GURU philosophy? Jay-Z’s single “D.O.A.” has him touting the virtues of going all-natural – hey, just like GURU! – and calling the time of death on voice-distorting, robot-friendly Auto-Tune.

All good things must come to an end. No, world famous DJ Misstress Barbara isn’t going anywhere – in fact, she’s fresh from major promo for her latest album, I’m No Human– but she is playing Piknic Électronik’s labour day weekend bash, possibly the last chance of the year for Montreal party folk to dance outside sans jackets. There’ll be three days of outdoorsy fun (you can check out the full DJ line-up here), but something tells us Sunday will be the one that counts, with Misstress Barbara holding court from 5 p.m. onwards. GURU Energy Drink caught up with Montreal’s own Misstress to find out how she spent her summer vacation.

You’ve been pretty busy promoting I’m No Human – how much personal vacation time have you really gotten?
I got two days in Marseille just two weeks ago. It was short but amazing!

If you had to write an essay on How I Spent My Summer Vacation, what would be the highlights?
Tennis, bike, motorcycle, ceviche, wine, rocky beaches of the Mediterranean.

You’re playing at Piknic during labour day weekend – pretty much the end of Montreal’s summer festival season. Is that bittersweet?
No, it’s an annual rendez-vous for me. I always picked that date and I’ve been doing it for five years now, and it’s just incredible. It’s my favorite gig in the year! It doesn’t matter for me that it means the end of the summer, as I travel so much that for me seasons don’t mean anything really.

Who’s been your summer music guru (i.e. on repeat on your summer playlist)? Any music gurus of all time?
Blind Pilot, Adele, Metric. And the all-time gurus are Charles Aznavour, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Dionne Warwick, Nina Simone…

We hear you’re a big fan of GURU Energy Drink, if you had to plug us shamelessly, what would that sound like?

GURU: spirit, conscience, knowledge. Make it yours.***

***If you end up using this advertisement sentence I want royalties.  : )

We already know Kanye West has good taste. He is, after all, both a fan of and shareholder in Guru Energy Drink. Smart man. So we’re paying close attention to everything he’s awarding a stamp of approval, including artist/producer duo Christian Rich. The twin brothers, who hail from Chicago, IL and were raised partly in Nigeria, have risen to fame thanks to endorsements and collaborations with artists like Lil’ Kim and Armand Van Helden (check out “Ski Hard” below).

But who did Christian Rich choose as their music guru when interviewed by Guru Energy Blog? Michael Jackson, of course. “He showed us that musically there are no boundaries,” says the duo, who count Louis Vuitton among their style gurus and named their parents as their love gurus, “The sacrifice and love they give and have given is beautiful and keeps us motivated.” Aww.

Most importantly – at least for all you New Yorkers – they’re having a penthouse party tonight at the Rivington Hotel, where they’ll be performing along with Colin Munroe and guest DJs Mick Boogie and Melo-X. Check out the Christian Rich website for more info.

Tracy Anderson is the personal training guru behind Madonna’s tiny dancer body on the Sweet and Sticky tour. She also works with Gwyneth Paltrow and Shakira (to name a few), produced three DVDs showcasing her method and when she’s not on tour with a celeb, she trains several clients a day at her elite studios in Los Angeles or New York.

Tracy discovered GURU Lite while giving a workshop a gym in the Upper West Side. She called us a few weeks later, hooked, asking if we could send some product overseas for the dancing crew of the Sweet and Sticky tour. ‘GURU Lite helps me get through my longest and most grueling days when I need to train many clients in one day.  My favorite way to enjoy the benefits of GURU Lite is to drink it thirty minutes before my training.  I mix GURU Lite with coconut water to give me consistent energy and hydration throughout these days.  GURU Lite has hardly any calories at all and when mixed with coconut water it is extra refreshing,’ she stated.

This was a beginning of a great relationship with Tracy and Madonna’s team throughout the tour and leading up to the opening of a new gym in Tribeca, where our drinks are available for the healthiest dancers in New York!

Another GURU Tip from Tracy: ‘If I’m really tired, I mix GURU Lite with GURU Juicy Tangerine so that I still get all the natural energy with an extra kick of flavor.’

YUM!

In 2007, Kanye West came across GURU in a New York City deli. In April of this year, the surprise announcement that he’s now a shareholder in the company made quite a splash in the media.

When interviewed about his involvement with us, the Louis Vuitton Don stated: “I express myself through music, fashion, art and design and that’s why I am excited to collaborate with GURU; because the brand values what I value, and I can put what inspires me into this new product.”

Yep, it’s true, Kanye is all about energy and inspiration, and we’re really psyched to have him on board to create his own GURU Energy Drink.

“We are thrilled to be able to collaborate in the development of a new GURU product with Kanye West, whose talent and creativity embody GURU’s philosophy of finding your inner genius, nurturing it and helping it bloom,” Ray, GURU’s co-founder, said.

Kanye’s always coming up with new ventures & partnerships, and while his entrepreneurship is stronger than ever, it’s a newfound sensibility that shined in his last record release, 808’s and Heartbreak.

He’s also dedicated to giving back. A tribute to his mother Dr. Donda West, the Kanye West Foundation S.H.O.W. (Students Helping Our World) partners with schools and community organizations to provide underserved youth access to music production and academic support programs.

What does it mean today to go to school? More chances to get a job. More chances to do something you actually like. More chance to become your own guru!

Tonight in Chicago, Ye will be hosting the 2nd “Stay in School” Benefit Concert at the historic Chicago Theatre. The SHOW will also air on FUSE TV and proceeds raised by the concert will benefit Loop Dreams, the music production program of the Kanye West Foundation, and the Dr. Donda West Scholarship fund.

Check out the Foundation on MySpace and if you happen to be in Chicago and to attend the concert, watch for GURU in the gift bags!