Bushwick Bill, a longtime member of seminal Houston hip-hop crew Geto Boys, passed away on Sunday at the age of 52. Born Richard Shaw, the rapper and dancer had recently been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
As the rapper’s publicist confirmed to Rolling Stone on Sunday evening, “Bushwick Bill passed away peacefully this evening at 9:35 p.m. He was surrounded by his immediate family. There were incorrect previous reports that he had passed away this morning. We are looking into doing a public memorial at a later date. His family appreciates all of the prayers and support and are asking for privacy at this time.”
Shaw was born with dwarfism in Jamaica in 1966 and joined Geto Boys in 1986 as the crew’s dancer under the name Little Billy. He went on to become a core member of the group’s most notable lineup alongside Willie D and Scarface and was featured on seven of Geto Boys eight albums. The group is often noted as a major influence on both the horrorcore hip-hop subgenre and southern hip-hop as a whole.
Geto Boys – “Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta”
[Video: UPROXX Video]
Shaw also released a number of notable solo albums over the course of his career. Notably, on the track “Ever So Clear” from his 1992 solo album, Little Big Man, Bushwick Bill recounted a 1991 incident in which he shot himself in the eye while inebriated on PCP and Everclear grain alcohol. The incident was also immortalized on the album cover for Geto Boys’ third album, July 1991’s We Can’t Be Stopped, which shows a post-gunshot Bushwick Bill on a hospital gurney flanked by his Geto Boys brethren.
Bushwick Bill – “Ever So Clear” [Music Video]
[Video: SouthGzSide]
At the time of his death, Bushwick Bill was in the process of planning a solo tour dubbed Phuck Cancer. He was also set to perform with Geto Boys at various upcoming events including the 2019 edition of Gathering of the Juggalos.
Rest easy, Bushwick Bill.