Update: Bushwick Bill is still alive, but was hospitalized and is in critical condition; more details here.
It is with a heavy heart we bring you this news, but Richard Stephen Shaw, better known to the hip-hop world as Bushwick Bill of Geto Boys, has passed away at the age of 52 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.
From TMZ:
Bushwick Bill, one third of iconic rap group the Geto Boys, is dead after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
TMZ broke the story … Bill was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in February. Just last month, he told us he was undergoing intensive chemotherapy, and had hoped to get back on the road.
Bushwick Bill, Scarface and Willie D became the Geto Boys in Houston back in 1988 and signed with J. Prince‘s Rap-A-Lot Records. Just a few weeks ago, the rap trio was trying to put together a reunion, but it fell apart at the last minute.
As we first reported, Bill had a falling out with tour organizers … feeling like they were exploiting his cancer diagnosis to sell tickets. He was especially bent out of shape with the mini-tour’s title, “The Beginning of a Long Goodbye: The Final Farewell.”
Promoters pulled the plug on the tour on the eve of its launch. However, Bill told us he wanted to do a 20-city solo tour called “Phuck Cancer” … and planned to donate a portion of proceeds to pancreatic cancer patients in each city.
Houston hip-hop icon Bun B paid tribute on Twitter, saying Bushwick “will always be a legend.”
Bushwick Bill was 52.
RIP
Bushwick Bill and Geto Boys were scheduled to perform at the 20th Annual Gathering of the Juggalos, no word at this time what will come of the performance after this tragic news.
Rest in peace Little Billy.
