photo credit: Apple_Mac // Shutterstock
On Sunday evening, Bushwick Bill of the Geto Boys, real name Richard Shaw, passed away at the age of 52 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Rumors of the rapper’s passing started while he was “still alive and fighting cancer” in the hospital, according to Bill’s publisher. Leading Bill’s daughter to go on Instagram saying, her father is “fighting for his life” and needs prayers and support. Adding, “Certain people have been so quick to write him off as dead so they can capitalize off it.”
Bill was scheduled to perform Saturday night in Dallas, but he was unable to make it because he was hospitalized.
Bill was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in February, he was undergoing intensive chemotherapy.
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. The group was instantly controversial for its graphic lyrics which made radio airplay almost impossible. Their 1991 album “Can’t Be Stopped” still went platinum, though, on the strength of classics like, “Mind Playing Tricks On Me.”
The group was trying to put a reunion tour together a few weeks ago, but the plug was pulled on the eve of the launch. Bill told TMZ, he wanted to do a 20-city solo tour called “Phuck Cancer.” He planned to donate a portion of proceeds to pancreatic cancer patients in each city.
His son, Javon, tells TMZ … Bill’s final words were, “I will love you forever.”
His publicist says plans are underway for a public memorial.
Source: TMZ