The rapper who survived a self-inflicted gunshot to the face
In short: Bushwick Bill’s career is defined by a harrowing moment of violence that became a literal album cover. From a breakdancer in the Texas hip-hop scene to a pioneer of horrorcore, his life story is a visceral study of survival, substance abuse, and the brutal realities of the 1990s rap industry.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Brooklyn, Richard William Stephen Shaw entered the music industry in 1986 as a breakdancer named Little Billy. He joined the Texas-based group Geto Boys, eventually becoming a core member alongside Willie D and Scarface. While their 1988 debut received poor reviews, the group pivoted in 1989 with 'Grip It! On That Other Level,' a project that established them as early pioneers of the horrorcore genre. The group's trajectory shifted dramatically in 1991 during a violent altercation between Shaw and his girlfriend. While under the influence of PCP and grain alcohol, Shaw was shot in the face, resulting in the loss of his right eye. Shaw later clarified that the incident was a suicidal attempt to force his girlfriend to kill him, potentially motivated by a desire for life insurance money for his mother. The graphic aftermath—depicting Shaw on a hospital gurney—became the cover art for the 1991 album 'We Can't Be Stopped,' which went platinum in 1992. Despite the controversy surrounding his lyrical content and the violence of his personal life, Shaw remained a significant figure in hip-hop, appearing on Dr. Dre's 'The Chronic' and releasing his own projects. In his later years, his life took a spiritual turn when he became a born-again Christian in 2006. He passed away in June 2019 following a diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
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