It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Bushwick Bill, real name Richard Shaw, who died on June 9th 2019, aged 52. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Richard moved to Brooklyn, New York in the early 1980s in search of a new life. He eventually achieved fame as a member of the iconic rap trio Geto Boys. His willingness to express himself and commit fully to his vision as a performer made him an admired figure in the hip-hop community and beyond. Thanks to the group, Richard collaborated with many of rap’s biggest stars, from Eazy-E and LL Cool J to Cypress Hill and Big Daddy Kane, and was celebrated for his unique style and larger-than-life charisma. He also released solo albums further cementing his place in rap music history. His larger-than-life persona and career overcame a huge challenge when rendered paraplegic after he attempted suicide in 1991. This event and his inspiring recovery were documented in the video for Geto Boys’ seminal track ‘Six Feet Deep’, which received immense critical acclaim and is seen as one of the pioneering moments of hip-hop’s ‘golden age’. Richard also contributed to several non-musical projects, such as the newspapers The Final Call and Houston BBQ, and the micro-budget movie ‘All Freaks No Stars’. Richard Shaw will be remembered fondly by all who knew him, and his legacy will remain in the annals of rap.