Bushwick Bill
Acting
Biography
Bushwick Bill (born Richard William Stephen Shaw; Kingston, Jamaica, December 8, 1966 – June 9, 2019) was a Jamaican-American rapper and record producer He was best known as a member of the pioneering Texas hip hop group Geto Boys, a group he originally joined as a dancer in 1986 as Little Billy. He went on to become one third of the best-known incarnation of the group, alongside Willie D and Scarface. Bushwick Bill was born Richard Stephen Shaw on December 8, 1966, in Kingston, Jamaica. His father was a merchant marine, and his mother was a maid. Shaw was born with dwarfism and was listed as 3 feet 8 inches (112 cm) tall. Shaw got his start in the music industry in 1986 as a member of the Geto Boys, where he performed as a dancer known as Little Billy. He later transitioned to rapping, and was featured on the Geto Boys' debut album, Making Trouble in 1988. The album received little attention and negative reviews, which led to Rap-A-Lot dropping all members from the group except for Bill and DJ Ready Red. Soon after, Rap-A-Lot CEO J. Prince recruited Scarface and Willie Dee, two local aspiring artists out of Texas as the second incarnation of the group. The new lineup began recording together in 1988 and their debut project as a group and second overall for the Geto Boys, Grip It! On That Other Level was released in 1989 to much better reception, being considered a classic album and one of the earliest entries into the Horrorcore genre. It was around this time the group's lyrical content began to generate controversy, which was multiplied in 1991 when the cover of the group's third album We Can't Be Stopped depicted a graphic image of Bill moments after he shot himself during an argument with his girlfriend. Nevertheless, the album went on to be their most successful to that point, being certified platinum in 1992. Bushwick Bill can be heard on the album The Chronic by Dr. Dre; he appears in the video of "Dre Day" as one of Eazy-E's fellow rappers. His 1998 album No Surrender…No Retreat was dedicated to his friend Gil Epstein, a Fort Bend County prosecutor who was shot dead in Houston, Texas, in 1996. On June 19, 1991, Shaw shot himself in the eye during an argument with his girlfriend, losing his right eye in the process while under the influence of Everclear grain alcohol and PCP. The aftermath of the incident was documented on the album cover for Geto Boys' 1991 album We Can't Be Stopped, which shows Shaw being pushed through the hospital on a gurney by bandmates Willie D and Scarface. Shaw claims he "died and came back to life" during the incident, and has made reference to it in his music. In 2006, he became a born-again Christian. On May 2010, Shaw was arrested in Georgia for possession of marijuana and cocaine. Based on his prior arrest record, he was facing deportation. On May 1, 2019, Shaw revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. On June 9, 2019, reports emerged that Shaw had died, but news of his death was later refuted by his son. However, it was subsequently reported and confirmed that Shaw died later that day at a hospital in Colorado.
Known For
Sassy sitcom centering on radio and television personality Martin Payne. Series focuses on his romantic relationship with girlfriend Gina, her best friend Pam and escapades with best friends Tommy and Cole.
Martin
Popular rap music videos showcased along with live performances and interviews with notable rap artists.
Yo! MTV Raps
Notable and notorious personalities share their most candid party stories with help from emerging artists and animators.
Party Legends
Ed Lover and Doctor Dre are two inept barbers. Deciding that maybe they ought to find another line of work, they join the police. A big mistake, as far as their duty sergeant, Sgt Cooper is concerned, who proceeds to harass them at every turn. Despite this, they discover a major crime, and proceed to solve it in their own unusual fashion.
Who's the Man?
A provocative look into the seven-year history of the series that gave hip hop a voice and broke color barriers, integrating MTV with rap. "Yo! MTV Raps" premiered on August 6, 1988 with hosts Fab 5 Freddy, Ed Lover and Doctor Dré, and shaped the careers of many of today’s hip hop superstars, while simultaneously making groundbreaking strides in introducing hip hop to the mainstream.
Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’
A psycho serial killer who videotapes each of his bloody conquests is on the loose, and it's up to alcoholic motorcycle cop Dak and his new tough-as-nails partner, Kristen, to bring him to justice. But as the body count increases, so does the danger.
Night Vision
The Rebels rule the streets of Gary, Indiana. They shoot storekeeper Marvin Bookman for giving the police information about a drive-by shooting they committed. Marvin’s son, former NFL star and Rebel founder John returns to be with his father and, with a little help from some friends, to destroy the gang his way.
Original Gangstas
The untold story of the world’s longest running video show, Video Music Box. A hip hop mainstay since 1983, VMB gave a platform to artists like Jay-Z, Nas and Mary J. Blige before they hit it big. Host Ralph McDaniels’ archives — amassed over nearly 40 years — reveal the show’s importance to numerous big-name musicians, as well as to the kids that grew up watching.
You're Watching Video Music Box
Luther Campbell takes the starring role as himself in this hilarious and star-studded peek into Uncle Luke's Freakfest Weekend that stars such popular celebrities as Doug E. Fresh, Lawrence Taylor, Don "Magic" Juan, and Wu-Tang Clan. Just as Don "Magic" Juan is kicking back to enjoy the freak show, he realizes that three computer-savvy players have hacked his credit card and embarked on a wild spending spree. Meanwhile, back at the Freakfest, three young women are trying to live it up like never before.
Don of All Dons
"Street Life" is the most controversial documentary ever to hit the streets. It's not only documentation, but also a bible to the streets. If focuses in on the mentality of urban America. This documentary will educate individuals who are not in the streets about the streets. It will also educate the people in the streets, to what they call...The Game. Hear real stories of war on the streets from people who are living it now. Heart breaking stories from people who made a wrong turn in life, just didn't think it could happen to them. Many of these stories that are being shared to the world through this documentary are by real people with real lives, doing real things. Witness the advantages and disadvantages of ... Street Life, growing up in the hood.
Street Life
Entertaining and informative documentary about the life and career of the controversial rapper and member of Houston gangsta rap group, Geto Boys.