Bushwick Bill, a rapper with the group Geto Boys, died Sunday night after a battle with cancer. He was 52.
“He was surrounded by his immediate family,” his publicist told Rolling Stone, in a statement. “We are looking into doing a public memorial at a later date. His family appreciates all of the prayers and support and are asking for privacy at this time.”
News of the rapper’s death came earlier in the day but was denied by his son.
“Contrary to what has been prematurely, insensitively, and inaccurately posted – My dad IS NOT dead,” his son wrote on Instagram. “He’s still alive and fighting for his life … Certain people have been so quick to write him off as dead so they can capitalize off it, and it’s messed up because yall really think these people care about him. There is no Geto Boys without Bushwick Bill.”
Born Richard Stephen Shaw in Jamaica, Bushwick Bill – who stood less than four-feet tall – joined the Texas-based Geto Boys as a dancer in 1986 but eventually became one-third of the group.
In May, he shared the news that he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, forcing the group to cancel a reunion tour.