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.
Wha Cha Gonna Do?
Bushwick Bill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You gotta listen, as I run it down the business
The jungle creed, is that the strongest feeds, on any prey it can
And I was branded beast, at every feast, before I became a man
Hahaha! Full swing for the jungle.
John Bido in the house, it's a black man thing you wouldn't understand.
Chorus:
What cha gonna do when the world's on fire?
I'ma light a spliff, and keep gettin higher
The world's bout to end
I don't give a fuck
I ain't scared to die, niggaz put that on Chuck
Verse One:
Put me in a room with four gats and four clips
Aimed at my dome and I bet I won't flinch
At least I get to know I'm going out in a blast
So either pull the trigger or you tricks better mash
Cause I ain't afraid to kill neither
I snatch your soul like the motherfuckin grim reaper
I be the, man that worries not about life
I'd rather piss in the wind than take a risk with eyes, yeah
A brave man dies once, but a coward dies a thousand deaths
Fuck a right, I make a thousand lefts
Cause I'm a motherfuckin thrillseeker
You can't scare me with no bullshit threats, I ain't afraid to die
Chorus 2X
Verse Two:
The world is on some old new-improved shit
They building bombs everyday but screaming peace
A piece of pussy nowaday could cost a nigga life
The condom ain't shit, the rubber breaks and that's your life
Babies havin babies knowin not what to do
For some grown ass men, niggaz old as me and you
Think a nigga fuck a kid needs his motherfuckin dick chopped off
Cause youse a child molester, that ain't cool motherfucker
Mamas keeping sons from their daddies
What you sposed to teach him bitch? You ain't no man, youse a hoe
Monkey see, monkey do
What you want my son to act like me or act like you, shit
I'm on the verge of suicide, so what's murder?
Another casuality, cause mentally I'm damaged G
So I ain't afraid, I ain't afraid to kill
And I ain't afraid to die, motherfucker
Chorus 2X
Verse Three:
A punk can be controlled by death threats
A man's not a man if he can't take a stand and umm
Confront your foes nigga everybody bleeds
So fuck bowing down to another nigga's needs
Curiousity, killed the cat
And anybody gettin curious with mines is gettin disciplined black
I lets the motherfuckin fo'-fo' click
And that's the end of that big bad nigga shit [see-ya!]
How can you be afraid of what's bound to happen
You can't run and try to hide from death
Death is univited, it's also at a shitty time
Things can creep and snatch your ass up out your prime, I lives my life
aggressively, successfully, I press to be
Demanding with myself and not profess to be
You can't impress me with no bullshit threats
I squabble any motherfucker out your set, motherfucker
Chorus 2X
The lyrics to Bushwick Bill’s “Whacha Gonna Do?” are a reflection of the rapper’s persona, his views on life, and his experiences as a black man in the United States. The verses are filled with dark and nihilistic themes, reflecting Bill’s disinterest in societal norms, his hatred towards oppressors, and his perception of life itself as meaningless. He emphasizes that the strongest thrive while the weak die, and as someone who has been “branded a beast,” he doesn’t fear death. He maintains the idea that the world is chaotic, with bombs being built and peace still being sought, while individuals lose their lives over insignificant things like sex. Furthermore, he discusses the absence of father figures and the impact that it has on young boys, leading to them following in their mothers' footsteps and the death of the community.
The lyrics of “Whacha Gonna Do?” are noteworthy for their brutal honesty about the societal injustices against Black people, particularly during the time of the track's release in the early 1990s when racial tensions ran high. Bushwick Bill offers a window into his frustrations, fears, and challenges that come with being a Black man in America. The song's climactic chorus and haunting melody only emboldened the song's message, which was echoed in future gangsta rap anthems.
Line by Line Meaning
And ahh... the secret of the hidden temple is that ahh
Listen closely, I have a hidden truth to share
You gotta listen, as I run it down the business
I'm about to explain the jungle creed, and how I came to embrace it
The jungle creed, is that the strongest feeds, on any prey it can
Survival in the jungle requires strength and cunning, and the strongest will always take what they need
And I was branded beast, at every feast, before I became a man
I was treated like an animal, and had to learn to fight and survive to earn my place in the world
Hahaha! Full swing for the jungle.
I'm fully committed to living by the jungle creed
John Bido in the house, it's a black man thing you wouldn't understand.
I'm proud of my heritage and unapologetic for living by my own code
What cha gonna do when the world's on fire?
When the world is in chaos, how will you respond?
I'ma light a spliff, and keep gettin higher
I'll find solace and escape in drugs
The world's bout to end
The end of the world as we know it is near
I don't give a fuck
I'm not afraid of what's to come
I ain't scared to die, niggaz put that on Chuck
I have accepted my mortality and am not afraid of death
Put me in a room with four gats and four clips
I'm not afraid of death or violence
Aimed at my dome and I bet I won't flinch
I'm confident in my own courage and resolve
At least I get to know I'm going out in a blast
I'd rather die violently than waste away slowly
So either pull the trigger or you tricks better mash
If you're going to try to kill me, do it and be done with it
Cause I ain't afraid to kill neither
I am not a pacifist and will retaliate if necessary
I snatch your soul like the motherfuckin grim reaper
I am not afraid of the consequences of my violent actions
I be the, man that worries not about life
I live life on my own terms and do not worry about the future
I'd rather piss in the wind than take a risk with eyes, yeah
I am willing to take foolish risks without considering the consequences
A brave man dies once, but a coward dies a thousand deaths
It's better to face death head-on than spend your life in fear
Fuck a right, I make a thousand lefts
I do not follow the conventional path, and am willing to take my own way
Cause I'm a motherfuckin thrillseeker
I enjoy taking risks and living dangerously
You can't scare me with no bullshit threats, I ain't afraid to die
I am unafraid of threats and will not be intimidated
The world is on some old new-improved shit
The world is constantly changing, but some things never really change
They building bombs everyday but screaming peace
People say they want peace, but still engage in war and violence
A piece of pussy nowaday could cost a nigga life
Sexual encounters can be dangerous and even deadly
The condom ain't shit, the rubber breaks and that's your life
Contraception is not foolproof and can lead to unwanted consequences
Babies havin babies knowin not what to do
Young parents are often unprepared for the challenges of raising children
For some grown ass men, niggaz old as me and you
Even older men can be immature and make poor decisions
Think a nigga fuck a kid needs his motherfuckin dick chopped off
Child molesters deserve severe punishment
Mamas keeping sons from their daddies
Family dynamics can be complicated and difficult to navigate
What you sposed to teach him bitch? You ain't no man, youse a hoe
Mothers without positive male role models in their lives may struggle to raise their sons
Monkey see, monkey do
Children learn by example and imitation
What you want my son to act like me or act like you, shit
Parents must choose how they will raise their children and what values they will instill
I'm on the verge of suicide, so what's murder?
I am so unhappy with my life that dying seems like a better option than living
Another casuality, cause mentally I'm damaged G
I am suffering from mental illness and struggling to cope with life
So I ain't afraid, I ain't afraid to kill
My mental illness has left me unafraid of violent actions
A punk can be controlled by death threats
Some people can be intimidated into submission
A man's not a man if he can't take a stand and umm
Real masculinity is about standing up for what you believe in
Confront your foes nigga everybody bleeds
Even your enemies are human and vulnerable
So fuck bowing down to another nigga's needs
I am not willing to bow to the wishes of others
Curiousity, killed the cat
Being too curious and asking too many questions can get you into trouble
And anybody gettin curious with mines is gettin disciplined black
If anyone gets too nosy or asks too many questions about me, I will respond violently
I lets the motherfuckin fo'-fo' click
I am always armed and ready to use my weapons if necessary
And that's the end of that big bad nigga shit [see-ya!]
I am always ready to defend myself and will not be intimidated
How can you be afraid of what's bound to happen
Death is inevitable and there's no use being afraid of it
You can't run and try to hide from death
No matter how hard you try, you cannot escape death
Death is univited, it's also at a shitty time
Death is unpredictable and often comes at inconvenient or unexpected times
Things can creep and snatch your ass up out your prime, I lives my life aggressively, successfully, I press to be
I live my life fearlessly and aggressively, always pushing to be successful and achieve my goals
Demanding with myself and not profess to be
I hold myself to high standards and expect nothing less than my best
You can't impress me with no bullshit threats
I am not afraid of threats and will not be influenced or intimidated by them
I squabble any motherfucker out your set, motherfucker
I am always ready to fight and defend my territory, no matter who it's against
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MIKE DEAN, BRYAN ROSS, JOHN OKURIBIDO, ROBIN TROWER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Catherine McRae
And ahh... the secret of the hidden temple is that ahh
You gotta listen, as I run it down the business
The jungle creed, is that the strongest feeds, on any prey it can
And I was branded beast, at every feast, before I became a man
Hahaha! Full swing for the jungle.
John Bido in the house, it's a black man thing you wouldn't understand.
What cha gonna do when the world's on fire?
I'ma light a spliff, and keep gettin higher
The world's bout to end
I don't give a fuck
I ain't scared to die, niggaz put that on Chuck
Put me in a room with four gats and four clips
Aimed at my dome and I bet I won't flinch
At least I get to know I'm going out in a blast
So either pull the trigger or you tricks better mash
Cause I ain't afraid to kill neither
I snatch your soul like the motherfuckin grim reaper
I be the, man that worries not about life
I'd rather piss in the wind than take a risk with eyes, yeah
A brave man dies once, but a coward dies a thousand deaths
Fuck a right, I make a thousand lefts
Cause I'm a motherfuckin thrillseeker
You can't scare me with no bullshit threats, I ain't afraid to die
What cha gonna do when the world's on fire?
I'ma light a spliff, and keep gettin higher
The world's bout to end
I don't give a fuck
I ain't scared to die, niggaz put that on Chuck
The world is on some old new-improved shit
They building bombs everyday but screaming peace
A piece of pussy nowaday could cost a nigga life
The condom ain't shit, the rubber breaks and that's your life
Babies havin babies knowin not what to do
For some grown ass men, niggaz old as me and you
Think a nigga fuck a kid needs his motherfuckin dick chopped off
Cause youse a child molester, that ain't cool motherfucker
Mamas keeping sons from their daddies
What you sposed to teach him bitch? You ain't no man, youse a hoe
Monkey see, monkey do
What you want my son to act like me or act like you, shit
I'm on the verge of suicide, so what's murder?
Another casuality, cause mentally I'm damaged G
So I ain't afraid, I ain't afraid to kill
And I ain't afraid to die, motherfucker
What cha gonna do when the world's on fire?
I'ma light a spliff, and keep gettin higher
The world's bout to end
I don't give a fuck
I ain't scared to die, niggaz put that on Chuck
A punk can be controlled by death threats
A man's not a man if he can't take a stand and umm
Confront your foes nigga everybody bleeds
So fuck bowing down to another nigga's needs
Curiousity, killed the cat
And anybody gettin curious with mines is gettin disciplined black
I lets the motherfuckin fo'-fo' click
And that's the end of that big bad nigga shit [see-ya!]
How can you be afraid of what's bound to happen
You can't run and try to hide from death
Death is univited, it's also at a shitty time
Things can creep and snatch your ass up out your prime, I lives my life
aggressively, successfully, I press to be
Demanding with myself and not profess to be
You can't impress me with no bullshit threats
I squabble any motherfucker out your set, motherfucker
What cha gonna do when the world's on fire?
I'ma light a spliff, and keep gettin higher
The world's bout to end
I don't give a fuck
I ain't scared to die, niggaz put that on Chuck
Rest In Peace
D
No joke that this is one of the greatest gangsta rap songs ever written. Phenomenal beat with thoughtful and eloquent lyrics.. So sick... RIP Bill
K-V
It does hit hard. Especially after each listen.
SPANGE
My favorite Bushwick Bill song. Met him Christmas Day 2004 in Seattle. I smoked a blunt with him. Hella Cool Dude. Rest In Peace.
Jimmie Owens
Simply LOVED everything this man put vocals on!!!He will definitely be missed!!!R.I.P. Little Big Man!!!
Surge Álvarez
Rest in peace! Bill's Soul will live forever through his music!
Baxter LPC
Rest up Chuck🙏 Pittsburgh to 5th Ward RESPECT the 90s was the realest decade in rap and in the streets
Julius Salvator
No shit ☝️
Jason Miller
This song would be perfect for a movie
michael s. clark
It has a brotha lynch hung or tales from the hood vibe
ALL RIDES WELCOME PODCAST
This album was a masterpiece