Rapper Bushwick Bill passes away at age 52 after a battle with pancreatic cancer

Rapper Bushwick Bill has passed away at age 52 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. 

The star’s representative confirmed to TMZ that he had passed away at 9:35PM in Houston on Sunday. 

Bill’s son Javon revealed to the site that his father’s last words were, ‘I will love you forever.’  

Rapper Bushwick Bill has passed away at age 52 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Seen here in 2013

The confirmation comes after the rapper’s family and friends publicly denied initial reports Bill had died.  

The 3ft 8in rapper – whose real name is Richard Stephen Shaw – was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in February, according to TMZ. 

He was undergoing undergoing intensive chemotherapy, and had hoped to get back on the road, says the website. 

His publicist told TMZ a public memorial is planned. 

The member of the pioneering Texas hip hop group Geto Boys said the rapper was ‘still alive and fighting cancer’ according to his publicist, who corrected TMZ’s earlier report.

Bill’s son also claimed his father was still with us, but ‘fighting for his life’ via social media Sunday.

The star’s representative confirmed to TMZ that he had passed away at 9:35PM in Houston on Sunday. Seen here back in 1992

Writing on Instagram, he shared: ‘Contrary to what has been prematurely, insensitively, and inaccurately posted/reported – My dad IS NOT dead, he’s still alive and fighting for his life. 

‘He needs your continued prayers and support. 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. Please repost to help combat the fake news. Thank you @tmz_tv & @realdawn_p for the updated report. 

The confirmation comes after the rapper’s family and friends publicly denied initial reports Bill had died. Here in 2011

‘On behalf of the family we’re requesting privacy until further notice. #news #bushwickbill #chuckwick #getoboys’ 

Bill was absent from a gig on Saturday night in Dallas, and is reportedly being cared for by hospital staff.  

Obituaries appeared for the rap star in a number of publications and fans paid tribute on-line after the erroneous report of his death caused confusion. 

Geto Boys’ Scarface posted a picture of the rapper, mistakenly believing him to have passed away. 

He wrote: ‘RIP Bushwick Bill…..’  

Little guy big star: He wrote: ‘RIP Bushwick Bill…..’

Condolences: Tributes poured in on line

Rapper Bun B was also among the first to note Shaw’s death on social media. 

He wrote: ‘April 7. The last time I saw him. He was, is and will always be a legend. God bless his soul and his family. There will never be another. RIP Bushwick Bill.’ 

Juicy J, Questlove, Killer Mike and others also tweeted their condolences. 

The Jamaican-American rapper recently had a falling out with tour organizers, it was reported that he felt that they were exploiting his cancer diagnosis to sell tickets. 

In particular he was offended by the mini-tour’s title, The Beginning of a Long Goodbye: The Final Farewell.

Bill Promoters pulled the plug on the tour on the eve of its launch, says TMZ. 

Shaw, who was born with dwarfism and first performed under the moniker Little Billy, joined the Geto Boys in 1986 following a stint as the group’s dancer.  

In the summer of 1991, Shaw shot himself in the eye during an argument with his girlfriend, losing his right eye in the process.  

DailyMail.com has reached out to Bushwick Bill’s publicist and had no response.  

Rap legacy: The Jamaican-born rapper posed in a casket to promote his album The Resurrection in 1996

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk