Bushwick Bill and his influence in helping me grow Professionally and Personally

I have mentioned wanting to use the world of hip-hop and what it’s taught me. How I’ve grown and even become a better person both personally and professionally thanks to the real lyrics of many artists past, present and (hopefully) future.

Today I want to talk about Bushwick Bill, one of the founding members of Geto Boys with a story like no other in the world of music. Bushwick not only had to deal with his own demons of living in the ghetto, depression and addiction but also external elements to his life. On top of being someone that has had to deal with enough pressure that would’ve brought anybody else to their knees, Bushwick has always been a key figure in hip-hop and has gotten love from Dre, Snoop, Pac and Eazy which was huge in the 90s. He was a little person, standing at 3 feet and 8 inches, and his lyrics are reflecting of how powerful he was and how his height never ONCE held him back from his musical talent. In addition to this, Bushwick survived a self-inflected gunshot wound to the face which caused him to lose his right eye.

I have to say that again: during the beginning of his career, Bushwick Bill took a pistol during an argument with his S/O, shot himself point blank in the eye, and survived. While in the hospital, he was visited by fellow bandmates Scarface and Willie-D and their legendary album cover picture was taken.

Now that I’ve painted the picture of the man, let me dive into his values, the person he chose to be through his lyrics and how they still guide me to this day. “I just want to die”, a track off of the Geto Boys album “The Resurrection”, Bushwick takes us on the journey behind the bullet, behind the vail of life and what it’s like to literally die. With such imagery, depth, honesty and anger this song could only revigorate anyone into being more grateful with what they have and what they don’t want to lose.

Bushwick would release some solo albums where he let himself shine and be himself. His album “Phantom of the Rapra” is hands down one of the best 90s Rap albums of all time. He dives into the hypocrisy of how some communities viewed the ghetto and Rap music. About how Opera doesn’t shy away from gritty topics and yet the same topics are chastised in the world of Rap. In his own words, off the album intro:

“I like opera as it deals with sex, rape, violence, incest, and suicide. And it's accepted by the same people that are willing to ban rap when rap is opera to people in the ghettos”

When I first heard those words, it blew my mind. Not only was he able to put the finger on the hypocrisy he saw daily in society, but he did it in a way that was basically an olive branch to help people understand the true depth Hip-Hop would bring to the musical world.

That same album brought “Who’s the Biggest?” a song about how height is only physical, yet how he was still the BIGGEST little person in the ghetto. The word inspiring is not enough to truly describe the effect this had on the community. While people were still subjecting little people to absurd conditions, the ghettos of Houston had transcended this.

OK, those still with me, this is where things get heavy and personable. “Phantom of the Rapra” brought two tracks that no lyricist has ever been able to replicate. Tracks with such honesty, fear, candor and tragedy that no human can hear them without watering up. Fittingly, very similar to most Operas that have existed for centuries.

EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING

Bushwick Bill - Only Good Knows (1995)

In “Only God Knows” Bushwick asks us the questions that keep us at night. But more than questions, he discusses about how the person you are currently is irrelevant when faced with death. This instrumental, and others on the album, have a West Coast influence showcasing Bushwick’s musical growth and ability to focus on his craft. I strongly recommend going through the track’s full lyrics however I will only dive partially into the 3rd verse.

“I tries to duck I tries to hide but shit I just can't run It's like I'm trapped inside this world of mines and just can't win I'm overcome by suicidal thoughts but damn that's sin I need my mama cause she'd be always there by my side To help me out when I ain't strong enough to make the ride If I die who would teach my sons right from wrong? If I die who would teach my sons to stand strong? If I die who would teach 'em nuthin' comes for free? I can't die cause won't nobody teach them shit but me”

Such power, such beauty, so much wisdom trapped in so much pain. That paragraph alone taught me the value of family as well as the importance of being the best person you can possibly be. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow, so being the best version of yourself TODAY is the only way you can make the most of life.

Last track I want to dive into is “Times is Hard”. Unlike the previous track, this one dives into losing everything and rebuilding. Rebuilding your life when you’ve lost everything has to be one of the most depressing emotions anyone can have. Bushwick reminds us that having less is in fact having more. You are able to know who are those that truly love you, what are the elements in your life that truly matter to you and your happiness? He mentions his past actions being his burden to bear however that this same burden is how he is able to change his life around and become a beacon of good and positive influence instead of being a negative element in the ghetto. He knew the clout associated to his name, the amount of people listening to his voice, and he uses that to push a content of optimism, hope, happiness and contentment.

Bushwick Bill - Times Is Hard (1995)

“Now if it wasn't for moms I wouldn't have no world You stood tall through it all, so you go, girl I know things ain't all they used to be I had to slow my roll, see, trouble's getting used to me I gots to make you a proud mother” …………. “Ain't nobody knowin about the pain you feel I'mma change my life, mama, that's on the real I pray to God He make you feel me Man, I'mma make it out the ghetto if it kill me, and mama, that's real”

That small portion, taken from the 2nd verse on the track, is reminiscent of Tupac’s “Dear Mama”. It helps take you out of your own issues and reality to place you instead in the eyes of your own mother and everything she had to survive to raise you right. I can’t stretch how much this resonates with me. By seeing things through her eyes, it made me realize that I AM worth more I AM better than who I was and most importantly: I only need to make ONE person proud in this life, and it’s her.

Still with me? If so, we’re almost done so thank you for making it through this far. This is where I tie it all together into my professional life and career path. This is where I prove that Rap is more than what you see on MTV. That Hip-Hop transcends its own image and is an educator and inspirer. Bushwick’s album has brought me to tears but has also brought me to maturity. Where are my values? What does it mean to see the world through MY eyes? And how do I grow from here?

These lyrics inspire anyone to not let their conditions hold them back whether through being born in the ghetto as a black man or being born with a physical handicap like dwarfism. If we all have things that keep us up at night, then we can all inspire one another to be and do better. Most importantly, this taught me that Equity is a real thing that we can overcome, and that glass-ceilings only exist to be shattered.

If you leave this page today with one lesson learned: Rap has a lot of philosophical notions that have been around since Greek philosophy and can inspire ANYONE to do better in their lives.

Thank you to anyone that read through all this and please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with questions, feedback or maybe even tracks you’d like for me to discuss in another article. Keeping in mind however, I reserve the right to select which artists I do, or don’t write about.

Sacha Haghighi, January 14th 2021, Salt Lake City.