Shyne: From Belize To The Big Apple

Yes, Shyne is from Belize. Born in Belize City, Belize, Shyne, whose birth name is Jamal Michael Barrow, moved to Brooklyn, New York City as a child. He is a Belizean rapper, politician and philanthropist. He is the Leader of the Opposition in the Belize House of Representatives and the leader of the Belize United Democratic Party.

Shyne's career as a rapper

Shyne, born Moses Michael Levi Barrow, is a Belizean rapper, politician and philanthropist. He is best known for his 2000 singles "Bad Boyz" and "Bonnie & Shyne", as well as his collaborations with other popular artists such as Usher, Lil Wayne, Notorious B.I.G, Mase, and Puff Daddy.

Shyne's career in music began in Brooklyn, New York City, where he moved as a child. He was discovered by hip-hop producer DJ Clark Kent while rapping in a barbershop and was quickly signed to Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs' label, Bad Boy Records. Shyne's debut on the label was on Mase's second album, "Double Up", and on a remix of Total's "Sittin At Home" single. He also featured on Combs' second studio album, "Forever".

On December 27, 1999, Shyne was involved in a shooting incident at a nightclub with his mentor and label boss, Sean Combs, and Combs' then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez. An argument broke out between Combs and another man, and guns were drawn, resulting in three bystanders being injured. Shyne was convicted of assault and criminal possession of an illegal weapon, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Despite this, his debut album, released in 2000, was a success, and he continued to record music while incarcerated.

During his time in prison, Shyne became interested in Judaism and officially changed his name to Moses Michael Levi Barrow in 2006. He was released on parole in 2009 and deported to Belize, where he was born and raised as a child. In 2010, he moved to Jerusalem, where he studied the Torah and formally converted to Orthodox Judaism.

Upon his return to Belize in 2013, Shyne was appointed the Belize Music and Goodwill Ambassador, charged with the sustainable development of the country's music industry. He has since continued his career in music while also pursuing a career in politics. In 2020, he was elected to the Belize House of Representatives as a member of the center-right Belize United Democratic Party. He became the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives and the leader of the Belize United Democratic Party in June 2021 and February 2022.

Shyne's involvement in the Club New York shooting

On the evening of December 27, 1999, Shyne, whose real name is Moses Michael Levi Barrow, went to Club New York in Manhattan with his mentor and label boss, Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, and Combs' then-girlfriend, singer and actress Jennifer Lopez. An argument broke out between Combs and another man, Matthew "Scar" Allen, and shots were fired, resulting in three injured bystanders.

Witnesses testified that Allen had threatened to kill Shyne, and prosecutors charged that Allen, Combs, and Shyne all drew guns during the confrontation. Shyne was accused of firing three shots that wounded the three bystanders. However, he maintained that he had fired into the air and did not believe that the injuries were caused by his gun.

In June 2001, Shyne was convicted of assault, reckless endangerment, and criminal possession of an illegal weapon. He was sentenced to ten years in prison without the possibility of parole until 2009 and served almost nine years. Shyne always claimed that he was innocent and was just Diddy's "fall guy". He was released from prison in 2009 and deported to his country of birth, Belize.

Shyne's conversion to Judaism

Shyne's exploration of Judaism continued while he was in prison, where he became a practising Orthodox Jew with the support of prison rabbis. He began keeping kosher, observing Shabbat, and changed his name to Moses Michael Levy (or Levi). After his release from prison, Shyne travelled to Israel, where he underwent a symbolic conversion and began studying at yeshivas. He embraced his Jewish identity with fervour, peppering his speech with yeshiva terminology and eagerly recalling biblical stories.

Shyne's journey to Judaism was a personal and transformative experience that influenced his art and his perspective on life. It allowed him to connect with his heritage and find meaning in his struggles. By embracing his Jewish identity, Shyne found a sense of community, purpose, and a deeper understanding of himself and the world around him.

Shyne's deportation to Belize

Shyne, born Jamal Michael Barrow, is a Belizean rapper, politician, and philanthropist. He was born in Belize but moved to Brooklyn, New York City as a child. In 1999, he was involved in a shooting incident at a nightclub in New York, which led to his incarceration for nearly nine years. After his release from prison in 2009, he was deported to Belize.

Detention by Immigration Officials

Following his release from prison, Shyne was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for nearly four weeks. The exact reason for his detention was unclear, but it was speculated that it pertained to an immigration law violation. During this time, Shyne's lawyer, Oscar Michelen, stated that Shyne had the option to "fight from detention or fight from freedom," referring to the choice between arguing for U.S. citizenship while detained or after being released to Belize.

Temporary Deportation to Belize

On October 28, 2009, Shyne was released from ICE custody and deported to Belize, his country of birth. He had served a nine-year prison sentence for his involvement in the 1999 nightclub shooting and was facing deportation as a non-citizen felon. Shyne accepted this "temporary deportation," according to his attorney, and returned to Belize, where his father, Dean Barrow, who was the nation's prime minister at the time, welcomed him.

Efforts to Regain Entry to the U.S.

Shyne continued to fight for his return to the U.S. and enlisted the help of Harvard Law School professor Charles Ogletree. Despite these efforts, he was unable to regain residency in the United States due to his status as a convicted felon.

Conversion to Judaism

During his incarceration, Shyne converted to Orthodox Judaism and changed his name to Moses Michael Levi Barrow. After his deportation to Belize, he moved to Jerusalem in 2010 to further devote himself to his new faith, studying the Torah and undergoing a formal conversion.

Return to Belize and Political Career

In 2013, Shyne returned to Belize and was appointed the Belize Music and Goodwill Ambassador. He later entered politics and was elected to the Belize House of Representatives in the 2020 general election as a member of the center-right Belize United Democratic Party. He became the Leader of the Opposition in the Belize House of Representatives and the leader of the Belize United Democratic Party.

Shyne's career as a politician

Shyne's platform focuses on strengthening Belizean governance with increased penalties for those who commit crimes, raising the salaries of police officers, and addressing violent crime through a strengthened judicial system. He also advocates for the Belizean government to provide student loans at low interest rates.

Shyne's political career has been marked by his religious conversion to Orthodox Judaism, his personal connections to the music industry, and his family background. He is the son of Frances Imeon Myvette and Dean Barrow, Belize's first Black prime minister, who initially failed to acknowledge Shyne. Shyne's mother is the sister of Michael Myvette (now known as Michael Finnegan), a long-time political colleague of Dean Barrow. Shyne's Jewish maternal grandmother emigrated from Ethiopia to Belize.

Shyne's interest in politics may have been influenced by his father, but he has also cited his own experiences with poverty and gang violence during his youth in Brooklyn, New York City. Shyne's time in New York City was marked by his musical career, which was interrupted by a conviction for assault and a ten-year prison sentence. After his release from prison, Shyne was deported to Belize, where he reconnected with his father and began his political career.

Shyne's political aspirations are ambitious, and he hopes to become Belize's next prime minister in 2025. His critics, however, question his sincerity and motives, accusing him of using his diplomatic status to regain entry to the United States. Despite the scepticism, Shyne remains focused on serving his country and humanity, stating that his "dream has always been to change the lives of as many people as possible."

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