Moses Michael Levi Barrow, more widely recognized by his stage name Shyne, has opened up about the pivotal 1999 New York nightclub shooting in a trailer for his forthcoming Hulu documentary, The Honorable Shyne. The artist-turned-politician, who was part of Diddy’s Bad Boy Records at that time, received a decade-long prison sentence due to the incident, which resulted in injuries to three individuals.
At just 21 years old when the shooting occurred, Shyne contends that he was unfairly positioned as the “fall guy”to shield Diddy from repercussions after the incident. Both Shyne and Diddy were taken into custody stemming from the shooting; however, while Diddy was found not guilty, Barrow was convicted on multiple charges, including first-degree assault, in 2001.
“I was undoubtedly set up to take the blame. I served ten years in prison, but I’ve moved on. There comes a time to change directions and make transitions,”he stated in the documentary trailer.
After serving his time, Barrow made the decision to leave the music industry and embark on a political career. Since 2022, he has held the position of Leader of the Opposition in Belize. The Honorable Shyne will delve into his legal battles, time behind bars, gradual release, and subsequent political journey.
Examining the 1999 shooting incident that resulted in Shyne’s imprisonment
During a visit to Club New York in 1999, Sean “Diddy”Combs, along with his then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, bodyguard Anthony Jones, and artist Shyne, found themselves embroiled in an altercation with other patrons. This disturbance escalated to gunfire, leaving three people wounded.
Following the altercation, Diddy and his group reportedly fled in a vehicle, only to be apprehended by police who discovered a stolen firearm inside. While Lopez was allowed to go, the trio faced charges concerning weapon possession.
During a 2001 trial, Diddy and one of his associates were acquitted, whereas Barrow was found guilty on five counts, resulting in his incarceration, although the attempted murder charge against him was dropped. After nearly nine years in prison, he was deported back to Belize upon his release.
In a 2009 conversation with Rolling Stone, Barrow asserted that Diddy never contacted him during his time behind bars, contradicting Diddy’s claims of support.
“It should be clear that this so-called discussion is a fabrication of Sean Combs’ mind. He never reached out, nor did I ever agree to receive calls or visits from him. The only way I would entertain that is if he took accountability for the victims involved,” Barrow remarked.
Despite Diddy’s acquittal, one of the victims, Natania Reuben, alleged that he shot her in the face. Additionally, after Diddy’s arrest, Barrow hinted at Diddy’s involvement in his conviction.
The former Bad Boy Records artist accused Diddy of orchestrating a scheme that effectively ruined his life by encouraging individuals to testify against him to protect himself.
“He essentially testified against me during a trial where I was just an 18-year-old trying to make my mother and Belize proud. I was defending him, but he reversed course and had witnesses testify against me, which led to my sentencing,”Barrow recounted.
Despite their tumultuous past, Shyne stated that he has forgiven Combs, and regarding the rumors of Diddy’s so-called “freak off”parties, Barrow clarified that their relationship was strictly professional.
The Honorable Shyne is set to debut on Hulu on November 18.
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