Where Is Shyne Now? How the Bad Boy Rapper Went from Prison to Politics — and Why the Ex-Diddy Protégé Claims His Former Mentor 'Destroyed' His Life

From convicted felon to political leader, Moses Michael Levi “Shyne” Barrow is a changed man after his eight-year prison sentence.

“I’ve learned that the universe doesn’t touch people and that persistence is the path to power,” he told PEOPLE in November 2024 at the premiere of his Hulu documentary, Dear Shyne.

Former protégé of Sean “Diddy” Combs, Barrow was with the rapper when a shooting broke out in a nightclub in New York on December 27, 1999. While Combs was acquitted of all charges related to the incident, Barrow served prison time as a result.

He spoke out against his former mentor at a press conference in September 2024 in his native Belize after Combs was arrested for sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation for prostitution.

“When I was 18 years old, I just wanted to do nothing but make my mother proud and make Belize proud and be recognized for my talent and take over the world, I defended him and he turned around and called witnesses to testify against me,” he said Barrow said of Combs, adding, “He sent me to jail a little bit.” Representatives for Diddy denied Barrow’s allegations to CNN.

Barrow, who is now a politician in Belize, also told CNN that he sees his experience with Combs in a new light since the rapper was arrested. “You know, there’s so many things I said a long time ago about Diddy. No one would listen, no one would believe,” he said. “And that makes the wounds that, by God’s grace, I’ve been able to heal, and the accomplishments that I’ve been able to achieve all the more significant.”

At a September press conference, Barrow elaborated on his former friendship with Combs. “This is not someone I’ve been on vacation with and someone I’ve enjoyed this great, intimate brotherhood relationship with,” he said. “This is someone who ruined my life, whom I forgave and moved on, and for the betterment of Belize because at that time he was in a position to give scholarships and maybe invest.”

Here’s everything there is to know about Moses Michael Levi “Shyne” Barrow and how his life changed after the shooting involving Diddy that landed him in jail.

What was Shyne known for before his arrest?

Jamal (Shyne) Barrow, a rap protégé of Sean (Puffy) Combs, leaves Manhattan Supreme Court after a judge ordered him to return in September to set a trial date for his trial on gun charges related to the New York club shooting on W. 43rd St. last December.

Andrew Savulich/NY Daily News Archive via Getty

Born Jamal Michael Barrow to Frances Imeon Myvette and Dean Barrow, the first black Prime Minister of Belize, the former rapper is now the opposition leader in the Belize House of Representatives.

In the United States, Shyne is known for his historic record deals with Bad Boy and Def Jam Records, signed in 1997 and 2010, respectively.

Barrow, whose life story is chronicled in Hulu Dear Shynefirst rose to fame in 1997 as a Combs protégé after signing to Bad Boy Records “for at least a million dollars,” per Newsweek. His singles “Bad Boyz,” “That’s Gangsta” and “Bonnie & Shyne” all charted on the Billboard charts upon their 2000 releases.

While he was just emerging and gaining popularity, Barrow was with Combs and his then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez during the 1999 NYC nightclub shooting that resulted in his incarceration.

What was Shyne convicted of?

Jamal Barrow aka Shyne mugshot in April 2002.

Bureau of Prisons/Getty

Shyne was accused of firing a gun at a New York club in December 1997, a shooting that injured three people: hairdresser Natania Reuben was shot in the face, Julius Jones was shot in the shoulder, and Robert Thompson also suffered injuries but refused to medical help.

Per The New York Timesprosecutors claimed the shooting occurred after Combs and Barrow became involved in an altercation with club patrons and pulled out guns, one of which Barrow allegedly fired. The media reported shell casings from a 9mm handgun believed to be Barrow’s and a .40 caliber handgun were later found at the scene.

Barrow is charged with three counts of attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, first-degree assault and reckless endangerment. During the trial in March 2001, his lawyer said that Barrow fired the gun, but in self-defense, writes ABC.

The young rapper was convicted of five counts, including assault in the first degree, reckless endangerment and possession of a weapon, although he was acquitted of attempted murder, according to The Washington Post. In June 2001, Barrow was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but the musician never stopped maintaining his innocence.

Barrow states in Dear Shyne that he was “set up to be the fall guy.” He elaborated on this point at a press conference in 2024, saying, “My political enemies and detractors tried to make this criminal out of me, but everyone knew I was a kid who fell. That was the story.”

Combs’ representatives denied the allegations to CNN in a statement, calling “any suggestion that he orchestrated Mr. Barrow to ‘take the fall’ or ‘scapegoats’ him by directing witnesses to testify against him … unequivocally false.” Shooting victim Reuben has claimed over the years that Combs was the one who shot her.

But Barrow told Tamron Hall in November 2024 that he never accused Combs of firing the gun because he never saw him pull the trigger. “I didn’t see him shoot the gun and I’m not going to lie,” he explained. “I don’t believe in getting my friends in trouble.”

Who else was involved in Shyne’s alleged crime?

Shyne and Sean Combs at the Kenzo Ready-to-Wear Fall/Winter 2012 show during Paris Fashion Week on March 4, 2012 in Paris, France.

Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage

Barrow was with his boss Combs, Lopez, Combs’ bodyguard Anthony “Wolf” Jones and his driver Wardell Fenderson at the time of the shooting.

According to The New York Timesall four fled the scene after the shooting and were arrested when a stolen gun was found in their vehicle. Police said the weapon was not connected to the incident.

Lopez was released from custody after cooperating with authorities, while Combs, Jones and Fenderson were charged with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of stolen property, according to the office.

According to the BBC, charges were later dropped against Fenderson, who accused Combs and Jones of trying to bribe him to take the blame for the shooting.

The New York Times reported that Combs and Jones were both acquitted of bribery and gun possession charges on March 16, 2001.

Combs issued a statement after Barrow’s sentencing, saying: “Shyne’s sentence is unjust and extreme because I know he had no intention of harming anyone. My prayers are with him and his family. I am shocked by today’s outcome. I will continue to support Shyne throughout his appeal.”

How long was Shyne in prison?

Shyne Barrow attends the World Premiere of “The Honorable Shyne” on November 13, 2024 in New York City.

Jason Mendez/Getty

Barrow, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement in the nightclub shooting, served eight years behind bars, but he did not spend his time idle.

“I realized that 10 years is an investment in the next 20, 30 years,” he told PEOPLE in November 2024. “I wasn’t standing still, hoping time would just pass and then I’d wake up and everything would be better.”

He added: “I was present and used everything I was going through as an investment in everything I have now.” Barrow continued to make music while in prison, liberating Godfather buried alive 2004 under Def Jam Records, which included his chart-topping hit “Jimmy Choo” with Ashanti.

Barrow was released on October 6, 2009.

Where is Shyne now?

Shyne visits SiriusXM Studios on November 14, 2024 in New York City.

Roy Rochlin/Getty

After his release from prison, Barrow, who was born in Belize, was deported to his home country Rolling Stone. Although he fought to return to the United States, the newspaper later reported that he was denied entry into the country.

According to The Hollywood ReporterBarrow spent time in Jerusalem — where he studied Judaism, after converting while in prison — and Paris before returning to Belize, where he was named the country’s music and goodwill ambassador in 2010.

“I found myself in this routine of prayer mikvah, going to restaurants, going to clubs, going to salons, people from the party, people in fashion and just repeating the cycle,” he told the newspaper. “But me [needed] meaning.”

Barrow found his calling in 2013 after he opened a resource center for the people of Belize and was elected vice president of his local constituency. Barrow also started a family in 2017. He married a woman named Catherine, per Rolling Stoneand in 2018, the couple had a daughter.

The Hollywood Reporter reported that Barrow won a seat in the House of Representatives for Mesopotamia in 2020, after which he was appointed Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives of Belize.

In August 2021, Black Star of Atlanta reported that Barrow was allowed to return to the United States to “strengthen relations and establish new relations” between Belize and America. Three years later, the politician’s story made headlines again with the release of his documentary Dear Shyne.

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Source: HIS Education