Posts Tagged ‘shyne released’

Shyne Speaks For First Time Since Release

On Monday, just days after Shyne was deported to Belize ater a nine year prison sentence [click to read], the rapper is finally speaking up. However, his first words have not been given directly to the media, but to the students of the high school he once attended, Wesley College. Shyne, who has recently changed his name from Jamal Barrow to Moses Michael Levly, explained that he has not converted to Judaism as commonly reported, but that he now looks to Biblical figures for inspiration.

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“In life, you are what you are and this is what I am,” he said. “I don’t want to be like Michael Jordan. I want to be like Moses or King David or King Solomon. Those are the guys I aspire to be like. I didn’t want to be like the kingpin on my block; I wanted to be like the guy who parted the sea, that’s why I chose that name.”

He also spoke about the importance of education, encouraging Wesley’s students to avoid the lure of street life. He used himself as an example of what could happen if children took that path.

“I came up on the streets with guys that gangbanged and were into criminal activity, and those tools never worked,” he said. “Those tools, you either end up spending the rest of your life in prison or sleeping in a grave. But with the tools that you are getting here as far as education is concerned, that is the ultimate tool and with that tool you can transcend any situation because I am just like you. I grew up on Curassow Street. When I was coming up we didn’t even have toilets. But one of the things my Uncle Finnegan and my father, Prime Minister Barrow, implored upon me was education, education, education, education.

“What I do have to say is not, ‘Listen man, I am on a gangster roll,’” he continued. “No, listen: Look what gangster roll got me. Look where it led me. And I am not telling you what to do because I am not a preacher and I am not everybody’s father, but I am exhibit A of what’s going to happen if you don’t stay in Wesley College. If you don’t go to that sixth form, if you don’t try to go to the university you’re going to spend the rest of your life in the cooker or you’re going to be in the grave. That is what this is about.”

He shared with reporters that he will be getting back to music, and that he wants to make music that will make a difference while staying true to what’s really going on in his community.

“I make music about life,” he said. “One of the greatest musicians was Bob Marley. There was nothing misogynistic about him. But his music, he talked about some harsh realities some time. He was tough. I would like to make that type of contribution, that kind of Marvin Gaye contribution, you dig? But at the same time we curse, at the same time life is violent, life is troublesome sometimes – so don’t expect my music to be sanitized. I am just going to talk about what’s going on in the world.”

Shyne and his legal team will continue to fight the deportation case, while working on his music.

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Lastest on Shyne’s Release & Impending Deportation

Rap star Shyne, convicted of a club shooting while mentor P. Diddy beat the rap, was released from prison Tuesday and taken into custody by immigration officials.

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The 30-year-old ex-protégé has a green card but is facing deportation to his native Belize because of his felony rap sheet, his lawyer said.

Shyne was on the verge of superstardom when he was arrested in 1999 for a shooting at Club New York.

Diddy, partying with then-gal pal Jennifer Lopez, was also charged but acquitted at trial. His young star got 10 years on assault and weapons charges.

Diddy’s publicist had no comment on Shyne’s legal woes Tuesday, but the mogul recently told Hot 97 that he spoke with Shyne in prison.

“He sounded like he was in good spirits,” Diddy said.

“I know he can’t wait to get home. I know he is definitely going to heat the whole scene up. He was definitely one of the talented young artists that I had the pleasure to work with.”

Shyne was dropped from Diddy’s Bad Boy Records in 2003. A year later, the inmate blasted his former patron, claiming he betrayed him.

In an interview with Vibe, Shyne said Diddy convinced a friend to lie on the stand and say he pulled out his gun and opened fire in the Times Square club without provocation.

“As my homeboy, how you gonna put somebody on the stand whose lie could put me behind bars for 25 years?” said Shyne, who claimed he shot in self-defense.

Although he still had years left on his sentence, Def Jam signed him to a $3 million contract in 2004. It released an album, “Godfather…Buried Alive,” containing material recorded before the arrest, but it tanked.

Recently, Jay-Z denied a report that he had visited Shyne at the Woodbourne Correctional Facility to sign him to a record deal.

The performer’s lawyer, Oscar Michelen, said his client “is anxious to get released.”

“He is looking forward to seeing his family and being able to be free to do what he wants to do,” he said.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Mike Gilhooly would only say that Shyne was in custody for being in violation of U.S. immigration law.”

Shyne’s real name was Jamal Barrow until he changed it to Moses Leviy in recognition of his Jewish mother. His father is now the prime minister of Belize.

Says Angie Martinez of Hot 97 via Twitter:

he’s made mistakes… he has overly paid for them!!! he can and WANTS 2 make a difference!! let shyne the fuck out man!!! this is abusive!!!

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