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 following his eight-year prison sentence.

“I learned that the universe does not pick on people, and perseverance is the pathway to power,” he told PEOPLE in November 2024 at the premiere of his Hulu documentary, The Honorable Shyne.

A former protégé of Sean “Diddy” Combs, Barrow was with the rapper when a shooting broke out in a New York City nightclub on Dec. 27, 1999. While Combs was cleared of all charges in connection to the incident, Barrow served prison time over it.

He spoke out against his former mentor in a September 2024 press conference in his home country of Belize after Combs was arrested for sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.

“When I was an 18-year-old kid, just wanting to do nothing other than make my mother proud and make Belize proud and be recognized for my talent and take over the world, I was defending him and he turned around and called witnesses to testify against me,” Barrow said of Combs, adding, “He pretty much sent me to prison.” Reps 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 that I said so long ago about Diddy. Nobody would listen, nobody would believe,” he said. “And it makes the wounds that I’ve, by the grace of God, been able to heal and the accomplishments that I’ve been able to achieve even much more significant.”

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

Here is everything to know about Moses Michael Levi “Shyne” Barrow and how his life changed after the Diddy-involved shooting that left him incarcerated.

What was Shyne known for before his arrest?

Born Jamal Michael Barrow to Frances Imeon Myvette and Dean Barrow, Belize’s first Black prime minister, 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, which he secured in 1997 and 2010, respectively.

Barrow, whose life story is chronicled in Hulu’s The Honorable Shyne, first rose to fame in 1997 as a protégé of Combs after signing with Bad Boy Records “for at least $1 million,” per Newsweek. His singles “Bad Boyz,” “That’s Gangsta” and “Bonnie & Shyne” all charted on Billboard upon their release in 2000.

As he was still coming up and gaining popularity, Barrow was with Combs and his then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez during a 1999 nightclub shooting in N.Y.C. that resulted in his incarceration.

What was Shyne convicted of?

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

Per The New York Times, prosecutors claimed the shooting occurred after Combs and Barrow became involved in an argument with club-goers and pulled out weapons, one of which Barrow allegedly fired. The outlet reported that shell casings from a 9-millimeter gun that was believed to be Barrow’s and a .40-caliber gun were later found at the scene.

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

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

Barrow states in The Honorable Shyne that he was “set up to be the fall guy.” He elaborated on this point at a 2024 press conference, stating, “My political enemies and detractors tried to make me into this criminal, but everyone knew that I was a young kid that took the fall. That was the story.”

Representatives for Combs denied the allegations to CNN in a statement, calling “any suggestion that he orchestrated Mr. Barrow to ‘take the fall’ or ‘sacrificed’ him by directing witnesses to testify against him … unequivocally false.” Shooting victim Reuben has alleged over the years that it was Combs who fired the weapon at her.

But, Barrow told Tamron Hall in November 2024 that he has never accused Combs of shooting the gun because he never saw him pull the trigger. “​I didn’t see him fire 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?

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 Times, all four fled the scene following 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, per the outlet.

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

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

Combs gave a statement following Barrow’s sentencing, saying, “Shyne’s sentence is unfair and extreme as I know he had no intention of hurting anyone. My prayers are with him and his family. I’m shocked by today’s outcome. I will continue to support Shyne throughout his appeal.”

How long was Shyne in prison?

Barrow, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his involvement in the nightclub shooting, served eight years behind bars but he didn’t spend his time idly.

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

He added: “I was present and I used everything I was going through as an investment in everything that I have now.” Barrow continued to make music while incarcerated, releasing Godfather Buried Alive in 2004 under Def Jam Records, which included his charting hit “Jimmy Choo” featuring Ashanti.

Barrow was released on Oct. 6, 2009.

Where is Shyne now?

Following his release from prison, Barrow, who was born in Belize, was deported to his home country, per Rolling Stone. Though he fought to return to the United States, the outlet later reported that he was denied entry to the country.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Barrow spent time in Jerusalem — where he studied Judaism, after converting to the religion while in prison — and Paris before returning to Belize, where he was appointed as the country’s Music and Goodwill Ambassador in 2010.

“I found myself in this routine of praying mikvah, going to restaurants, going to clubs, going to lounges, entertainment people, fashion people and just repeating the cycle,” he told the outlet. “But I [needed] meaning.”

Barrow found his calling in 2013 after opening a resource center for the people of Belize and being elected the vice chairman of his local constituency. In 2017, Barrow also started a family. He married a woman named Catherine, per Rolling Stone, and in 2018, the couple welcomed a daughter.

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

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

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