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Moses “Shyne” Barrow has gone from being a rapper to becoming a politician in his native Belize, where he is known as “The Honorable” as an elected representative.
He told CNN it’s not just part of his title.
“Everything I’ve been through has conditioned me and prepared me and shaped me into where I am right now. But where I am is where I wanted to be,” Barrow said.
“At 18, I decided to say that I would not be dishonest and that I would not get my friends into trouble to get out of trouble.”
Barrow, now 46, made the comment talking about how he handled the case that forever linked him to Sean “Diddy” Combs.
In 1999, the then-up-and-coming musician signed to Combs’ Bad Boy Records. Barrow was part of the producer’s entourage at a New York nightclub, along with Combs’ then-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, when the night ended in gunfire. Three people were wounded.
Barrow partly blames Combs for what befell him.
“You know, there are so many things I said so long ago about Diddy. No one would listen, no one would believe. And that makes the wounds that, by the grace of God, I’ve been able to heal and the accomplishments that I’ve been able to achieve that much more meaningful.”
“In underlining the message, it really magnifies the message. It really brings everything I’ve been saying into sharper focus,” he said.
The documentary follows Barrow’s journey from his childhood in Belize to a teenager trying to break into the rap game after moving to New York to live with his mother in search of a better life.
He perfected his craft and eventually caught the attention of Combs, who signed him in 1998.
“I was only in his orbit for about a year. I signed in ’98, I spent most of that time not communicating with him [Combs.] Being a young millionaire is not an easy transition, so I was spending money fast, as I guess the song says,” he said. “Early ’99. I really started communicating with him. I got involved in this mentoring and this apprenticeship and then at the end of the year the situation with Club New York happened and that was it.”
Barrow said it would be more than 20 years before he and Combs reconnected. The former rapper told CNN he was unaware of the events that led to the recent criminal charges and civil charges against Combs.
“I didn’t have a chance to be involved with him to see any of those things, and when I didn’t talk to him, I didn’t see any of it,” Barrow said. “However, what he did to me in terms of calling witnesses to testify against me, even though we begged him not to, anyone who would intentionally send someone to prison is a monster.”
Combs’ representatives told CNN in a statement: “Mr. Combs categorically denies Mr. Barrow’s allegations, including any suggestion that he orchestrated Mr. Barrow to ‘take the fall’ or ‘victimized’ him by directing witnesses to testify against him. These allegations are unequivocally false.”
“Mr. Combs has been cleared of all charges related to the 1999 New York club incident and has consistently maintained his innocence. He cannot accept or condone any characterization of his actions as ‘demonic’ or malicious,” the statement read. “Mr. Combs appreciates the path Mr. Barrow has taken and wishes him continued success. It is unfortunate that Mr. Barrow has chosen to reconsider these allegations. Mr. Combs believes that responsible journalism will weigh both established legal outcomes and Mr. Combs’ ‘positive, long-term support of those with whom he worked.”
Now serving as the opposition leader of the Belize House of Representatives, Barrow sees it as part of his life’s progress. His message today is one of hope, including his desire for the world to discover the beauty and vibrancy of Belize.
“I’ve healed and forgiven, I’ve gotten over it,” Barrow said of Combs.
As for his former mentor, “that will be for the judge and jury to decide.”
“The Honorable Shyne” is streaming on Hulu.
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