| Biography |
| In the war zone of the ghetto, the Bad Boy's latest discovery, Shyne, is the new voice of the disenfranchised margin. Bringing to light the harsh realities of the streets, this urban griot is representing for America's most forgotten. Coming with an unforgettable flow with knowledge and insights that belie his years, Shyne's is an undiluted and equally unapologetic look at the urban landscape. "His writing ability and dedication to this are remarkable. The things he's experienced, witnessed and learned are far beyond that of anyone his age," says Bad Boy A&R Bobby Springsteen about the 19-year-old, born Jamal Barrow, whose self-entitled album will be released in September 2000. "Shyne didn't need to be molded. From the beginning he had hot songs." Characteristically brief with his wordspreferring instead for his music to speak for himShyne simply offers that he was "brought into this world to enlighten and illuminate through my music." "My voice is my music," he goes on to explain. "My soul is in each song." Shyne's life and by extension his art, were shaped by his days spent living and learning the streets of his Flatbush, Brooklyn neighborhood. He may be the latest if the hip hop progeny to emerge from the streets of Brooklyn, but Shyne's story begins in the Central American country of Belize. Raised by his single mother, the two moved to New York in 1986. Growing up listening to wordsmiths from Bob Marley to EPMD, he was inspired by such lyrical wizards as Tupac, Nas and Jay-Z. A fateful encounter in a Brooklyn barbershop changed the course of life for the teen who began rhyming in '92. "The spirit just guided me there one day," he recounts of the afternoon where his freestyling caught the attention of two men connected to the music industry. Soon after, and newly signed to Bad Boy, Shyne blessed the airwaves with scorching appearances on Puffy's "Reverse," Mase's "Start from Scratch," the "PE 2000" remix and a freestyle on DJ Clue, Total's "Sitting Home" and 112's "Anywhere." "I'm a musician at the end of the day, not just some kid who wants to drive fast cars and make fast money," Shyne insists. "The dream I have is so important. My life is committed to this." The consummate artist, his perfectionism and drive have kept in the studio day and night, honing his craft. "His energy, dedication and ability to work is unbelievable, especially considering his age," says Springsteen. "He knows every aspect of thisfrom the recording process to marketing the video. With his energy, he's going to go really far." "The Hit" an aggregate of compelling, no holds barred rhymes set to intricately layered beats, Shyne is an album as lyrically and sonically diverse as it is honest and unflinching. Produced by various members of the Hitmen, these ghetto soliloquies are gritty street reverences about "money, cars girls and emotions." "The Black man has so much hopelessness. He can't see past the hour," Shyne explains. "When you see niggas die in front of you, there's no hope; No Affirmation." With a penetrating vocal style that combines his husky but rich voice with a charismatic persona. Shyne is speaking up for a generation ensuring that the lives and exploits of the streets are not forgotten or ignored. From the hypnotic appeal of "Bad Boyz," the album's lead single (backed by an infectious hook courtesy of reggae star Barrington Levy) to the furious "Life or Death" (featuring Carl Thomas) to the introspection of his open letter to the creator on "Thank God", Shyne's masterful hooks, gripping flow and visual, urgent narratives will soon take their deserved place among urban poetic masterpieces. Capturing the ills and tragic truths of the streets, let Shyne's wisdom and verbal dexterity light the way to hip-hop's tomorrow. |