Shyne, the rapper once mentored by Sean “Diddy” Combs, claims he “was absolutely set up to be the fall guy” for a 1999 New York nightclub shooting in which both he and Combs were implicated. Shyne, born Moses Barrow, was the only one to serve prison time for the incident, a point he revisits in an upcoming Hulu documentary that explores his life, career, and his later pivot to politics.
In the documentary’s trailer, Barrow recalls that signing with Bad Boy Records made him an instant millionaire. However, the success he garnered with his debut album was overshadowed by his conviction in a high-profile trial where Combs was acquitted. The case centered on a shooting at a Manhattan club, leaving three people injured while Combs, his then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, and Barrow were in attendance. After the incident, Lopez, who fled the scene with Combs and his bodyguard, had all charges against her dropped. Combs was acquitted of charges alleging he had carried a gun into the club and attempted to bribe his driver to take the blame.
In the film trailer, Combs says, “I had nothing to do with a shooting in this club.” Barrow, however, was convicted of assault among other charges and sentenced to 10 years in prison, later facing deportation to his native Belize. “I was absolutely set up to be the fall guy,” Barrow reiterates in the documentary.
Now 45, Barrow has transitioned into politics and currently leads the opposition party in Belize’s House of Representatives. Reflecting on his journey, he says, “There’s a time to pivot. There’s a time to transition. And that’s how I got into politics.”
Combs and Barrow last shared a stage in November 2023, during a charity concert in London, just days before singer Cassie Ventura sued Combs, her ex-boyfriend, alleging rape and severe abuse during their decade-long relationship. Combs quickly settled the lawsuit out of court, but similar allegations soon surfaced from others.
In early 2024, federal authorities raided Combs’s Los Angeles and Miami properties in connection with a sex-trafficking investigation. By May, CNN had released hotel surveillance footage showing Combs assaulting Ventura in 2016, challenging his repeated denials. Then, in September, Combs was arrested on charges including sex trafficking and racketeering, accused of forcing victims into group sexual acts while recording the incidents. Court documents described “freak offs” in which participants, including victims, were coerced into drug use, leaving many so exhausted that they required IV fluids afterward. Combs, 54, has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently held in federal custody without bail.
Jennifer Lopez has remained silent on the allegations against Combs, but Barrow recently shared his perspective following the news of Combs’s arrest. While carrying out his governmental duties in Belize, Barrow reflected on how the aftermath of the nightclub shooting played out for him and Combs. “Let us not forget the cold facts,” Barrow remarked. “This is someone who destroyed my life.”
These comments, previewed in the trailer for The Honorable Shyne, which premieres on November 18, offer a timely perspective as public scrutiny mounts on Combs following his recent legal troubles and arrest.