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i like it better this way , done it my way ,

Shot up at 15. Dismissed as a Biggie sound-alike. Billed as the gun-toting thug in “The Puffy Trial.” Jamal “Shyne” Barrow deserved better. In an XXL exclusive convo, the Brooklyn MC declares his innocence and finally describes what happened that night in the club.
Carved into the facade of the New York State Supreme Courthouse in Lower Manhattan—literally written in stone—are the words, “The True Administration of Justice is the Firmest Pillar of Good Government.”
True administration of justice? In the criminal case of Jamal “Shyne” Barrow—what the mainstream media calls “The Puffy Trial”—the truth is still a mystery. Even as Shyne was found guilty of assault, reckless endangerment and weapons possession, questions remain as to who shot guns, who shot first and whose bullets injured the three people who got hurt.

Here are the facts:

On Dec. 27, 1999, there was a shooting at Club New York in Midtown Manhattan which injured three people. Testimony indicates that perhaps as many as three people shot guns. Yet only Shyne was charged with a shooting crime. Evidence found on the scene indicates that bullets were fired from a .40-caliber weapon. Shyne fired a 9-mm weapon. Who shot the .40-caliber gun? It isn’t clear. That means the truth may turn on the identity of a mystery gunman, a man described by two witnesses.

Should the mystery gunman have been charged with assault or attempted murder? Should Sean “Puffy” Combs have been? Can justice be done when only one of the people who shot is charged with shooting? And if that one person claims self-defense—as Shyne did—shouldn’t the alleged instigator of violence also be charged, or at least investigated?

With so many questions unanswered, it’s a wonder that anyone was charged at all.

Shyne spoke to XXL in the midst of the trial’s turmoil. It was a few days before closing arguments, and he had no idea how the jury would rule. He was firmly immersed in the details of the case, and fully determined to live by the code of the street—no testifying—even as he desired justice from the court. “I’m Gotti, nigga, for real,” he said. “I’m going out like a true warrior.”

But Jamal Barrow is not John Gotti. He’s no master criminal, making himself wealthy by extortion and intimidation. He’s a 21-year-old musician who escaped the horrors of street life, only to be pulled back into violence by the overlap between the streets and the rap world. Shyne chose to carry a gun, and while it may have saved his life, it’s also sealed his fate.

Awaiting that fate, Shyne was angry, fiercely intelligent, careful, emotional and articulate.

XXL: You appeared on Politically Incorrect recently. Bill Maher really came down hard on you and you held your own. Do you feel that his attitude represents the mainstream view of hip-hop?

His attitude represents the White, Anglo-Saxon ignorance and disease that exists in the world—people that claim America was discovered even though people was already living here. There’s a continuity in his behavior. It doesn’t disturb me because I know that ignorance exists. And I thank God that I have the power to enlighten the people rather than just let them be bombarded with his ignorance.

One thing a rap star needs to do to succeed financially is to maintain credibility. Rappers rap about being tough and it sounds great on wax. Then you get out to a club and there’s people there who try to test you. How do you deal with that?

I don’t understand why you are using the club situation, dawg. People try to test me anywhere. Here’s what I’m tryin’ to say, dawg: I’ma keep it real with you if you keep it real with me. Ask me the shit you want to ask me, and we get to the meat. I’m at a point in my life where I don’t play no games; it is what it is. So if you want to ask me what went down in the club, you do that. Other than that, a nigga get tested anywhere, man. A nigga get tested at the airport; a nigga get tested walking to the store.

Do you feel that when you were with Puffy, or now that you’re a well-known recording artist, people try to test you more often?

I don’t really put myself in the position, playboy. I keep it all the way real. I had two incidents being in this industry. One was when I got shot at in front of Daddy’s House [recording studio, in November 1999] and another one was in the club that night. Other than that I been cool. I keep it quiet, man. A lot of these rap niggas be living the life and they get caught up in the hype. I’m really not with that. I don’t have nothing to prove to nobody. I’m just a cool nigga, man.

It seems that more than one gun was fired in Club New York that night. Why do you think you’re the only one who’s been indicted for attempted murder and assault?

That’s just how they be livin’, playboy. Them kids don’t come to play. You get caught up in they backyard, they gonna jam you. The DA can charge you with anything. If he had an inkling he could have charged me with murder. Anybody can get indicted on anything, keep it all the way real. And the DA ain’t come in there with good will.

Two shots fired from the burner I had—I did have a gun. But that don’t mean I tried to kill nobody. Niggas was bustin’ at me. Niggas tried to kill me. I was just tryin’ to defend myself and I still ain’t even aim at nobody. I just shot up in the sky, like, “Yo man, let me get up out ’chea.”

You fired twice?

Yeah. Yeahhh! I mean, niggas is sayin’ they heard seven shots. That means, yo, it was two more guns fired, and I didn’t even fire first. All these people claiming that as soon as they heard the shots they got hit, so that means somebody else hit ’em, man. And the ballistics experts is talkin’ ’bout, “Yo, it could be a .40-caliber that hit these people.” You know, the fragments in honey’s [Natania Reuben’s] face could add up to a .40-caliber. And they sayin’ that she didn’t get hit with a direct shot, ’cause if she did she’d’ve died.

Whose ballistic expert was that?

The DA’s ballistics expert and my ballistics expert.

Witness David Cubilette said that a man standing next to Matthew “Scar” Allen—the man arguing with you and Puffy—fired his gun toward the ceiling. Did you see that?

Yeeeeah!

Do you know who that was…?

Shyne Inks a Deal with Def Jam Records, Will Head His Own Label
Friday - April 16, 2004

Shyne, who is currently incarcerated, has inked a deal with Def Jam according to a report from Allhiphop.com.

Shyne has been in prison since 2001, when he was sentenced to a 10-year bid after being convicted in a highly-publicized nightclub shooting involving P. Diddy.

Since his imprisonment, rumors of Shyne being signed with various labels have circulating putting him with Murder Inc., and others labels. All have been false until now.

According to Allhiphop's report, Shyne inked a deal estimated at $3 million to head his own imprint called Gangland Records.

Def Jam president, Kevin Liles, is the man behind the signing. Liles has been courting Shyne for some time, visiting him several times during his incarceration.

A Shyne record may be in the near future, but the material will be mainly material recorded before being sentenced and maybe released late this year.

— Jay Casteel

Biggie Smalls

Christopher Wallace, 24, otherwise known as Notorious B.I.G., 'Biggie Smalls' or 'Biggie', a New York City drug dealer turned rapper, was killed in a drive-by shooting on March 9, 1997, after leaving a party that was celebrating the 11th Annual Soul Train Music Awards. Some suspected Death Row records founder, Marion 'Suge' Knight, and a former police officer, David Mack were behind the killing. No one has been arrested in the case.

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Tupac

Rapper Tupac Shakur, 28, was shot after leaving the Mike Tyson-Bruce Seldon boxing match on September 7, 1996, in Las Vegas. He and Death Row Records head Marion 'Suge' Knight were on their way to a nightclub. Shakur died on September 13 from the gunshot wounds he received that night. No suspects have been arrested.

Marion 'Suge' Knight, the founder of Death Row Records, was investigated for the March 1997 drive-by-shooting of Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace. Detectives were looking into the theory that Wallace hired a former police officer, David Mack, to carry out the shooting. Knight was released from prison in August after serving five years for violating probation by getting into a fight in a Las Vegas hotel.

Ol' Dirty Bastard

Russell Jones, aka Ol' Dirty Bastard and a member of the hip-hop group The Wu-Tang Clan, is currently serving a two-to-four-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to drug possession. Among a string of many charges, Jones was arrested in 1999 when police stopped the rapper for a traffic violation and found several drugs on him, including crack cocaine and marijuana.

Jailed rapper Shyne is legally changing his name to Moses Michael Leviy - and he's taking out a classified ad in The Post to make it official. Shyne, who hopes to get out of Clinton Correctional Facility upstate next year, was born Jamaal Michael Barrow in 1978. The Belize-born rhymer converted to Judaism while locked up and now claims to be descended from Ethiopian Jews. Shyne was sentenced to 10 years for his role in a 1999 shooting at Times Square nightspot Club NY that left three people wounded.

Source Chronic

Suge Knight should know how it feels to be in a courtroom. To have charge after charge, after charge. They should have a courtroom named after him by now. How about the Knights of all Trade courtroom. I also like, Death Row Courtroom, LOL! Any Ways.
Suge has tried to escape the inevitable once again. He's trying to file bankruptcy. Of course we all know that he's trying to protect his assets, but to pull it after the new tax law. He should have filed before the October 15th deadline, LOL; maybe he would have got away with it.

All this comes from a judgement against him. Lydia Harris, a former Knight associate claimed she helped start the rap record empire with her former husband, Michael Harris, (I wonder what roll she played in it).

She was awarded $107 million dollars. Suge doesn't have $107 million dollars; he probably doesn't have $107. After the death of 2pac, nothing has been the same for him or Death Row.

But we all know that there is humor to every story. Check this out! Michael Harris, the one that allegedly helps start the business, is in jail. Not just in jail, but serving a 28-year sentence at San Quentin Prison. Wait there is more. He is a well-known drug dealer. Not only that, he's claiming half of the $107 million as community property in his divorce from Lydia Harris. He also claims he put up $1.5 million from behind bars to help start the record label.

All this should sound to familiar to Mr. Suge. Mr. Knight, just remember all the dirt you did behind bars, and while 2Pac was alive. Remember all the people you double crossed. The cycle is a vicious one isn't it.