LIFE AFTER PRISON

“Nobody's perfect and a lot of us grow up in imperfect situations, as myself, and our lives continue to be imperfect, but there are no excuses.”

Life after prison has been quite the road for rapper Shyne.  Shortly after being released from prison having served almost a decade, he was quickly swept up by immigration and was informed of the fact that there was a possibility that he would be deported back to Belize.

Deemed his homeland, many know that the rapper grew up and was raised in New York, but due to his criminal activity, his free passport for America was clearly revoked and was sent back to his origins.

While many have weighed in and given their opinion on Shyne's predicament, there has yet to be word from the man himself.

In his first press conference, however, Po was able to finally speak his mind on everything going on.

“I make no excuses.  I hold myself accountable for the mistakes that I've made in my life, but that's not the end of me.  Me or anyone.  You make mistakes and the point is to transform those mistakes and that's what I've been trying to do.”

Standing as a man to own up to his actions, the rapper has gone through some changes in his life.  Born Jamal Barrow, he legally changed his name in 2006 to Moses Michael Leviy as he fully embraced his mother's heritage and made a transition to Judaism.

“There was no conversion to Judaism, this was a hereditary thing.  It's in my ancestral background.  As you know, many Africans throughout Central, East Africa come to Belize.  This is not a conversion, but none the less, in life, you are what you are and this is what I am.  I don't want to be like Michael Jordan, I want to be live Moses or King David.  Those are guys that I inspire to be like.  I didn't want to be the kingpin of my block, I wanted to be like the guy that parted the seas.”

While home, Leviy has made the decision to continue to fight for his residency in the United States.  He is also giving back as he has had discussion with Belizean students.  Speaking as the man and not the rapper, he schooled students on how glorified negative activities can result in a grave or life in prison.  Endorsing education as the ultimate tool, the sky is the limit when it is utilized effectively.

Reflecting on his musical career, he added that he raps about life and how he was influenced by Bob Marley as his music wasn't misogynistic, but he was still able to paint a picture of the harsh realities while coming up.

“Life is troublesome sometimes.  Don't expect my music to be sanitized.”             

 Read more