Moses “Shine” Barrow reflected on how Sean “Diddy” Combs changed the trajectory of his life forever after the 1999 New York nightclub shooting.
Shine, a former Bad Boy rapper and current Belizean politician, spoke about his history with the music mogul, which came to a downfall after Diddy was arrested and subsequently criminally charged with racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking as the leader of a criminal enterprise.
“When I was 18 years old, I wanted nothing more than to make my mother and Belize proud, to be recognized for my talents, and to conquer the world,” Barrow said at a press conference on Wednesday.
“I was defending him and then he turned around and called witnesses to testify against me. He basically sent me to prison.”
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Former rapper Shyne says Sean “Diddy” Combs “destroyed” his life after the 1999 nightclub shooting. (Getty Images)
“I've forgiven. I've moved on. But let's not act like we were in Miami for Thanksgiving or Christmas.”
Shine, who currently serves as opposition leader in the Belize House of Representatives, was a rising star in hip-hop when he signed to Bad Boy Records in 1998. A year later, Shine joined Diddy and his then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez at the now-shuttered Club New York in Times Square when gunfight broke out.
Shine and Diddy performed together at a concert in London in 2023. (Getty Images)
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Three people were injured during the melee, including a woman who was shot in the face. Lopez, Combs, and bodyguard Anthony Wolfe-Jones fled in a Lincoln before being stopped by the NYPD for running a red light.
“I've forgiven. I've moved on. But let's not act like we were in Miami for Thanksgiving or Christmas.”
A gun was found in the car and Lopez and Diddy were arrested. Lopez was fired, However, Diddy, Jones, and Shine were each indicted on multiple charges. Diddy and Jones were both acquitted, but Shine was found guilty of five of the eight charges and sentenced to ten years in prison. After his release, Shine was deported to Belize.
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Since the incident, Shine has chosen to forgive the “Victory” rapper, and in 2023, he appeared on stage in London for a surprise performance with the Bad Boy Records founder.
“Let’s not lose sight of the cold hard facts,” Shine argued. “This is not someone I spent holidays with, or someone with whom I enjoyed a wonderful, close, brotherly bond.
Combs was arrested in December 1999 for the nightclub shooting and later acquitted. (Getty Images)
“This is an individual who destroyed my life and I have forgiven him and moved on. He was in a position at the time to give scholarships and perhaps invest and he did so in the interest of Belize. I do not deny that he tried to bring investment to Belize and he tried to contribute to education in Belize.”
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“Do I take any joy in what he's going through? Not at all. I'm not like other people. I don't need someone to fail for me to succeed.”
Didi, 54, was indicted on Tuesday on charges of organized criminal conspiracy, forced sexual intercourse, fraud or extortion and transportation for the purpose of prostitution. If convicted, he faces a minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.
Sean “Diddy” Combs was indicted on racketeering and sex trafficking charges in New York on Tuesday. (Shayan Asgarnia)
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Combs appeared in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty. Not only was his $50 million bail offer rejected, but he was sent to jail immediately after the hearing.
