Moses Michael Leviy (born Jamal Barrow on November 8, 1978), better known as Shyne, is a rapper.
Since his imprisonment, Shyne has gone on to release his second album, Godfather Buried Alive (released August 2004). The album has been criticized as being incomplete and underpromoted by his label. However, "For The Record", a diss track directed at 50 Cent as being an informer, was the only track recorded over the phone for the release. He did enjoy one modest hit from the album: “Jimmy Choo,” a song that featured the vocal stylings of R&B singer Ashanti. He is now signed to his own Gangland imprint through Def Jam Recordings.
The year 2005 continued Shyne's fall out of the limelight and into bad luck. In March, Justice Michael Garrison ordered that any revenue generated under Shyne's contract with Def Jam parent IDJMG would be held in a bond until verdicts have been reached in the civil suits filed against him by the shooting victims. Garson cited the state's revised Son of Sam Law, barring inmates from profiting from their crimes. Also up for a possible review in 2005, Shyne's motion was rejected by a panel from a New York State Appeals Court However, part of his assets were unfrozen as a result of a new trial.
On March 4 2006, Shyne changed his name to Moses Michael Leviy.[4] Shyne still records for Def Jam. Godfather Buried Alive failed to reached the heights of Shyne's debut album, selling 650,000 units and achieving gold status.[citation needed] Shyne is now searching for another record label to release his music, and rumors say that he will be signed to The Game's The Black Wall Street Records label or Irv Gotti's The Inc. Records.[citation needed] He is currently a free agent though searching for a new distributor for his own Gangland Records which was distrubted by Def Jam in his deal he recently got out of with Def Jam.
On Funk Master Flex's Hot 97 show in 2004, 50 Cent and G-Unit were on air for a freestyle when 50 said "I heard Irv tried to sign Shyne so I ain't got no love for him, tell him 50 said he's soft and won't shoot up the club again". This being after G-unit President Sha Money XL and 50 cent tried to sign Shyne to the G-Unit imprint after he declined. The voicemail of Sha Money XL reaching out to Shyne to sign him can be heard on The DJ Rukiz & Shyne mixtape "If I Could Start From Scratch" and the diss track "For the Record".
According to New York's Post Page Six on February 26, 2008, Shyne is expected to be released this year for good behavior.[5] Shyne converted to Judaism in prison.
