Brooklyn-based director Marcus A. Clarke follows up his 2021 documentary "Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali" with another solid effort in "The Honorable Shyne." Clarke presents the compelling narrative of Moses "Shyne" Barrow, a Grammy Award-winning musician who successfully transitioned into politics.
In the late 1990s, Shyne emerged as a prominent figure in the rap industry; however, his promising career was abruptly interrupted when he faced charges related to a high-profile shooting at a New York nightclub alongside rap entrepreneur Sean "Puffy" Combs. In 2001, Shyne was convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison, while Combs was acquitted of all charges.
Upon his release, Shyne returned to his native Belize, where he redirected his career from music to political engagement, ultimately assuming the role of Leader of the Opposition Party. His journey exemplifies themes of redemption, resilience, and personal transformation. This documentary offers an in-depth exploration of Shyne's evolution as he navigates the complexities of fame, incarceration, and his reintegration into Belizean society, where he seeks to foster positive change and guide his country toward a more promising future.
As a hip-hop enthusiast who was a teenager in the nineties, I remember the buzz surrounding Shyne and the vocal comparisons to the late, great Notorious B.I.G., also known as Frank White. My introduction to Shyne came through the remixes of 112's "Anywhere" and Total's "Sitting Home," which featured him alongside his labelmates. I was impressed with his flow and look forward to his album. That said, I was a bit taken aback by the December 27, 1999 incident that changed his career trajectory.
The documentary opens with Shyne saying, "Dear America," dressed in a black suit overlooking a city and a montage of his troubles. After the opening credits, we see a flashback to 2021, when Shyne speaks with Diddy about the success of his debut single, "Bad Boyz."
We then return to Shyne's childhood and learn what made him want to pursue a music career. While the documentary follows the typical bullet points about his early life, I enjoyed the jewels about his early career before getting signed. I had no idea that he dated Brandy, which caused a riff with his label mate Mase, or that the bidding war was so massive for Shyne, considering he didn't even have a demo.
Viewers learn about the fateful incident around forty minutes or so into the documentary, and the way Shnye explains it, I can understand his reaction. The documentary does mention Shyne's former mentor's legal troubles, and we get a shocking reveal concerning Shyne's case. That said, viewers will be sorely disappointed if they expect any gossip about Diddy and his baby oil behavior with other celebrities. The documentary's second half focuses on Shyne's current activities and popost-prisonife.
While I wish there had been more discussion of the music side of things, I respected the creatives' angle, as it shows that Shyne is at peace with the cards he was dealt. Honest and encouraging, "The Honorable Shyne" is worth looking for hip-hop heads.
Final Grade: B+
"The Honorable Shyne" is streaming Exclusively on Hulu now