Former Bad Boy rapper Shyne has made his way back into the news, offering his view on this year’s election, despite having been deported from the country three years ago. He expressed support of GOP candidate Mitt Romney during an interview with MTV but offered even harsher criticism for President Obama, believing that the president could have helped with his struggle to remain in the United States.
Shyne was convicted of attempted murder, assault and reckless endangerment as a part of the now infamous Club New York shooting involving P.Diddy and other members of the Bad Boy entourage in 1999. The Belize-born rapper was deported in October 2009 after serving eight years in prison. In exile, Shyne converted to Judaism while in Israel.
“He knows who I am, he knows what’s happening’,” the rapper said of Obama. “He’s always talking about he listens to hip-hop and his daughter listens to hip-hop. He knows who Shyne is, he knows I’m deported.”
He went on to direct his criticism towards the handling of Chicago’s rise in violence, seeing himself as an integral part of the inner city peace movement in Obama’s native city. “How can he be serious about stopping violence in inner cities and promoting education in inner cities and not using Shyne?”
Since converting to Judaism, Shyne has used his musical talents to express the values of his faith. He believes that if Obama were to help him, their gains could be mutual, with the rapper helping the president gain Jewish support.
“Jews is powerful, so if he don’t help the Jew out he ain’t gonna be blessed,” he said. “And he ain’t doing the right thing. My voice is too powerful.”
With less than a month left until the election, it is doubtful that either candidate will seek out the voice of a convicted felon from overseas, but the president now knows the price for Shyne’s help.
