Brooklyn Honors Belize’s Shyne with Keys, Day, and Praise

Shyne Barrow has received one of New York City’s most symbolic honors. The rapper-turned-politician who grew up on Curassow Street in Belize City before making it big in Brooklyn was given the keys to the city and had April twenty-fifth declared “Shyne Day.” The award wasn’t handed out at a fancy gala but at a mentorship expo in East Flatbush, where Shyne spoke with young men and donated suits to help them land jobs. With the keys now in hand, Shyne is preparing for a May second concert at the Kings Theatre to mark the 25th anniversary of his classic album. A performance he says will finally give fans the full experience they missed when his career was cut short years ago.

 

Shyne Barrow, Musical Artist

“When I got there, she presented me with the key and he declared April 25th Shine Day. So, I’m not a very emotional person, but I was definitely overwhelmed. Knowing the journey that I’ve been on as an immigrant child from Belize that came to Brooklyn in the early eighties, and to go from that child, single parent, household mom, struggling, brother not there, just all by ourselves to fend for ourselves and knowing that statistically I could have died at an early age. Or, you know, been incarcerated for a lifetime, to have beat those odds. And not just to beat them, but to have been so successful in the entertainment space and to have had success in Belize politically and to return to my second home, which is Brooklyn. I’m here to perform. I’ve been here for a few weeks, just getting ready, rehearsing to put on this spectacular show on May 2nd at King’s Theater. Celebrate my 25th anniversary of the Shine album. The people that love Shine never got a chance to experience my live performance of the album. And there’s something magical about a live performance.”

 

A couple thousand people are expected to pack Kings Theatre for what Shine is calling a night of celebration.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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