Backstage interview with Shyne

(taped 12/8/00)…

Soul Train: What’s the message that you hope people get from your music?

Shyne: I mean, my music, I just touch on, I touch on the current events, you understand? Right now it’s not necessarily a message. You know, I really talk about what I’ve seen and what I continue to see. I read, I pay attention. I’m a result of the struggle that’s goin’ on in America with the underclass and the inner-city kids, you understand? I really talk about that pain, that sufferin’, that joy. And I try to talk to them about readin’ and going to school. You know, when I speak and I’m workin’ on my new record, I’m gonna talk about that. You know, how even though there’s a lot of people to blame, you understand, sooner or later, you’re gonna have to forget about them and just take it upon ourselves to handle our handle, you know what I’m sayin’?

ST: What does it mean to you to be a recording artist? How has music changed your life?

Shyne: You know, music hasn’t really changed my life, except for me bein’ able to make my mother’s dreams come true and my grandmother’s dreams come true and people around me, you understand? Well, you know, I’ve always been a kid, you know, even when I was wildin’ out, gettin’ into trouble and doin’ what I wasn’t supposed to do, I used to be the kid that when I was locked up I’d be there readin’ books and ‘Yo, man word. This is how we have to do when we get on the other side. The war ain’t with us, it’s with the government.’ So right now I’m just doin’ what I’d be doin’ if I was on the streets. I’m just tryin’ to reach whoever I can reach — whoever’s tellin’ my man, ‘Yo, man, I just read this’ or ‘I just seen this, and this is what’s goin’ down out there.’ Right now, I just have a platform to speak to more people and let ‘em know what’s on my mind.

ST: How has Puff Daddy mentored you?

Shyne: I mean, he’s just like any great person, you understand? Just bein’ around him, you get that greatness, you understand? And me bein’ in it now — like I’m officially in it, I’m officially doin’ this, I got more respect for him ’cause what he did in music, despite that he might not be doin’ it right now, but what he accomplished at the zenith of his reign, it’s history man. Duke is a legend, you now, and I always knew that, but I know it more now. When I’m around him I just pay attention. You know, long story short, one thing I learned from him was diligience, ’cause you gotta kid with millions and millions of dollars, and he still get up early in the mornin’ and go to the studio and leave late at night. You know, so I learned that.

ST: You mentioned working on another record. Can you tell us a little bit about that project?

Shyne: Yeah, the new record is gonna be called “Dear America.” You know, and my first album starts off with “Dear America,” talks about, you know, maybe if I had a school instead of a prison, I’d have done things differently, and I’m just gonna touch more on that. I’ve been talkin’ about it. You know, I’ve been on “Politically Incorrect” and “Tavis Smiley Show.” Like, a lot of people are like, ‘He be sayin’ all that stuff. Why don’t he talk about it on his record?’ So on this new record, I’m gonna get more into the issues, you know? You know, a little bit more into sociology, you know, and try to give some answers rather than asking a lot of questions.

ST: What would you like to say to all the Soul Train fans out there?

Shyne: I mean, you know, party. Sooooul Train! No, you know, God bless y’all, man. Close your eyes and dream. That’s all you can do until you die.

ST: All right, thanks a lot.