And while the documentary is the Real Mckoy made by a respected outfit with international credentials, we wondered today, "what if?"
What if Shyne never got deported back to Belize? Would he be just another washed up rapper, or would he be a music executive?
We went into that today:
Jules Vasquez
"Do you ever reflect and say supposed when you landed in Belize in 2009, you had gotten your wish and uncle Sam said you know what Shyne Barrow, you are reformed, you are a productive person, come back to the United States, come back to Brooklyn - you do you. Do you ever think about that and how different your life and everyone's life would have been and wouldn't that have been the greatest realization of what you say is your manifest destiny?"
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"No, I don't believe so. I know that this is what I was meant to do?"
Jules Vasquez
"So America did you a favor by not letting you back in, because you were saying people should go protest for a VISA for you."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Listen, we have to understand the way life works. My wisdom will advise and guide me is not match for the supernal realities that observe from high. So who knows what could have happen to me had I remain in the States. I couldn't wait to come back to Belize, because I had made, I could afford to come."
Jules Vasquez
"But you're re-inventing history Shyne Barrow. When you came back you were begging for them to give you a Visa. You told me that you wanted people go and protest to get you a Visa."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"The same way you begged for advertisement, the same way...."
Jules Vasquez
"Oh my gosh."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"I'm just saying the same way...listen, you have overhead. Everybody has..."
Jules Vasquez
"We are not talking about business; we are talking about your personal desire."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"No, no, no. But don't dimmish my professional statua. Don't diminish that. And so to be handicap as a professional, to be handicap as a professional from pursuing my art and my craft at the highest level. How could you argue with me wanting that opportunity?"
Jules Vasquez
"I dont."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Right. So it wasn't about Visa to go to States, it is that I am a multi-platinum. I know you no like hear that. I sell tens of millions of records. You no like hear that. I am Grammy certificate and Grammy award, but for someone to have that opportunity in the States as you could see now, because the criticism use to be 'he is a has been, nobody no want him da States anyway.' Obviously not. So, had I gotten the opportunity when I wanted it, I could very well be a billionaire right now. I could have very well sold hundreds of millions of records more."
Jules Vasquez
"And that what you would wish to do. I'm just saying this is your second choice. Just say it, we da second choice."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"But as an artist to condemn me for wanting to do what it is God gave me the blessing to do, that is so unfair. You are."
Jules Vasquez
"I'm not condemning you, but this da a second choice."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"It's not a second choice. I would have built a nice multi-million dollar home here in Belize and I would have done business in Belize. Again, so politics, yes being a parliamentarian was not my ambition in life, but serving people and doing the best I could for Belize always in the front of my mind."
We'll continue that conversation some other day.
