Former Bad Boy bodyguard Gene Deal sat down with The Art of Dialogue for an in-depth interview, revisiting the infamous 1999 New York City nightclub shooting involving Shyne and Sean “Diddy” Combs. Deal, who was Diddy’s personal bodyguard during the height of Bad Boy Records’ dominance, shared explosive claims about the incident, revealing that Anthony “Wolf” Jones, another key figure in Diddy’s circle, told him Shyne fired the first shot (2 minute mark).
Deal recalled Wolf’s limited but clear comments on the shooting. “What I was told by Wolf himself—he spoke very little about it because he had mad love for Shyne—was that Shyne did pull the trigger,” Deal stated. “He may have been one of the first who pulled the trigger.”
This revelation adds another layer to the long-standing controversy surrounding the incident, during which Shyne was convicted and served nearly nine years in prison, while Diddy was acquitted of all charges. According to Deal, Shyne’s actions at the time were driven by loyalty to Diddy as a young artist eager to prove himself.
“He was a kid trying to show his allegiance to Puff,” Deal explained. “That’s who he was back then.”
Despite Shyne’s loyalty during the incident, Deal revealed that Diddy’s relationship with the rapper soured afterward. “Puff hated Shyne after that,” he claimed. “Blatantly, he told me, ‘I hate that [expletive].’”
Deal suggested that the tension was exacerbated by Diddy’s desire to protect himself during the trial, which led to Shyne taking the fall. “Somebody had to fall, and Wolf wasn’t going to take the fall,” Deal said.
Deal also discussed the internal conflicts within Bad Boy Records at the time, noting that Shyne often had to carry a gun due to ongoing tensions with Junior M.A.F.I.A., a group associated with the late Notorious B.I.G. However, Deal credited Wolf with stepping in to mentor Shyne and even becoming an executive producer on his album.
“Wolf had love for Shyne,” Deal said. “But the atmosphere at Bad Boy was chaotic. There was dissension, and Shyne brought some of it on himself.”
In the interview, Deal rejected comparisons between Shyne and the Notorious B.I.G., a frequent debate among fans and industry insiders at the time. While some felt Shyne’s deep voice and delivery echoed Biggie’s style, Deal dismissed the notion.
“Big had an aura, an energy, and a power that was unmatched,” Deal said. “I’ve been on stage with Big, and the energy he commanded was heavenly. Shyne didn’t have that.”
“Because of what Shyne’s doing now with his political aspirations, he can’t look like the villain,” Deal said, referring to Shyne’s current role as a prominent politician in Belize.
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