SEAN ‘PUFFY’ COMBS’ protege, the rapper SHYNE, was involved in a fight with members of the audience at last week’s (November 2) annual ‘BLAZE BATTLE MC CHAMPIONSHIP’ in NEW YORK.
The underfire rapper, already facing an attempted murder charge resulting from a shooting in a Manhattan nightclub last Christmas, is said to have leapt from the stage of the Hammerstein Ballroom into the crowd during his performance after a helmet was hurled at him.
The resultant scrap lasted around a minute before Shyne, real name Jamal Barrow, rejoined Bad Boy Records label mate Black Rob to complete his track. He used his remaining few minutes onstage to hurl obscenities at the crowd members involved in the fight.
The evening’s host, veteran KRS-One, is reported by [url=]www.sonicnet.com to have calmed things down by reminding the crowd that MC battles grew from the need to avoid violence while resolving conflict.
Meanwhile, notable names in the audience included Mystikal, Kurtis Blow and Puff Daddy himself. MC Eyedea of St. Pauls Minnesota was crowned ‘Blaze Battle Face-Off 2000 World Champion’.
All eyes will be on Shyne and Combs on December 6 when they return to court for a preliminary hearing relating to the December 27 shooting in the Club New York. Shyne faces charges of attempted murder and assault while Puff Daddy is charged with bribery and weapons possession.
As previously reported on NME.COM three people were shot in the club. Combs and his bodyguard Anthony Jones were later arrested by police when a gun said to have been used in the incident was found in a car in which they were fleeing. Following a second pre-trial hearing, set for January 2, a full trial will begin on January 8 2001.