Shyheim

{{Infobox person

| name = Shyheim

| image = Shyheim in 2011 (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Shyheim in 2011

| birth_name = Shyheim Dionel Franklin

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|11|14}}{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |last=Larkin |first=Colin |publisher=MUZE |page=439 |isbn=9780195313734}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/shyheim-mn0000038573/biography |title=Shyheim |website=AllMusic |access-date=May 27, 2021}}

| birth_place = Staten Island, New York City, U.S.

| alias = The Rugged Child{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Kiani|date=April 20, 2019|url=https://rockthebells.com/articles/shyheim-recognizing-the-rugged-child/|title=Shyheim: Recognizing the Rugged Child |work=Rock The Bells|access-date=November 10, 2019}}

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|actor}}

| years_active = 1993–present

| children =

| relatives = Ghostface Killah (cousin){{cite web|author=Lars Brandle|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/5862649/rapper-shyheim-franklin-arrested-after-new-years-day-hit-and-run|title=Rapper Shyheim Franklin Arrested After New Year's Day Hit-And-Run Death|publisher=Billboard|date=2014-01-09|access-date=2019-11-10}}

| website =

| module = {{Infobox musical artist

| embed = yes

| genre = {{hlist|Hip hop|hardcore hip hop

}}

| label = {{hlist|Virgin|EMI|Wu-Tang|Priority|Nervous

}}

| associated_acts = Wu-Tang Clan

}}

Shyheim Dionel Franklin (born November 14, 1979) is an American rapper from New York better known simply as Shyheim. He initially gained fame as a teenager, releasing his debut album AKA the Rugged Child at the age of 14 in 1994. He has spent the majority of his career affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan, frequently collaborating with Method Man and Ghostface Killah.{{cite web|url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.10354/title.shyheim-talks-disrespectfully-speaking-bottom-up-records#|title=Shyheim Talks "Disrespectfully Speaking," Bottom Up Records|first=HipHopDX -|last=Sryon|date=December 31, 2009 |access-date=March 10, 2017}}

As a teenager, Shyheim was considered one of hip hop's brightest prospects, being referred to as a "Wunderkind"{{cite web|url=http://theboombox.com/2pacs-hit-em-up-greatest-diss-song-of-all-time/|title=20 Years Later: Why 2Pac's 'Hit 'Em Up' Is the Greatest Diss Song of All Time|date=June 4, 2016 |access-date=March 10, 2017}} and a "prodigy", even being admired by fellow rappers such as Jay-Z, who said he "looked up to him" in admiration in his autobiography Decoded.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2012/11/in-case-youve-been-missing-shyheim/|title=In Case You've Been Missing…Shyheim - XXL|date=November 18, 2012 |access-date=March 13, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://rapradar.com/2010/11/10/shyheim-speaks-on-decoded-mention/|title=Shyheim Speaks On Decoded Mention|date=November 10, 2010 |access-date=March 13, 2017}}

After 1996's The Lost Generation, Shyheim's career saw a string of underperforming releases over the next eighteen years, and was finally derailed due to a hit-and-run conviction. He was released from prison in early 2020.{{cite web|url=http://www.silive.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2009/11/rapper_shyheim_franklin_is_sti.html|title=Rapper Shyheim Franklin is still in the game, despite his share of ups and downs|date=November 5, 2009 |access-date=March 10, 2017}}

Career

=Music=

Shyheim's Virgin Records debut, AKA the Rugged Child. It included the hit single "On and On" the video of which featured Method Man, and the album rose to #7 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart.

Shyheim joined others, notably the Fugees, to provide a free concert to deaf children in a summer camp in 1996.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/21/nyregion/the-fresh-air-fund-meeting-urban-musicians-at-a-camp-in-the-country.html|title=The Fresh Air Fund;Meeting Urban Musicians At a Camp in the Country|date=July 21, 1996|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 10, 2017}}

Shyheim released another album in 1996, The Lost Generation, which featured members of G.P. Wu and Brooklyn Zu.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/172666-Shyheim|title=Shyheim|website=Discogs |access-date=March 10, 2017}} He also shared the stage with the Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Scoob and Big Daddy Kane at Madison Square Garden, for a live freestyle session. He also made an appearance on Big Daddy Kane's "Show & Prove," which featured Ol' Dirty Bastard, Sauce Money, Scoob and Jay-Z.

Shyheim resumed his career after almost a decade and released subsequent albums on the label he founded, Bottom Up Records. His third, fourth, and fifth albums, Manchild, The Greatest Story Never Told, and Enter the Bottom were released to little fanfare in 1999, 2004, and 2008 respectively. Shyheim released his fifth solo album, Disrespectfully Speaking, October 2009 on his label Bottom Up Records.

=Acting=

Shyheim starred in the video for TLC's "Waterfalls".

He has had roles in films such as the 1996 Pam Grier, Fred Williamson, Jim Brown, and Richard Roundtree vehicle Original Gangstas,{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/11/movies/film-review-middle-aged-vigilantes-the-gang-has-grown-up.html|title=Middle-Aged Vigilantes: The Gang Has Grown Up|date=May 11, 1996|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 10, 2017}}{{Failed verification|date=March 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/shyheim-franklin-58025428/|title=Shyheim Franklin - Biography and Filmography|first=Hollywood.com|last=Staff|date=May 23, 2014|access-date=March 13, 2017}} In Too Deep,{{cite web|url=https://allhiphop.com/1999/04/25/new-shyheim-album-due/|title=New Shyheim Album Due|first=Grouchy|last=Greg|date=April 25, 1999|access-date=March 13, 2017}} and The Preacher's Wife and he also starred in the television show The Parent Hood. Shyheim appeared in a small role in the prequel Carlito's Way: Rise to Power.

Legal problems

In July 2002, Shyheim was sentenced to a year in prison after second degree attempted robbery. On November 4, 2003, Shyheim was released from prison.

In January 2014, Shyheim turned himself into authorities facing charges for leaving the scene of an accident during a hit-and-run accident that left one person dead.{{cite web|last=Markman|first=Rob|date=January 9, 2014|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1720195/shyheim-faces-felony-charges/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514135357/http://www.mtv.com/news/1720195/shyheim-faces-felony-charges/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 14, 2014|title=Wu-Tang Affiliate Shyheim Faces Felony Charges In Fatal Hit And Run|work=MTV News|access-date=March 9, 2015}} On August 21, 2014, Shyheim was sentenced to 14 years in prison after he pled guilty to second degree manslaughter. He also received a concurrent term of seven years for a gun conviction, and is subject to five years' post release supervision.{{cite web|last=Donnelly|first=Frank|date=August 21, 2014|url=http://www.silive.com/northshore/index.ssf/2014/08/rapper_shyheim_franklin_senten.html|title=Rapper Shyheim Franklin sentenced to up to 14 years in fatal hit-and-run|work=SILive.com|access-date=March 9, 2015}}{{cite web|last=Muhammad|first=Latifah|date=August 23, 2014|url=https://www.bet.com/article/kr5hoc/shyheim-franklin-sentenced-to-14-years-for-hit-and-run|title=Shyheim Franklin Sentenced to 14 Years for Hit-and-Run|work=BET.com|access-date=March 9, 2015}} On January 6, 2020, Shyheim was released from prison after serving a five year sentence.{{Cite web|last=Spezzamonte|first=Irene|date=January 8, 2020|url=https://www.silive.com/news/2020/01/wu-tang-affiliated-rapper-shyheim-franklin-out-on-parole-after-fatal-hit-and-run-conviction.html |title=Wu-Tang-affiliated rapper Shyheim Franklin out of prison after fatal hit-and-run conviction|work=SILive.com|access-date=February 5, 2020}}{{cite web|last=Moorwood|first=Victoria|date=January 7, 2020|url=https://www.revolt.tv/news/2020/1/7/21055392/wu-tang-shyheim-released-from-prison|title=Wu-Tang Clan affiliate Shyheim released from prison: He served a five-year bid.|work=REVOLT.tv|access-date=February 5, 2020}}