Occupation(s) Emcee, Actor, CEO Role Rapper Genres Hip hop music | Name Shyheim Franklin Years active 1993–present | |
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Birth name Shyheim Dionel Franklin Labels Virgin/EMIWu-Tang/Priority/EMIWreck/Nervous Records/ Bottom Up Records/The Block Never Sleeps Associated acts Ghostface Killah/Methodman/Prodigal Sunn/Hell Razah/La The Darkman/Dj Des Movies Original Gangstas, In Too Deep, You're Nobody 'til Somebody Kills You Albums AKA the Rugged Child, The Lost Generation, Disrespectfully Speaking, The Greatest Story Nev, Manchild |
Shyheim on on explicit
Shyheim (born Shyheim Dionel Franklin in New York, New York) is an American rapper and actor affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan. He was associated with a group called G.P. Wu and then began collaborating with Wu-Tang Records affiliated groups Killarmy and Sunz of Man.
Contents
- Shyheim on on explicit
- Shyheim of the wu tang clan freestyles on rap city
- Early life
- Music
- Acting
- Hit and run fatality
- Studio albums
- Filmography
- References

As a teenager, Shyheim was once considered "hip hop's wunderkind", and a famed urban artist and heartthrob, whom "even the harshest of critics can’t deny the level of artistry displayed by Hip Hop child prodigy" and latter-day luminaries such as Jay-Z looked up to him, mentioning him in admiration in his autobiography Decoded. But run-ins with the law and an attack that needed 300 stitches to close a facial wound derailed his career.

Shyheim of the wu tang clan freestyles on rap city
Early life

Shyheim was born in Staten Island New York and raised there as a child. He spent time living with Wu-Tang Clan member and cousin Ghostface Killah in the Stapleton Houses.
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 US Billboard R&B chart.

Shyheim joined others, notably The Fugees, to provide a free concert to deaf children in a summer camp in 1996.
Shyheim released another album in 1996, The Lost Generation, which featured members of G.P. Wu and Brooklyn Zu. He also shared the stage with the Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, 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, Big 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 and fourth albums, The Greatest Story Never Told and Enter the Bottom, were released to little fanfare in 2004 and 2008. 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, In Too Deep, 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.
Shyheim also appeared in the 2011 drama You're Nobody 'til Somebody Kills You, produced by Spike Lee.
Hit and run fatality
In January 2014, Shyheim turned himself into authorities facing charges for leaving the scene of an accident during a hit-and-run accident which left one person dead. 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.