Shyheim
Shyheim | |
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Shyheim in 2011 | |
| Born | Shyheim Dionel Franklin November 14, 1979 Staten Island, New York City, U.S. |
| Other names | The Rugged Child |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1993–present |
| Relatives | Ghostface Killah (cousin) |
| Musical career | |
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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.
As a teenager, Shyheim was considered one of hip hop's brightest prospects, being referred to as a "Wunderkind" 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.
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.