Humility is rare among rappers in today’s hip hop game. That is why Shyne’s most recent comments to XXLmag.com, where the former Bad Boy rapper admits that his most recent verses have not been up to par, are a bit surprising.

After spending nine years in prison for his role in the infamous 1999 Club New York shooting, Shyne returned to rap last year with a new flow that left many listeners puzzled. But the former Diddy protégé wants his fans to know that he is trying hard to improve his sound.

“I spent 10 years in hell with murderers, all types of degenerates and cats that want to kill you and all types of crazy things…you don’t just come back,” Shyne says. “You got to learn that studio again. For me, it’s taking me a while to find my way around the studio again and get my voice back and get everything back.”

Since his release, Shyne has appeared on a number of notable tracks including Lil Wayne’s “The Outro” on this year’s Tha Carter IV. His guest verses, in addition to his own self-released tracks, raised eyebrows because of his unorthodox new delivery.

“I feel it’s back and top of the year, you’re going to hear the new music,” he says. “It’s definitely a million times better than [guest verse on Lil Wayne’s] “Outro.” That was just the turning point, as far as getting it back.”

The Belizean-born MC explains that the change in his sound was the caused by his time behind bars however, not a conscious creative change of direction.

“It wasn’t me sitting there saying, ‘I don’t want to give the people what they want,’” Shyne says. “Yo, I spent 10 years in the pen! Ain’t nobody did that! Even when I was putting the records out, I thought what I was putting out was great, and it was, but it didn’t have any soul.

“Going to prison killed me,” he adds. “It killed me. When I came out I was dead and I didn’t even know that. For me, I think I should have made the people understand what we’re talking about right now a long time ago. Nobody wants to hear an excuse too long, but I think it would have gave them a perspective of what was going on with me.”

Heading into 2012, Shyne promises fans a noticeable improvement, maybe even a return to his pre-prison form.

“I can’t wait [for fans to hear it], but I got to make sure it’s right because they were waiting for so long and then it wasn’t what it was supposed to be,” She continues. “I’m a million times better than that, though. I think the people are going to roll with it.”

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(Photo: UPI/Debbie Hill/Landov)