Antonio Reynoso honors Shyne with Key to Brooklyn

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, on Saturday, April 25, presented rapper and civic leader Moses “Shyne” Barrow with a Key to Brooklyn at the East Flatbush Young Men’s Mentorship Expo. Marking the 25th anniversary of Shyne’s debut album, Borough President Reynoso presented the Key to Brooklyn in honor of Shyne’s contributions to Hip-Hop and his civic leadership in Brooklyn and around the world. The Borough President also declared April 25, 2026, as “Shyne Day” in Brooklyn.

Earlier that day, Borough President Reynoso and Shyne co-hosted the East Flatbush Young Men’s Mentorship Expo at SUNY Downstate. Organized in partnership with East Flatbush Village and CarribBeing, the Expo gathered young men from East Flatbush for a full day of panel discussions, workshops, and mentorship opportunities. The opening session featured Borough President Reynoso, Shyne, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and Rafael Camargo of Chick-fil-A in a discussion about navigating the city and workforce as men of color. Later in the program, Shyne surprised attendees by announcing free tickets to his 25th anniversary concert at the Kings Theatre, scheduled for the following week.

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, left, presented Rapper and Civic Leader Moses Shyne Barrow with a Key to Brooklyn at East Flatbush Young Men’s Mentorship Expo on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Photo courtesy of BP Antonio Reynoso Office

“Shyne embodies what is possible when a community believes in its young people, and the magic that can happen when young people are given the resources they need to thrive. East Flatbush raised Shyne, and it only made sense to present him with the Key to Brooklyn as we team up to deliver hope and opportunity to dozens of young men today,” said Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso.

“It is an honor to receive the Key to Brooklyn from Borough President Reynoso, and have April 25th officially declared Shyne Day. I am so proud to team up with him for today’s East Flatbush Young Men’s Mentorship Expo. This is the community that raised me, and it’s important for me to pass along the love this community gave me to the next generation. That’s what today is all about, and there couldn’t be a better way to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of my classic debut Album than returning to my roots,” said Dr. Moses “Shyne” Barrow.

Attendees participated in workshops throughout the Mentorship Expo. The Kingsborough Community College Fatherhood Academy led a session on fatherhood and identity; Urban Upbound led a financial literacy workshop, equipping attendees with skills to build economic stability; CAMBA walked young men through their workplace rights; and Hot Bread Kitchen discussed how to turn a passion for cooking into a culinary career.

To support the young men’s professional ambitions, Borough President Reynoso also announced a $5,000 commitment to purchase tailored suits for all 35 young men in attendance. The suits will be sourced from Brooklyn-based retailer Stacey Adams Plaza: Exclusive Menswear Clothing.

Tabling partners included NYC Small Business Services’ Workforce1 Career Center, NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, TWU Local 100, SUNY Downstate, Hot Bread Kitchen, and Kingsborough Community College. Gift cards to DeKalb Market Food Hall were provided to participants who completed their “tabling passport” by visiting all the tabling partners.

City Point, DeKalb Market, Allan’s Bakery, and Rogers Burgers, with their co-founder, Josue Pierre, speaking about his entrepreneurial experience, sponsored this event .