Wyclef Jean

Artist Image: Wyclef Jean
Attribution
Image Credit: Seher Sikandar for rehes creative (https://www.flickr.com/photos/rehes/3790052467/), CC BY-SA 3.0

Biography

Wyclef Jeanelle Jean (/ˈwaɪklɪf ˈʒɑːn/; Haitian Creole pronunciation: [wajklɛf ʒã]; born October 17, 1969) is a three-time Grammy Award-winning Haitian-American rapper, singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country. He first received fame as a member of the acclaimed New Jersey hip hop group the Fugees. On August 5, 2010, Jean filed for candidacy in the 2010 Haitian presidential election, although the Electoral Commission subsequently ruled him ineligible to stand as he had not met the requirement to have been resident in Haiti for five years. Although his birth date was widely given as October 17, 1972, papers filed for his run as a candidate for the presidency of Haiti, disclosed that he was, in fact, born in 1969. Born in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, the son of a Nazarene pastor, Wyclef moved with his family to Brooklyn, New York, when he was nine before moving again to northern New Jersey. Jean has cited reggae artist Bigga Haitian as one of his early influences, as well as neighborhood heroes MC Tiger Paw Raw and producer Lobster v. Crab. Jean graduated from Vailsburg High School in Newark, briefly attended Eastern Nazarene College in Massachusetts, and finished one semester at Five Towns College in New York. Jean has been a resident of Saddle River, South Orange, and North Caldwell, New Jersey. In 2009, Jean enrolled in the Berklee College of Music.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed
Number of Albums 63
Record Label
Website wyclef.com
Wikipedia Wyclef Jean on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

At what age did Wyclef Jean immigrate to the United States?

nine

...similarly spelled articles, see Wycliffe (disambiguation). At the age of nine , Jean immigrated to the United States with his family. He first achieved...
Along with Lauryn Hill, who was a member of the Fugees?

Pras Michel

...of the New Jersey hip hop group the Fugees, alongside Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel . They released the albums Blunted on Reality (1994) and The Score (1...
Who were the Fugees with?

Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel

... member of the New Jersey hip hop group the Fugees, alongside Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel . They released the albums Blunted on Reality (1994) and The ...
What was the name of the first solo album by Wyclef Jean?

Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival

...llow this with the release of his first solo studio album, Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival (1997), which contains the top ten hit Gone till November...
When was Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival released?

1997

...lease of his first solo studio album, Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival ( 1997 ), which contains the top ten hit Gone till November. Jean would continue...
How many studio albums did Jean release?

eight

...o have a successful music career as a soloist. He released an additional eight studio albums; including the Recording Industry Association of America ...
What is the name of Jean's platinum certified album?

The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book

...g Industry Association of America Platinum certified album, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book (2000), which reached the top ten on the Billboard 200 cha...
Where did Jean's parents immigrate to?

United States

...ce, Jean was raised by relatives after his parents immigrated to the United States . At age nine he and his younger brother joined their parents in Bro...
In what city did the family move when Jean was a teenager?

Newark

...brother joined their parents in Brooklyn, New York. The family moved to Newark , New Jersey, when he was a teenager. Jeans father, a Nazarene minister,...
Who founded the Fugees?

Prakazrel (Pras) Michel and Michels friend Lauryn Hill

...er known as the Fugees), a rap group founded by Prakazrel (Pras) Michel and Michels friend Lauryn Hill , in the late 1980s. Jean studied music at Five ...
Where did Jean study music?

Five Towns College

...hels friend Lauryn Hill, in the late 1980s. Jean studied music at Five Towns College in Dix Hill, New York, before dropping out to concentrate on his ...
When did Jean release Blunted?

1994

...ate on his rapping. He continued to perform with Michel and Hill, and in 1994 they released their debut album, Blunted on Reality. Though the album wa...
When did the trio release their sophomore effort The Score as the Fugees?

1996

...lbum was only moderately successful, the trio continued to record and in 1996 released their sophomore effort The Score as the Fugees. The recording, ...
Where was Nelust Wyclef Jean born?

Haiti

... The son of a minister, Nelust Wyclef Jean was born in CroixdesBouquets, Haiti , on October 17, 1969. When he was nine, his family moved to Brooklyn's ...
Where did his family move when he was nine?

Brooklyn's Marlborough projects

... on October 17, 1969. When he was nine, his family moved to Brooklyn's Marlborough projects . By his teenage years, Wyclef had moved to New Jersey, tak...
What instrument did Nelust take in his teens?

guitar

...rojects. By his teenage years, Wyclef had moved to New Jersey, taken up guitar , and begun studying jazz through his high school's music department. In...
What were the Fugees originally called?

Tranzlator Crew

...is high school's music department. Initially calling themselves the Tranzlator Crew , they evolved into the Fugees, a name taken from slang for Haitian...
When did the trio sign with Ruffhouse?

1993

... refugees. The trio signed with the Columbiaaffiliated Ruffhouse label in 1993 and released their debut album, Blunted on Reality, the following year....
When did the family move to Brooklyn New York?

when Wyclef was nine

...er father was a pastor and the family moved to Brooklyn New York when Wyclef was nine . Wyclef Jean: Musical Career The Fugees' debut album Blunted on ...
What was the name of The Fugees' debut album?

Blunted on Reality

...lef was nine. Wyclef Jean: Musical Career The Fugees' debut album Blunted on Reality was released on Ruffhouse Records, to mild critical success and m...
What was the name of Wyclef's first solo album?

Wyclef Jean Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee AllStars

...ed his own solo career with the release of Wyclef Jean Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee AllStars , in 1997. Wyclef's second solo album, The ...
When was The Eclastic: 2 Sides II a Book released?

2000

...lef's second solo album, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book was released in 2000 . This time, his guest stars included Mary J. Blige, Youssou N'Dour, Kenn...
What was the name of Wyclef's 2000 collaboration with Mary J. Blige?

911

...N'Dour, Kenny Rogers and The Rock. His collaboration with Mary J. Blige, ' 911 ', was released as a single and Wyclef won the Best HipHop Act award at t...
How many more albums did Jean release between 2002 and 2004?

three

... the Best HipHop Act award at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Jean released three more albums between 2002 and 2004: Masquerade, The Preacher's Son and S...
What language was Sak Pasé Presents: Welcome to Haiti sung in?

Haitian Creole

...asquerade, The Preacher's Son and Sak Pasé Presents: Welcome to Haiti (Creole 101). The latter was largely sung in his native Haitian Creole language....
What was the name of the first collaboration between Wyclef Jean and Aviciis?

Divine Sorrow

...and Aviciis dynamic chemistry, the reflective electroacoustic ballad Divine Sorrow , instantly blew up on YouTube when the lyric video was posted last ...
How many views did the video Divine Sorrow get on youtube?

four million

...on YouTube when the lyric video was posted last November, racking up four million views and reminding people that Wyclef Jean can still astound people...
What do people often wonder if the artist has retired?

When an eradefining superstar takes time between albums

...f Jean can still astound people with his music. When an eradefining superstar takes time between albums , people often wonder if the artist has perhaps...
What two instruments are always nearby?

guitar and a piano

...ake up, I go into the studio and record, he says. Theres always a guitar and a piano nearby. Im always writing, thats my survival. I dont go to a ther...
Where did his family move to?

Newark, New Jersey

...s family emigrated from Haiti to Brooklyn, New York, and moved to Newark, New Jersey . In 1990, Jean, Pras Michel and Lauryn Hill formed the musical gr...
What was Jean's debut album called?

The Carnival

..., and Jean began his solo career with the release of his debut album The Carnival . He continued to release albums throughout the 2000s including The E...
In what year did Jean become known for his feature on Shakira's single Hips?<extra_id_51> What song did Jean feature on in 2006?

Hips Don't Lie

... Jean became widely known for his feature on singer Shakiras single Hips Don't Lie , which topped the U.S. As a producer, Jean worked with a diverse ar...
In what year did Jean establish Yéle Haiti?

2001

... cameo roles on the NBC show Third Watch, and the ABC show Nashville. In 2001 , Jean established the charity organization Yéle Haiti, in order to provi...
What was the name of Jean's charity organization?

Yéle Haiti

...BC show Nashville. In 2001, Jean established the charity organization Yéle Haiti , in order to provide aid after Hurricane Jeanne, and the 2010 Haitian...
In what year did Jean announce a run for the presidency of Haiti?

2010

...bute to Heroes following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. In 2010 , Jean announced a run for the presidency of Haiti, but was ruled ineligi...
What event did Jean participate in following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001?

America: A Tribute to Heroes

...tian earthquake. He also participated in the benefit concert America: A Tribute to Heroes following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. In 20...
Nel Wyclef Jean is a member of what band?

The Fugees

...nted hiphop guitarist Nel Wyclef Jean, one third of the renowned band The Fugees , released a platinumselling solo debut album titled The Carnival in 1...
When was The Carnival released?

1998

...gees, released a platinumselling solo debut album titled The Carnival in 1998 to positiveand often gushingreviews. Jean drew upon Creole folk music, A...
How many members of The Fugees is Nel?

one third

...ed discography Sources Multitalented hiphop guitarist Nel Wyclef Jean, one third of the renowned band The Fugees, released a platinumselling solo debu...
What school did Jean attend?

Newarks Vailsburg High School

...d a daughter off the streets through prayer. Jean studied at Newarks Vailsburg High School , learning as much as he could about music and the music bus...
What was Jean's cousin's name?

Prakazrel Pras Michel

...learning as much as he could about music and the music business. Prakazrel Pras Michel of the Fugees, his cousin, lived in South Orange, NJ, and Jean ...
When did the Vailsburg High School Swing choir include Jean on bass?

1988

...with Michel and Lauryn Hill of The Fugees while still in high school. In 1988 the Vailsburg High School Swing choir included Jean on bass and his cous...
Where did the Young Americans National Invitational Performance Choir Festival take place?

Hollywood, CA

... Young Americans National Invitational Performance Choir Festival in Hollywood, CA . The choir won an award for costumes and Jean was honored for an or...
Who was the guitarist in The Fugees?

Nel Wyclef Jean

...Multitalented hiphop guitarist Nel Wyclef Jean , one third of the renowned band The Fugees, released a platinumselling solo debut album titled The Carn...
Who did Time magazine's Christopher John Farley say was one of the most creative people working in pop music?

Wyclef

... feat. Time magazine's Christopher John Farley wrote, The Carnival puts Wyclef up there with Billy Corgan, Trent Reznor and Tricky as one of the most ...
Who did Jean fight to keep off the streets through prayer?

four sons and a daughter

...'s Good Shepherd Church of the Nazarene and fought to keep his four sons and a daughter off the streets through prayer. Jean studied at Newark's Vails...
Where did Jean study?

Vailsburg High School

...aughter off the streets through prayer. Jean studied at Newark's Vailsburg High School , learning as much as he could about music and the music busines...
Where did Pras Michel live?

South Orange, NJ

...iness. Prakazrel 'Pras' Michel of the Fugees, his cousin, lived in South Orange, NJ , and Jean began experimenting with hiphop along with Michel and La...
What did Jean experiment with while still in high school?

hiphop

...is cousin, lived in South Orange, NJ, and Jean began experimenting with hiphop along with Michel and Lauryn Hill of The Fugees while still in high sch...