Wyclef Jean

. In 2004, Talib Kweli released his second solo album, "The Beautiful Struggle", which features production more akin to commerical rap, while Kweli's lyrical content retains its powerful social-political quality. In 2005, Jean earned a Golden Globe for his track entitled "Million Voices" featured on the soundtrack to the film Hotel Rwanda. He has since released a critically acclaimed solo debut, Quality, in 2002 (see 2002 in music). A freewheeling album that is something of a return to his Caribbean roots, most of the songs on the album are in his native language of Haitian Creole or Kreyòl. While Mos Def went on to a solo career, Kweli released Reflection Eternal with Hi Tek in 2000 (see 2000 in music), which sold better than most alternative rap albums at the time. In 2004, he released his fifth album, entitled Sak Pasé Presents: Welcome to Haiti (Creole 101) (released in the United States by Koch Records). With Mos Def (the pair were known together as Black Star), Kweli achieved some mainstream success with Black Star (1998, see 1998 in music).

His fourth album was The Preacher's Son, an album that Wyclef considered a continuation of his first album, Carnival. As a youth, he was drawn to Afrocentric rappers, such as De La Soul and other members of the Native Tongues Posse and soon began recording with producer Hi Tek and rapper Mos Def. Jean's third album, Masquerade, was released in 2002 and sold well, though critics frequently panned it. Talib Kweli (born 1975) is a rapper from Brooklyn, New York City. The critical reception was mixed, with many calling the album scattershot and too far-ranging to be cohesive. Blige.

Jean's second solo album was The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book, recorded with guests Youssou N'Dour, Earth, Wind & Fire, Kenny Rogers, The Rock and Mary J. The Fugees remained in limbo during this time, with the follow-up to The Score being continually postponed as all three members cultivated solo careers. Jean went on to work with artists including Santana, Tevin Campbell, Cypress Hill, Bounty Killer, Whitney Houston, Destiny's Child, Sublime, Simply Red, Mya, Sinéad O'Connor, Kimberly Scott, Mick Jagger, Canibus, The Black Eyed Peas and Eric Benét. The album was a major hit, as were two singles: "We Trying to Stay Alive" (adapted from The Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive") and "Gone Til November" (recorded with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra).

The album's guests included Hill and Pras along with Jean's siblings, the I Threes (back-up vocals for Bob Marley), Neville Brothers and Celia Cruz. Jean soon announced plans to begin a solo career with 1997's Wyclef Jean Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee All-Stars (more typically called simply The Carnival). Their eclectic follow-up, The Score, however, sold over 17 million copies worldwide and turned the trio into international superstars. The Fugees signed to Ruffhouse Records and released their debut, Blunted on Reality, but the album was panned and sold poorly.

In 1987, Jean, his cousin Prakazrel Michel (Pras) and his classmate, Lauryn Hill, formed a group called the Tranzlator Crew before becoming The Fugees. Wyclef worked as a cabdriver. Born in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, Jean moved to Brooklyn when he was nine, then to New Jersey, where he began playing the guitar and studying jazz in high school. Wyclef Jean (born October 17, 1972) is a Haitian-born rapper, producer and former member of the superstar hip hop trio The Fugees, known now for a series of high-profile hit singles. Clef Records Website (http://www.clefrecords.com).

J Records Website (http://www.jrecords.com). Sak Pase Records Website (http://www.sakpaserecords.net). Official Website (http://www.wyclef.com). 2004 Sak Pasé Presents: Creole 101 (Welcome to Haiti).

2003 The Preacher's Son. 2002 Masquerade. 2000 The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book. 1997 Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival Featuring the Refugee All-Stars.