Wyclef Jean

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Biography

Wyclef Jeanelle Jean (, ; born October 17, 1969) - TIME, 21 Aug 2010.
" Before he announced on August 5 that he was running for President of Haiti, Wyclef Jean was still listing his age as only 37 years old. But after declaring himself a presidential candidate, the Haitian-American-Irish hip-hop star also decided to come clean and confirm that he was really 40 ." is a Haitian American 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 music|hip hop group the Fugees .

On August 5, 2010, Jean filed for candidacy in the Haitian general election, 2010|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. - BBC News, Aug 22 2010.
''Haiti's electoral commission said that Mr Jean was ineligible to stand as the Haitian constitution requires candidates to have lived in the country for five years prior to an election. The 40-year-old singer lives in the US.

Early life

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 Church of the Nazarene|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 newark Public Schools|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, New Jersey|Saddle River , South Orange, New Jersey|South Orange , and North Caldwell, New Jersey .Cruz, Alicia. , NewJerseyNewsroom.com, March 23, 2011. Accessed January 3, 2012. "Wyclef Jean, a North Caldwell resident, told media outlets a bullet grazed his hand in the hand as he stood outside of his vehicle to make a phone call late Sunday night. Jean, who was born in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, added that he did not know if the alleged gunshots were directed towards him." In 2009, Jean enrolled in the Berklee College of Music .

Music career

Fugees era

Jean's musical breakthrough was as part of The Refugee Camp ( The Fugees ), a three-member group that included Lauryn Hill and Prakazrel " Pras " Michel. Jean is Pras's cousin and a fellow Haitian immigrant. The Fugees signed to Ruffhouse Records , which released the group's debut album, Blunted on Reality . It sold fairly well, peaking at #49 on the U.S. Hot 100 and selling over 2 million copies worldwide. The follow-up album � The Score (album)|The Score � sold over 18 million copies worldwide, eventually becoming a multi-platinum, Grammy-winning album.

Jean announced plans to begin a solo career with 1997's The Carnival|Wyclef Jean Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee All-Stars (generally called The Carnival ). The album's guests included Lauryn Hill and Pras along with Jean's siblings' group Melky Sedeck ; the I Threes (back-up vocals for Bob Marley ); The Neville Brothers and Celia Cruz . The album was a hit, as were two singles: " We Trying to Stay Alive " (adapted from The Bee Gees ' " Stayin' Alive ") and " Gone Till November " (recorded with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra ).

Solo career

Released in 2000, Jean's second solo album The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book was recorded with guests including Youssou N'Dour ; Earth, Wind & Fire ; Kenny Rogers ; Dwayne Johnson|The Rock ; and Mary J. Blige . With Blige he released " 911 (Wyclef Jean song)|911 " as a single. He was nominated for Best Hip-Hop Act at the 2000 MTV Europe Music Awards .

Following the September 11 attacks|terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 , Jean participated in the benefit concert America: A Tribute to Heroes contributing a cover of the Bob Marley song " Redemption Song ".

Jean's third album, Masquerade (Wyclef Jean album)|Masquerade , was released in 2002. His fourth album, '' The Preacher's Son (album)|The Preacher's Son , was released in November 2003 as the follow-up to his first solo album, The Carnival .

In 2004, he released his fifth album, entitled Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101|Sak Pas� Presents: Welcome to Ha�ti (Creole 101) (released in the United States by Koch Records ). Most of its songs are in his native language of French-based creole languages|Haitian Creole like "Fanm Kreyol" with the French Caribbean Admiral T . He also figured on the album Mozaik Kreyol of this one in the song "Secret Lover". Then he covered Creedence Clearwater Revival 's song "Fortunate Son" for the soundtrack of the 2004 film remake of The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate and wrote the song " Million Voices " for the film Hotel Rwanda .

Jean also produced and wrote songs for the soundtrack to Jonathan Demme 's 2003 documentary The Agronomist , about the Haitian activist and radio personality Jean Dominique . With Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis , Jean also composed the score of the documentary Cit� Soleil#In the media|Ghosts of Cit� Soleil , He also helped produce the film and he appears briefly onscreen speaking by telephone in 2004 to a " chimere " gang-leader and aspiring rapper, Winston "2Pac" Jean.
During a period between 2004 and 2006 and fueled by a reunion performance in Dave Chappelle 's "Block Party", it appeared that the Fugees were on track to record a new album, however Fugees member Pras claimed to Billboard, "To put it nicely, it's dead." He said the root of this animosity was the third member of the group, Lauryn Hill, and was quoted in Billboard as saying; "Me and Clef, we on the same page, but Lauryn Hill is in her zone, and I'm fed up with that shit. Here she is, blessed with a gift, with the opportunity to rock and give and she's running on some bulls**t? I'm a fan of Lauryn's but I can't respect that."

In 2006, Jean was featured in Shakira's smash hit '' Hips Don't Lie . The song went on to become the highest selling single of the 21st century, in addition to reaching number one in over fifty-five countries. Jean and Shakira went on to perform the song at the 2006 Grammys and the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards.

Jean released an album in September 2007 that he recorded in Atlanta, Georgia , with the help of T.I. , who also collaborated with Jean on the songs "You Know What it is" and "My Swag" on T.I.'s 2007 album, T.I. vs. T.I.P. Recently, Wyclef released a new song called " Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill) " featuring Lil' Wayne , Niia and Akon , which references the song " C.R.E.A.M. " by the Wu-Tang Clan . The album also features a single, "Fast Car", whose video was made with the assistance of video game Burnout Paradise . During this period, he was featured in a mix version of the Cartel (band)|Cartel song "Wasted" that was released with their self-titled album. In November 2008, an upbeat single 'Let Me Touch Your Button' featuring will.i.am (of The Black Eyed Peas) was released in the UK in conjunction with Wyclef's invovlement with UK MOTOROKRSTAR (which sees Motorola UK on the search to discover British talent).. Jean released a song with Serj Tankian "Riot".

In 2009, he featured in a song called "Spanish Fly" with Ludacris and Bachata group Aventura (band)|Aventura in Aventura's upcoming album " The Last (album)|The Last " which came out in June.

On June 17, 2009, Wyclef announced via Twitter that his new album will be called Wyclef Jean (album)|wyclefjean and is to be released sometime in February 2010. The first single off of wyclefjean is to be titled "Seventeen" and will feature Lil' Wayne .

In November 2009, a track titled "Suicide Love" featuring rapper Eve (entertainer)|Eve leaked online prior to the release of his EP.

Wyclef Jean's EP named From the Hut, to the Projects, to the Mansion was released on November 10, 2009. It includes 17 tracks, featuring Cyndi Lauper , Timbaland , Eve, and Lil' Kim . by Han O'Connor (Allhiphop) In this album, Wyclef uses the alias Toussaint St. Jean , his alter ego, when he raps.

Wyclef Jean's upcoming self-entitled studio album was due to be released in 2011, has still yet to be released. "Hold On," the lead single from the project, will feature Dancehall artist Mavado.

Personal life

In 1994, he married Fusha designer Marie Claudinette. In 2005, they adopted their daughter, Angelina Claudinelle Jean. The couple renewed their vows in August 2009.

His uncle � political activist, journalist and diplomat Raymond Alcide Joseph � has been the Haitian ambassador to the United States since 2005, and came to prominence as a spokesman for his country after the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake . Together with Wyclef, he issued an appeal for international aid.

On March 19, 2011, Jean claimed that he was shot in the palm of his right hand in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The police reported otherwise saying that Wyclef was not wounded by a bullet but was cut by glass. Police Chief Vanel Lacroix said "we met with the doctor who saw him and he confirmed Wyclef was cut by glass."

Y�le Haiti

In 2005, Jean established the Y�le Haiti Foundation . In its first year of operation, the foundation, with funding by Comcel , provided scholarships to 3,600 children in Gona�ves, Haiti|Gona�ves , Haiti, after the devastation by Hurricane Jeanne . In its second year of operation, it is almost doubling the amount of the scholarships and spreading them throughout Haiti, providing tuition in 5 regions. The foundation aims to provide 6,800 scholarships to children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti|Port-au-Prince , Gona�ves, Les Cayes , Port-de-Paix , and Cap-Ha�tien .
After the 2010 Haiti earthquake|earthquake on January 12, 2010 in Haiti , Jean called on others to donate to his foundation's Y�le Haiti Earthquake Fund, imploring "We must act now."

Jean has been active in his support of his native country and created the foundation Y�le Haiti to provide humanitarian aid and assistance to Haiti. He describes Y�le as a non-political organization intended to empower the people of Haiti and the Haitian diaspora to rebuild their nation, saying, "The objective of Y�le Haiti is to restore pride and a reason to hope, and for the whole country to regain the deep spirit and strength that is part of our heritage".. Y�le Haiti was created in October 2004 with Wyclef's cousin Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis . Projects were launched in January 2005. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were present for the first anniversary of the launch in 2006.

In January 2007, Jean became a roving ambassador for Haiti, to help improve its image abroad.

May 20, 2008 � Y�le Haiti partnered with WFP (World Food Programme) of the United Nations to launch www.togetherforhaiti.org

September, 2008 � Wyclef in conjunction with Y�le Haiti Charity delivered food to Hurricane Ike victims in Haiti. Matt Damon provided assistance in the food lines serving food.

Oct 23, 2008 � Wyclef Jean performed on stage with Carlos Santana in San Francisco on behalf of Y�le Haiti, OneXOne, and WaterPartners International to raise funds for clean water, education, health, environment, and community development in the USA and in the developing world.

In 2009, Wyclef Jean and The Timberland Company joined forces to help raise environmental awareness in Haiti. This duo "will be a multi-platform effort incorporating Timberland products, digital and social media, service events, music, and concerts that will promote environmental awareness." The campaign will push to support and educate the country as well as helping to improve health care and the environment, and the community. Wyclef Jean also plans to spread information about the joint efforts through social media outlets such as "Twitter, YouTube, Myspace, Facebook, imeem, and Social Vibe." He also aims to use social networking websites to help raise money to build the Y�le Center.

In January 2010, along with his uncle Raymond Joseph , Haitian ambassador to the US, Wyclef issued an appeal for international aid following the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake .

Today, Yele's mission, headed by CEO Derek Johnson, is to provide aid and assistance to the communities in Haiti in greatest need, where severe poverty, widespread unemployment, rampant malnutrition and crippling illiteracy are most pervasive. In doing so, we strive to balance emergency relief with support for long term sustainable initiatives that together are giving both hope and practical assistance to the people of Haiti. Yele's programs focus on emergency relief, employment, youth development and education, and tree planting and agriculture.

In a November 27, 2011 New York Post article entitled "Questions Dog Wyclef's Haiti Fund", the Post asserted that less than one third of the over $16 million raised after the Haiti earthquake in January 2010 has been spent effectively for the victims of the catastrophe. The Post does not allege any dishonest embezzlement of funds on Wyclef's part, but rather asserts that there was gross mismanagement and negligence with regards to the distribution of the funds the charity raised. Required Federal tax returns were not filed, and $1 million was given to a Florida firm that does not seem to exist. Wyclef and most of the board left the charity in the summer of 2010. It is now under new management. Wyclef stated, "It's a clean slate now." Due to the controversial nature of Jean's former charity, he has kept a relatively low profile.

Politics

2010 Haitian presidential campaign

On August 5, 2010, Wyclef confirmed the rumors that he was running for office by telling CNN 's Wolf Blitzer that he was running, though Blitzer had questions about Jean's actual citizenship and passport. In an article written by it was mentioned that Jean will be stepping down as the chairman of Y�le Haiti. On August 5, Jean formally filed papers as a candidate for the Haitian general election, 2010|2010 Haitian presidential election , following media speculation that he would make his announcement that evening on Larry King Live . Wyclef would have run as a candidate for the List of political parties in Haiti|Viv Ansanm (Live Together) political party . On the topic of his candidacy, Jean has stated, "I am being drafted to serve my country."
Besides opposition from Sean Penn in regards to Jean's Haitian presidential plans, Arcade Fire 's Win Butler stated in a radio interview:
:"Technically, shouldn't be eligible because he hasn't been a resident of Haiti. And I think him not speaking French and not being fluent in Creole would be a really major issue in trying to run a really complex government, like the government in Haiti. It would kind of be like Arnold Schwarzenegger only speaking Austrian German and being elected president of the United States after New York City and Los Angeles|LA had burned to the ground... I think he is a great musician and he really passionately cares about Haiti. I really hope he throws his support behind someone who is really competent and really eligible."

On August 20, 2010, his bid for candidacy was rejected by Provisional Electoral Council|Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council . He was turned down because he did not meet the residency requirement of having lived in Haiti for five years before the November 28 election. Afterwards, Wyclef stated:

Appearances in television and film

On a 2004 episode of Chappelle's Show, he appeared as the musical guest.

He starred in Virgin Mobile commercials as himself.

In 2005, he appeared in the film One Last Thing... . His character is a cab driver named Emmett Ducasse. It is implied he is an angel due to being in the main character's "Heaven". Wyclef also has an original track that is the closing credits first song. The song is "Heaven's in New York".

Also in 2005, Wyclef appeared in 4 episodes of the hit NBC prime time television drama "Third Watch" as the recurring character, Marcel Hollis, a gang leader responsible for blowing up the police precinct house in the final episode of the series.

In December 2007, starred in the four-part MTV exclusive online short-film Americlef

May 20, 2008: At the Gansevoort Hotel, Wyclef Jean in partnership with the WFP and PADF launched "Together for Haiti" to address the hunger crisis in Haiti members of the American and international television and print media were invited to cover the news.

October 17, 2011: The Apprentice (U.S. season 12) Episode 1: Hero Worship http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Apprentice_(U.S._season_12)#Episode_1:_Hero_Worship

Discography

1997: The Carnival (Columbia)

2000: The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book (Columbia)

2002: Masquerade (Wyclef Jean album)|Masquerade (Columbia)

2003: Greatest Hits (Wyclef Jean album)|Greatest Hits (Columbia)

2003: '' The Preacher's Son (album)|The Preacher's Son (J)

2004: Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101 (Koch)

2006: Ghosts of Cit� Soleil

2007: Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant (Columbia)

2009: From the Hut, To the Projects, To the Mansion (Columbia)

2010: If I Were President: The Haitian Experience (Columbia)

Copyright Citations

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Wyclef Jean Photo by: gossiponthis.com


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