Wyclef Jean

About

Wyclef is a Haitian American musician, record producer, and politician. He rose to fame as part of the hip-hop trio The Fugees. He has had a successful solo career and worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry.

Music

Wyclef’s musical breakthrough was as part of The Fugees. 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. Then the follow-up album – The Score – sold over 18 million copies worldwide. The album was a multi-platinum, Grammy-winning album.

Wyclef began a solo career with 1997’s Wyclef Jean Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee All-Stars. And the album’s guests included Lauryn Hill and Pras along with The Neville Brothers and Celia Cruz. The album was a hit.

Jean has won three Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe Award nomination for his musical work.

In 2012, Jean published his memoir Purpose: An Immigrant’s Story. The book depicts with painful detail, the story of  his childhood in Haiti, to his then rise to the American music scene. 

Then in 2014 performed his single “Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)”, at the closing ceremony for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Political Activities

In 2005, Wyclef established the Yéle Haiti Foundation. During the first year of operation, the foundation provided scholarships to 3,600 children in Haiti, after the devastation by Hurricane Jeanne. Then in its second year of operation, the foundation also aimed to provide 6,800 scholarships to children.

Yéle is an organization intended to empower the people of Haiti to rebuild their nation.