Fugees are an American hip hop trio formed in 1990 in South Orange, New Jersey. Deriving its name from a shortening of the word "refugees", the group consists of Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel, and Lauryn Hill. The group rose to prominence in the mid-1990s for their pioneering blend of reggae, R&B, funk and hip hop, which eschewed gangsta rap and made them one of the most significant alternative hip hop acts. They occasionally rapped in Haitian Creole, and were one of the first hip hop bands to incorporate live instrumentation during their performances, along with the Roots.
Nel Ust Wyclef Jean is a Haitian rapper, musician, and singer. At the age of nine, Jean and his family emigrated to Northeastern United States. He formed the New Jersey-based hip hop trio Fugees in 1990 with fellow musicians Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel, for which Jean served as lead guitarist and producer. The group released the albums Blunted on Reality (1994) and The Score (1996), the latter became one of the best-selling albums of all time. Following their success, Jean released his debut solo album, Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival (1997), which yielded the Billboard Hot 100-top ten single "Gone till November".
Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival, also known simply as The Carnival, is the debut studio album released by Haitian hip hop musician Wyclef Jean. The album was released on 24 June 1997. Wyclef Jean also served as the album's executive producer. The album features guest appearances from Celia Cruz and The Neville Brothers and multiple appearances from Jean's former Fugees bandmates, Lauryn Hill and Pras.
The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book is the second studio album released by Haitian hip hop musician Wyclef Jean. The album was supported by its singles "It Doesn't Matter", "911" and "Perfect Gentleman". At the 43rd Grammy Awards his duet with Mary J. Blige, "911" earned him a nomination for Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 2001. The album debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
"Hips Don't Lie" is a song by Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira, featuring Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean, released by Epic Records in 2006 as the second single from Shakira's seventh studio album, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (2005). Shakira and Jean wrote the lyrics and jointly composed the music with additional co-writing by Shakira's percussionist Archie Pena. The song was produced by Shakira and Jean with additional co-production by Jerry Duplessis. "Hips Don't Lie" is a reworking of Jean's earlier single "Dance Like This", therefore it features additional composing credits by Omar Alfanno, Duplessis, Luis Días, and LaTavia Parker. The song incorporates samples from "Amores Como el Nuestro" written by Alfanno, and "Carnaval " written by Días.
"911" is a duet between Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean and American soul music singer Mary J. Blige. It was released on 5 September 2000 as the third single from Jean's second studio album, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book (2000), and was later included on Blige's compilation Reflections (2006). The song peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and had success worldwide, particularly in Scandinavian countries, reaching number one in Norway and Sweden.
Masquerade is the third studio album released by Haitian hip hop musician Wyclef Jean. The album was released on June 18, 2002. The album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 chart, making it Jean's highest-charting album.
Greatest Hits is the first compilation album by Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean, released on October 7, 2003. Released just a month prior to his fourth studio album, The Preacher's Son, Greatest Hits contains singles taken from Jean's first three studio albums: The Carnival, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book and Masquerade, as well as other fan-favourite tracks from those albums, alongside two-newly recorded tracks: "Ghetto Religion", a collaboration with R. Kelly, and "Hey Girl". The album also contains "No Woman, No Cry", a track taken from The Fugees' second studio album, The Score. Notably, Greatest Hits would be Jean's last release on Columbia Records until Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant in 2007.
The Preacher's Son is the fourth studio album by Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean, released on November 4, 2003. The album, which was co-produced by Jean and long-time collaborator Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis, combines elements of hip hop, reggae and reggae fusion, and uses a number of samples, including the Motown-inspired "Industry", which samples "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted". The album contains guest appearances of the likes of Missy Elliott, Patti LaBelle, Rah Digga and Redman, as well as a guitar feature by Carlos Santana on the song "Three Nights In Rio".
"Gone till November" a song by Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean, released as the third single from debut solo album, The Carnival (1997). The song was released on 25 November 1997 by Columbia and Ruffhouse, and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Jean's highest-charting solo hit in the UK alongside 2000's "It Doesn't Matter". In the United States, the song peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also reached number four in both Canada and New Zealand
"We Trying to Stay Alive" is the first single released from Wyclef Jean's debut solo album, The Carnival. The song features raps by John Forté and Pras and samples the 1977 Bee Gees hit "Stayin' Alive" and Audio Two's "Top Billin'" (1987). The video version also contains an interpolation of the main melody of "Trans-Europe Express" by "Kraftwerk". In the US, it reached number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Additionally, it reached number three on the Hot Rap Songs chart and number 14 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The track reached number 87 on VH1's "100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time".
"It Doesn't Matter" is the first single released from Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean's second studio album, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book (2000). Written by Jean and Jerry Duplessis, the track features additional vocals from Melky Sedeck and wrestler The Rock, whose famous catchphrase inspired the song title. The song includes samples of "Mona Lisa" by Slick Rick, "This Is Ska" by Longsy D, "Livin' la Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin, and "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver, so all songwriters are given credits.
"Two Wrongs" is the lead single from Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean's third studio album, Masquerade. The song, released in the United States on 13 May 2002, features Claudette Ortiz of American hip hop group City High. The single reached number one in New Zealand, number five in Australia, and number 14 in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it reached number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 11 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. "Two Wrongs" is certified platinum in both Australia and New Zealand.
Haitian rapper and singer Wyclef Jean has released nine studio albums, one compilation album, two extended plays and 25 singles.
"Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" is the lead single from Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean's sixth studio album, Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant. The R&B and hip hop song features vocals from Niia and Akon, as well as rapper Lil Wayne. Verizon Wireless released the song on their V CAST service on August 7, 2007. It peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2008.
From the Hut, to the Projects, to the Mansion is a concept album released by Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean, released on November 10, 2009. The album, Jean's seventh overall, is a collaboration with disc jockey DJ Drama, which tells the story of the fictional character Toussaint St. Jean, who is based on the 18th century Haitian revolutionary Toussaint L'Ouverture. The album, which was co-produced by Jean and long-term collaborator Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis, contains guest appearances from Timbaland, Eve, Cyndi Lauper and Lil' Kim, and production from The Runners.
"We Are the World 25 for Haiti" is a charity single recorded by the supergroup Artists for Haiti in 2010. It is a remake of the song "We Are the World", which was written by American musicians Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and was recorded by USA for Africa in 1985 to benefit famine relief in Africa. Initially, in late 2009, it had been suggested to Richie and Quincy Jones—producer of the original "We Are the World"—that a re-cut version of the song be re-released under the title "Live 25". Following the magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake in Haiti in early 2010, which devastated most of the country and killed thousands of people, it was agreed that the song would be re-recorded by new artists, in the hope that it would reach a new generation and help benefit the people of Haiti.
"In the Zone" is a song by Puerto Rican recording artist Ivy Queen featuring Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean. It was composed by Queen, Jean, Deborah Castillero, Aaron King and Omar Navarro and released on February 9, 1999, as the lead single from her second studio album The Original Rude Girl (1998). The song is a hip hop track.
"Wyclef Jean" is a song by American rapper Young Thug. It was included on his mixtape Jeffery and was released as the second single from the tape on January 24, 2017. The song is named after Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean, who is best known for being part of the Fugees.
J'ouvert is a retail mixtape by rapper Wyclef Jean. It was released on February 3, 2017, and features the songs "Hendrix", "If I Was President 2016", "The Ring", and "I Swear".
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