Wyclef Jean

Wyclef Jean is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and rapper whose dynamic musicianship has contributed to some of the most powerful and eclectic records in the genre’s history. Jean migrated from Haiti to the United States’ East Coast as a child, learning to play seven instruments by his teenage years, partly through his father's church. He teamed with Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel to form the Fugees, a trio whose seminal album, The Score (1996), merged sonic inspiration from hip-hop, '70s soul, and reggae with rapped and sung lyrics that passionately reflected Black and immigrant sociopolitical experiences. His success continued with his solo debut, The Carnival (1997), which further solidified the idea of hip-hop as a tapestry of global, multicultural threads. He kept at his mission through the 2010s via star-studded solo albums and production for the likes of Destiny’s Child, Whitney Houston, and Carlos Santana, even making personal forays into politics and philanthropy. In 2023, the Fugees reunited for a 25th anniversary tour celebrating The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Hill’s renowned 1998 solo album.