Bio: One of the most important personalities in Hip-Hop music, Wyclef Jean was born in Haiti and moved to the US at the age of 10. He first entered the spotlight in 1993 with the release of the Fugees debut LP, Blunted On Reality. The groups name was inspired by the plight of refugees from Haiti and other members included rapper/actress Lauryn Hill, and Clefs cousin Prakazrel Pras Michel. 1996s The Score was a huge success selling over 6 million copies and earning 2 Grammy Awards for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (Killing Me Softly) and Best Rap Album.
In 1997 Wyclef released his debut solo album The Carnival which went platinum, with help from steady radio-play and massive MTV rotation for the single Gone Til November. During his acceptance speech for the MTV Music Video Award for Best R&B Video, Wyclef spoke about the movie How Stella Got Her Groove Back (for which he a contributed a song on the soundtrack): I was saddened and offended to see my country (Haiti) used as a brunt of an AIDS joke in the movie... AIDS is a crisis and not a... comedy.
His second CD Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book went gold. He has also produced hits for other artists including Whitney Houstons smash hit My Love and Carlos Santanas Maria Maria and His production company Fugee Camp features upcoming new artists such as his brother and sister who perform as Melky Sedeck. An enigmatic performer Wyclef plays several instruments on stage while rapping in English, Creole, Spanish and even Japanese. His foundation The Wyclef Jean Foundation to promotes musical education among kids. In an interview with Kompa Magazine when asked if he considered himself to be more Haitian or American, he replied "Im 100% Haitian. Im proud to be Haitian. I still have my Haitian passport. I represent Haiti in everything that I do. Every head in the industry knows that Im Haitian… they know what Im about. I was Haitian first. Haiti till I die!"
Afiwi.com's complete profile on Wyclef Jean
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