Biography of Wyclef Jean, a.k.a, Jeannel Wyclef Jean, by wikipedia.org

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Wyclef Jean
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wyclef Jean

Background information
Birth name Nel Ust Wyclef Jean
Also known as Wyclef
Born October 17, 1969 (age 40)
Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti
Origin Newark, New Jersey, United States
Genres Hip hop, reggae, compas, R&B, folk, Bachata
Occupations Musician, singer-songwriter, social activist, record producer, actor
Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano, drums
Years active 1987-present
Labels Ruffhouse, Columbia, J, Koch
Associated acts Fugees, Shakira, Akon, Selena, Serj Tankian, Tarkan, Aventura, Sizzla, Bigga Haitian
Website www.wyclef.com
Nel Ust Wyclef Jean (Haitian Creole pronunciation: [wajkl&#603;f &#658;ã], English: /&#712;wa&#618;kl&#603;f &#712;&#658;&#593;&#720;n/; born October 17, 1969)[1] is a Haitian 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 group, the Fugees.

On August 5, 2010, Jean filed for candidacy in the 2010 Haitian presidential election.[2], 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.[1][3]

Born in Haiti, the son of a Nazarene pastor,[4] Wyclef moved with his family to Brooklyn, New York, when he was nine[5] before moving again to northern New Jersey.

Jean has been a resident of Saddle River and South Orange, New Jersey.[6] Wyclef briefly attended Eastern Nazarene College and regrets dropping out. Jean is currently attending Boston's Berklee College of Music.[7] Jean has cited reggae artist Bigga Haitian as one of his early influences.[8]
Although his birth date was widely given as October 17, 1972, when he filed papers seeking to run as a candidate for the presidency of Haiti, he disclosed that he was in fact three years older.[1][9]
[edit]Family

In 1994 he married Fusha designer Marie Claudinette.[10] In 2005 they adopted their daughter, Angelina Claudinelle Jean. The couple renewed their vows in August 2009.[11]
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.[12][13][14]
[edit]Music career

[edit]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 - 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 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[15]; 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).

[edit]Solo career
At the concert Woodstock 1999, Jean paid homage to 1969 Woodstock performer Jimi Hendrix by setting fire to his guitar after playing "The Star-Spangled Banner" - and burnt his fingers while doing so.[16]
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; The Rock; and Mary J. Blige.

With Blige he released "911" as a single.

He was nominated for Best Hip-Hop Act at the 2000 MTV Europe Music Awards.[17]
Following the 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, was released in 2002. His fourth 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 Sak Pasé Presents: Welcome to Haïti (Creole 101) (released in the United States by Koch Records).

Most of its songs are in his native language of 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 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 Ghosts of Cité Soleil,[18] in which he appears onscreen speaking by telephone in 2004 to a "chimere" gang-leader and aspiring rapper, Winston "2Pac" Jean.[19]
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 claims to Billboard "To put it nicely, it's dead." He says the root of this animosity is the third member of the group, Lauryn Hill, saying to Billboard, "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."[20]
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.

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).

[21]
In 2009, he featured in a song called "Spanish Fly" with Ludacris and Bachata group Aventura in Aventura's upcoming album "The Last" which came out in June.
On June 17, 2009, Wyclef announced via Twitter that his new album will be called wyclefjean and is to be released sometime in February 2010.[citation needed] The first single off of wyclefjean is to be titled "Seventeen" and will feature Lil' Wayne.[22]
In November 2009, a track titled "Suicide Love" featuring rapper 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.[23] In this album, Wyclef uses the alias Toussaint St. Jean, his alter ego when he raps.[24]
Jean's self-entitled studio album is due to be released in 2010. "Hold On," the lead single from the project, will feature Dancehall artist Mavado.[23]
[edit]Yéle Haiti

In 2005, Jean established the Yéle Haiti Foundation.

In its first year of operation, the foundation, with funding by Comcel, provided scholarships to 3,600 children in Gonaïves, 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, Gonaïves, Les Cayes, Port-de-Paix, and Cap-Haïtien.[citation needed]
The Foundation filed its tax forms for 2005-2007 all in August 2009, a delay Charity Navigator characterized as "odd" even among charities, and "beyond late".[25] Much of Yéle Haiti's money has been paid out to Wyclef Jean, his relative and fellow Yéle Haiti director Jerry Duplessis, or companies they own. For example, of the $1,142,944 in total revenue the foundation collected in 2006, at least $410,000 was paid directly to Jean and his business partner for rent, production services, and Jean's appearance at a benefit concert.[26] The Foundation paid $250,000 to Telemax, a television station controlled by Jean and Duplessis, $31,000 to rent its own offices from Platinum Sound owned by Jean and Duplessis,[27] and $100,000 for Jean's own performance at a benefit concert in Monaco, when Jean had been paid only $40,000 as headliner at 2002 festival at the top of his career with the Fugees.[28]
Hugh Locke, president of Yéle Haiti, said "I think people should be very comfortable that any money given to Yéle Haiti is going 100 percent to emergency relief." and that the group hopes to increase the percentage of its budget on services as it gains experience.[27] He described the concert payments as "not our finest hour".[28] A spokesman for Yéle Haiti's public relations firm described paying Jean's and Duplessis' companies as an opportunity to receive services at a "severely reduced" rate and a "significant discount".[27] Yéle Haiti, and its predecessor the Wyclef Jean Foundation, have been involuntarily dissolved several times by the Florida Division of Corporations on multiple occasions for failing to file required state disclosure reports.

The long overdue records from several years where submitted to the FDC and the sanctions were lifted after a month.[29] The organization is currently listed as active on the Florida Department of State website.[30]
In a 2009 interview with Allhiphop.com writer Han O'Connor, Wyclef stated that his priority for the organization was to raise money to build the Yéle Center, which would be a facility that consists of a sports center, Wyclef Jean School of the Arts, a cultural center focusing on the environment and an internet café.

During the interview he claimed that he feels the key to improving the situation in Haiti is to build sustainable opportunity.[23]
After the earthquake on January 12, 2010 in Haiti, Jean called on others to donate to his foundation's Yéle Haiti Earthquake Fund, imploring "We must act now."[31][32]
Jean has been active in his support of his native country and created the foundation Yéle Haiti[33] to provide humanitarian aid and assistance to Haiti.

He describes Yéle as a non-political organization intended to empower the people of Haiti and the Haitian diaspora to rebuild their nation, saying, "The objective of Yéle 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".[citation needed].

Yéle 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.[citation needed]
In January 2007, Jean became a roving ambassador for Haiti, to help improve its image abroad.[34]
May 20, 2008 - Yéle Haiti partnered with WFP (World Food Programme) of the United Nations to launch www.togetherforhaiti.org
September, 2008 - Wyclef in conjunction with Yéle 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 Yéle 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."[35] He also aims to use social networking websites to help raise money to build the Yéle Center.[23]
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.

Yéle Haiti also came under "fiscal scrutiny" for some questionable payments made to Wyclef and his businesses.[27][36] The tax returns can be seen on thesmokinggun.com website.[26]
Also following the Haitian earthquake, ABC News uncovered how e-mail spammers posed as Jean to siphon money from potential donors to his foundation.

Thousands of people reportedly received the message, which software security groups and charity watchdogs said was a scam.[37]

[edit]2010 Haitian presidential campaign
Wikinews has related news: Wyclef Jean considering standing for president of Haiti&#8206;
On August 5, 2010, Wyclef confirmed the rumours 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 Exclaim! Magazine it was mentioned that Jean will be stepping down as the chairman of Yéle Haiti.

On August 5, Jean formally filed papers as a candidate for the 2010 Haitian presidential election, following media speculation that he would make his announcement that evening on Larry King Live.[38][39][40][41] Wyclef would have run as a candidate for the Viv Ansanm (Live Together) political party.[42] On the topic of his candidacy, Jean has stated, "I am being drafted to serve my country."[citation needed]
Besides opposition from Sean Penn in regards to Jean's Haitian presidential plans, Arcade Fire's Win Butler stated in a radio interview:
"Technically, [Wyclef Jean] 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 and being elected president of the United States after New York City and L.A. 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." [43]
On August 20, 2010, his bid for candidacy was rejected by 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 Nov. 28 election.[44][3] Afterward Wyclef stated:
" I respectfully accept the committee's final decision, and I urge my supporters to do the same.[45] "
[edit]Finances

Wyclef performing at the Mezzanine in San Francisco to a full house, July 2008
Wyclef's waterfront mansion that was purchased through his corporation on Pine Tree Drive in Miami Beach, Florida, is now owned by a bank as of November 2008. The property is valued at US$1.4 million.[46] He took out a US$2-million mortgage to purchase and renovate the property, but fell behind in payments.

There are more than $100,000 in construction and architectural liens associated with the property.

The house was reported to be auctioned at the Miami-Dade Courthouse on December 12, 2008. Wyclef Jean's corporation, which he and a few friends set up several years ago, then owed the bank US$2.4 million.[47]
In January 2009, Wyclef mentioned, in a walk-by interview, that the problems with their Miami property were due to a contractor's sitting on the job for two years, that the court-ordered sale did not take place, and that he plans to sell the property later.[48][49][dead link][50][dead link]
While Jean was chairman of Yéle Haiti there were accusations of financial misconduct.

On 4 August 2010, The Smoking Gun reported that Jean owes the IRS $2.1 million.

The Dark Knight, August 31 2010, 5:40 PM

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