Born in Haiti and raised in Brooklyn and New Jersey, Nelust Wyclef Jean began studying music when he was a teenager. In 1987 he teamed up with his cousin Prakazrel Michel (Pras) and classmate Lauryn Hill to form the Tranzlator Crew. Renaming themselves the Fugees, they made two albums (1993's Blunted on Reality and the 1996 megahit The Score) before Jean left to pursue a solo career. His debut, 1997's The Carnival, which featured appearances by Celia Cruz, the Neville Brothers and the I Threes, quickly went triple-platinum. Jean took a break from his music to work as a producer and songwriter for a number of popular artists, including Destiny's Child, Whitney Houston and the Black Eyed Peas, and he managed rapper Canibus's career for a short time. His second album, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book (2000), again featured a diverse array of guest appearances, including Kenny Rogers, Mary J. Blige and wrestling icon the Rock. Jean released Masquerade in 2002; The Preacher's Son followed in 2003.

Reviews

• The Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant
• Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101
• The Preacher’s Son
• Masquerade

Features

• Who Does Wyclef Jean Think He Is?