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I am 3X Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter/producer Wyclef Jean, and today marks the 20th anniversary of the Fugees' The Score - Ask me Anything!
The music that Wyclef Jean has written, performed, and produced — both as a solo superstar and as founder and guiding member of the Fugees — has been a consistently powerful, pop cultural force for over two decades. In 1996, the Fugees released their monumental album The Score, which inspired notoriously prickly rock critic Robert Christgau to write: "so beautiful and funny, its courage could make you weep.” The album, created in Wyclef’s studio in his uncle’s basement in New Jersey, hit No. 1 on the Billboard chart, spawned a trio of smash singles (including their indelible reinvention of Roberta Flack’s 1973 ballad “Killing Me Softly”), and is now certified six times platinum. But Wyclef, a child prodigy with a wealth of musical influences from jazz to classic rock to reggae, resisted the pressure to duplicate the sound and style of that masterwork. Instead he launched himself as a producer and solo artists whose work drew from an innovative and eclectic palette that included elements of pop, country, folk, disco, Latin, and electronic music.
Wyclef has been rewarded for his creativity and adventurousness with three Grammy Awards, a spot on the cover of Rolling Stone’s special “Top 50 Hip Hop Players,” and the opportunity to make music with such legends as Michael Jackson, Queen, Mick Jagger, Paul Simon, Earth, Wind & Fire, Kenny Rogers, and Tom Jones. As a solo artist, he has released six albums that have sold nearly nine million copies worldwide, including his 1997 debut The Carnivaland 2000’s aptly titled The Eclectic: 2 Sides II a Book, which even turned wrestling superstar/action hero The Rock into a pop star with the international hit single “It Doesn’t Matter.” Through it all, Wyclef kept an ear cocked for new talent. He helped launch Beyoncé´s career with Destiny’s Child’s early hit “No, No, No.” Additionally, he co-wrote and is featured on Shakira’s chart-topping single “Hips Don’t Lie.”
All of my websites and social media in case you want to check them out are below:
https://www.facebook.com/Wyclef/
https://www.instagram.com/wyclefjean/
https://www.youtube.com/user/wyclef
Volunteer moderator /u/courtiebabe420 has set this post up for us today. I'll be here at 2:30pm ET to answer your questions!
So please, Reddit. Ask Me Anything!
OfficialWyclefJean-49 karma
D j moves the crowd the M c control the crowd the Refugee are those that search for a place of peace
OfficialWyclefJean-134 karma
well for all my super fans music will start coming out in three weeks followed by a tour i have been in the studio with everyone enjoying the new sonics from from the knocks to afro jack! to my brother D j Khalid AND Avicii so get ready the Carnival man is back baby
WhuddaWhat-6 karma
When I think back fondly on my youth, your work is practically the soundtrack of my HS and college years. Your music is a reason why I, some engineer from Arkansas, decided to learn French. Just wanted to let you know how important your work has been to me. Thanks, Clef.
So, are there any more old school songs that you'd like to totally make your own, like Staying Alive?
OfficialWyclefJean-48 karma
this was a song that was personal after losing someone i knew that would never return again they went to make a run and never made it back you dig?
FistoftheSouthStar-7 karma
Where did you get the gold AK47 guitar you played in the "Bang Bang Bang" video?
OfficialWyclefJean-41 karma
the guitar i had it made to let the world know my Gun of choice is music
OfficialWyclefJean-41 karma
my Father he came to this Country with nothing and he turned us into Something
OfficialWyclefJean-81 karma
i think he is a voice that the youth have been waiting to hear
tacotrap-11 karma
Just wanted to say Perfect Gentleman is still pumps me up after all these years. Thanks for the great music and look forward to what's next.
OfficialWyclefJean-66 karma
thank you to the fans staring with u whats next is the Next chapter of my musical career i will continue to follow in the foot steps of Quincy JONES more music more technology more ways to help the human race one love
Philip_Marlowe-12 karma
Hey Clef - big fan! What was it like working with Carlos Santana on "Maria Maria"? What, if anything, did you learn from him during those sessions?
OfficialWyclefJean-111 karma
as a Guitar player spending time with Carlos gave me a new inspiration when playing
Pussy_Professor-13 karma
Clef, much respect!
your music has enriched my life for many many years
just wanted to shoot out a thank you!
any chance for a fugees reunion tour?
WooflesAndBacon-13 karma
Of the songs you have written or produced, which is the most personal to you?
marineturndlegofiend-14 karma
Good afternoon Wyclef,
What were the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of your decision to split up the Fugees?
OfficialWyclefJean-58 karma
the good was the music the bad was the pressure the ugly was that u know longer had a private life
llgittens-3 karma
What makes a DJ? What makes an MC? What makes a refugee?
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