Wyclef Jean

Nelust Wyclef Jean ( WY-klef ZHON; born October 17, 1969) is a Haitian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Born in Haiti, Jean emigrated to the United States as a child. He gained fame as a member of the Fugees, a hip-hop trio he formed with Lauryn Hill and Pras, serving as the group's lead producer and guitarist. Their second album The Score (1996) became one of the best-selling albums of all time. Jean launched a solo career with Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival (1997), which spawned the hit singles "We Trying to Stay Alive" and "Gone till November". Jean produced the remix for "No, No, No" by Destiny's Child, which became their breakthrough single. He also co-wrote the 1999 singles "My Love Is Your Love" for Whitney Houston and "Maria Maria" for Santana. His second album, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book (2000), was supported by the single "911" (featuring Mary J. Blige), and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His third album, Masquerade (2002), peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 200. He was featured on Shakira's 2006 single, "Hips Don't Lie", which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100. Released the following year, his single "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" (featuring Akon, Lil Wayne and Niia), served as lead single for his sixth studio album and final release on a major label, Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant (2007). Alongside his recording career, Jean has produced and co-wrote several hit songs for other artists, including the rock artists Bono and Mick Jagger, and co-wrote "Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)", the official 2014 FIFA World Cup anthem, alongside Carlos Santana, Avicii, and Alexandre Pires. Jean also contributed to various film and television projects, including scoring The Agronomist (2003) and appeared on the Emmy-nominated 30 Rock episode "Kidney Now!". In 2004, Jean co-wrote "Million Voices" for Hotel Rwanda, earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song. Beyond music, Jean has been active in Haitian politics and philanthropy. In 2007, he was appointed Ambassador-at-Large of Haiti and later ran for the 2010 Haitian presidency, but was deemed ineligible due to residency requirements. His charity, Yéle Haiti, raised funds for Haitian relief efforts, including the 2010 Haitian earthquake, before disbanding amid financial scrutiny. Jean has won three Grammy Awards, while his work as a producer has been recognized by the Grammy Hall of Fame. He is the recipient of the BET Humanitarian Award and the NAACP Vanguard Award. In 2011, Haitian President Michel Martelly awarded him the National Order of Honour and Merit. Jean is among the few artists to chart on 16 different Billboard radio charts.