Wyclef Jean enjoys ‘global gumbo’ in ‘Carnival III’ release
Wyclef Jean had a song named in his honour and worked with producers on his new album who were just kids when he released his debut solo album, “The Carnival.’’
At 47, tributes from today’s hip-hop stars and a surge of young producers had Jean deciding to call it a day on “The Carnival’’ saga.
“Carnival III: The Rise and Fall of a Refugee,’’ is the last one under that banner.
“This is the trilogy. This is it,’’ Jean said.
Jean’s first full-length album in eight years was released Sept. 12 by Legacy Recording, and coincides with the 20-year anniversary celebration of the Grammy winning “Carnival.’’
Jean would collaborate with Santana, cover Bob Marley and snagged a cameo from Bob Dylan over the years, a thrill for him to work with and honour some of his musical heroes. These days, hip-hop stars pay homage simply by naming a song after The Fugees cofounder.
“When I first heard the record (I heard) new music, Wyclef Jean. I was like, this is not my song,’’ Jean said, laughing. “It was like, no the song’s named after you.’’
Young Thug indeed named a song “Wyclef Jean’’ that included the line, “Okay, my money way longer than a NASCAR race.’’
Jean, a three-time Grammy winner, wore a NASCAR jacket Sunday inside a motorhome for an interview with The Associated Press at Dover International Speedway. Jean, a NASCAR fan who is friends with former driver Brian Vickers, gave the command for drivers to start their engines.
It was a short drive to the Delaware track for Jean. He still lives in New Jersey, where his family moved from Haiti when he was just a young child.
“I feel like the Haitian Bruce Springsteen,’’ Jean said.
In an interview with the AP, Jean, talked his future, The Fugees, protests and “Carnival III,’’ shortly before he bellowed to the crowd it was time to start the NASCAR race.
AP: What does the new album mean to you?
Jean: “The best way to explain this album is, it seems like a tastemakers album right now. The buzz of it is building internally and in the underground. That’s a beautiful thing. It’s been like nine years, I think, since the last one. I think the theme of the entire album is, I call it global gumbo. The playlist is a playlist of unity and of culture. We could go from hip hop to gospel to salsa. I guess it’s the thing that reminds us of unification through music. That’s how I know that an album will be called Carnival and this will be the final chapter.’’