Wyclef Jean looks for talented youth
Performer will be at Broward College in Davie on Thursday.
Grammy-winning performer and producer Wyclef Jean believes the combined creativity, ingenuity and energy of young people in their last few years of high school and early college is a musical, cultural and political force that a society ignores at its peril.
“Quincy Jones always told me that as a producer we’re learning every day, [and] we stay forever young through the youth,” Jean says. “I think those years, we’re still missing out on some of the best talent.”
To that end, Jean has embarked on a tour of college campuses called Wyclef Jean Goes Back to School, during which he is scouting for undiscovered talent to be included in a 12-song mixtape of the same name. Jean recently released the first song from the project, “Sak Kap Fet,” featuring Kofi Black and Moira Mack, a singer discovered at a show at the University of Southern California.
The former member of the Fugees is planning for the mixtape to be released before students return to school, when he hopes it will become “the new dorm bible.”
Jean will have his eyes and ears open for unknown talent during his performance Thursday at Broward College’s inaugural Seahawk Festival. The daylong event includes an afternoon of campus tours, food trucks and local DJ performances leading into an evening concert, with members of the Omari Hardwick Bluapple Poetry Network, and Miami-raised stars Walshy Fire (Major Lazer) and DJ Irie joining Jean.
What inspired you to go “back to school” on this talent search?
To discover talent in my business, you still have a few of us from the ’90s that are very active. You have a Jay-Z, a Puff, a ’Clef, a Nas, and everyone has a position. My position has always been from the idea of discovering raw talent.
You’ll be looking for talent at Broward College?
Definitely, I’m scouting. Tell the kids at Broward, that Wyclef said that when you show up to the concert, I might just do an improv set right there and choose somebody for the mixtape.
What are you looking for?
As a musician, I play 15 instruments, so I do believe that the idea of musicianship is important. I’m looking for singers, of course, rappers that are on totally different levels.
Seahawk Festival will take place noon-10 p.m. Thursday at the Broward College A. Hugh Adams Central Campus, 3501 Davie Road, in Davie. 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25, $15 for Broward College students, $50 VIP (which includes, prime seating, two drink tickets and an artist meet and greet). Call 954-201-6884 or go to SeahawkFestival.com. For more on Jean’s mixtape project, go to Wyclef.com.