One of the hazards of celebrity is being confused with another famous person. And that’s just what happened to Wyclef Jean when some kid asked for his autograph, mistaking him for will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas. The erstwhile Fugee recalls the incident on the track “Warrior’s Anthem,” one of the cuts off his new album, From The Hut to the Projects to the Mansion, out today. The Music Mix hopes Wyclef cuffed the ignorant young whippersnapper behind his ear! “No,” he says, “I signed the autograph. But I said, ‘I am not will.i.am!’”
Wyclef explains that he made the CD, a collaboration with mixtape producer DJ Drama, to inform young listeners (and remind older ones), that the musician and producer is also a rapper. That means, in part, adopting the alter-ego of “Toussaint St. Jean,” a nod to the 18th-century Haitian revolutionary Toussaint L’Ouverture. “It was very important to go back to the basic fundamentals,” he says. “It’s important [for people to realize], ‘Oh, damn, despite everything—we see him shaking his hips with Shakira, he write all of these big songs—his fundamentals are hip hop music.’ I wanted to remind people.”
After the break, Wyclef reveals more about his new album, the one after that, and the “hood”-friendly nature of Cyndi Lauper.
Entertainment Weekly: Is it correct to call this album a mixtape?
Wyclef Jean: I went in doing it in the frame of mind of a mixtape, meaning that I knew this was the prodigal son coming back to hip hop. I wanted to be clear with everyone: This not a “Wyclef Jean” album. This is “Wyclef Jean/a.k.a. Toussaint St. Jean,” the prodigal son returning to hip hop. But, when me and Drama started, it got bigger than a mixtape.
Guests include Timbaland, Lil’ Kim, and, on the track “Slumdog Millionaire,” Cyndi Lauper. What’s the connection with Ms. Lauper?
The whole hip-hop people, we’re always big fans of Cyndi Lauper. I mean everybody I knew grew up with Cyndi. There’s not a hood that don’t know Cyndi Lauper.
I did not know that.
Yeah, we got mad love for Cyndi Lauper: “Time After Time,” “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” And Cyndi Lauper’s got the whole Brooklyn thing too. Like, when I hear M.I.A., she’s like a Cyndi Lauper swag somehow.
What can you tell us about your next “proper” CD?
The next album’s called Wyclef Jean, because it’s really going to be the first album where the first seven songs are just Wyclef. The first seven songs are definitely going to be guitar-, piano-, band-driven. And I’m not going to start the features until number 8. The feature I’m most excited about is the one with Natasha Bedingfield. I’m just always amazed by singers because of my church background, and my dad being a minister. And Natasha Bedingfield is a voice and a half, man.
Who else will be appearing on the album?
I’ve got Mavado from Jamaica. I’ve got Lil Wayne. We did “Sweetest Girl, Part II,” which is a song called “Seventeen.” I also rocked out with Estelle. But it’s not going to be a thousand features. And this is what I’m moving towards in the future. I’m going for stadium music now, let’s go!
And, after that, is there any chance of the Fugees getting back together?
I mean, that would be a dream come true. I’m here, you know what I mean. But Wyclef don’t stop. If Paul McCartney don’t stop, Wyclef Jean don’t stop.
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
The Killers’ Brandon Flowers on live albums, vampires, and Sinatra: A Music Mix Q&A
Britney Spears lip-synching controversy: (not) shock of the decade?
Sunday CMA rehearsal Not-Quite-Liveblog: Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, and more!
Rihanna’s Diane Sawyer interview, part 1
Rihanna’s Diane Sawyer interview, part 2: The night she was assaulted
Comments (1-6) of 6 Add your comment
fugees reunion would be fantastic but Lauryn Hill is 2 bipolar and 3 busy having babies with that Marley guy
Favorite Fugees song is their makeover of the Roberta Flack song Killing me softly with his song back in 1996.The video was great to watch,MTV.VH1 would Always play it all the time.I would Always Dance to it.Also sing Along to it.I like when magic 92.5 fm would play that sometimes that song brings back the time.When songs form the 70s comes back.That was good.
‘Gone til November’ is a great song by Wycleff. I have the Fugees CD from the day, the score, but I didn’t stop. I also, bought Lauren’s ‘miseducation…, but also have two of Wycleff’s: Carnival and Ecleftic and I still play them today.
I love his music.
it’s ok if hill can’t do it, they’ve got lucious loo loo a.k.a cyndi lauper. she’s gangsta yo!!!
love the new album cleff good job i think people under rate cleff but the men is beast when it come to music. an his good person with all the work he those with who has less then us. i am a big fan
Wyclef is very great!