Post by Moderator on Apr 27, 2008 6:37:33 GMT 1
Wow...i was amazed to hear he came down under. Unfortunately i am in the U.S. at the time, but i know i will see him one day.
Here is an interview with Clef
Interview with Wyclef Jean, host of the 2008 MTV Australia Awards
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Hip-hop legend Wyclef Jean is the host of the new MTV Australia Awards 2008. The Haitian-born Grammy-Award-winning artist is known for many things: musician, rapper, producer, social activist — and his list of artistic endeavours will no doubt continue to grow.
With a career that has seen him join forces with some of the biggest names in the business, including Lauryn Hill (fellow Fugees member), Destiny's Child, Timbaland, Cypress Hill, Missy Elliott, Bono, Mick Jagger and Tupac Shakur — Wyclef is on the top of everyone's wishlist.
We caught up with Wyclef when he was between laying down tracks in his studio.
Are you excited about hosting the MTV Awards?
Yeah, it's definitely exciting. I love performing; ever since I was young I was the cat out there standing up in the middle of my family and just cracking jokes all day. So it's just going to be a fun, fun time. The Australian people are like me — party all day. So we're going to have a good time.
Sounds like you were born for the role!
Oh yeah, I was born for the role. You see all my videos, I just like having fun. Serious guy but a very fun guy, you know what I'm saying?
Are you able to tell us a little bit about how this year's show will run?
I can't let the cat out of the hat. But I think bringing in me this year, bringing in 50 [Cent], is just going to have a whole other vibe to it. And I'm not just a host. I'm a performer too. And I think what always makes a really great show is when you can combine all of the different cultures and put them together. And that synergy and that fusion is where it's at. I mean you have Wyclef, you have 50 … it's going to be crazy!
Is this your first time in Australia?
No, I've been in Australia with the Fugees and a lot of people, when they ask, "what's one of your favourite spots?" I always say Australia. Not just because I'm talking to you, but because Australia's a place that I can remember being with the Fugees and those early memories are always the best.
So that was quite a few years ago?
Yeah, so I look forward to coming back and it's definitely going to be fun for me because it's been seven or eight years since I've been out there. People have probably seen me on the TV, but now they get to see me live going crazy, so it's going to be cool.
Are you familiar with any Australian artists?
I've been out of the loop a bit so it's definitely going to be a learning process. But I grew up with Men At Work! I'm dying to do a remix of them, reggae style.
Other than your MTV performance, can we look forward to a tour from you?
Well, I've got the album out now, which is called Carnival Vol II: Memoirs of an Immigrant, so there's definitely going to be a tour. I love coming back to Australia. I think we just put out the single 'Sweetest Girl' and it's already number one in the States, so it's going to be fun.
Do you have a message to your fans looking forward to your arrival?
My message to my fans is everybody who knows Wyclef knows that when I say Fugees it's short for refugees and I'm not just saying that. I even have relatives that came over to America on a boat. The most important thing is that in our hearts, deep in our hearts, we should not believe in racism and we should treat each man and each woman equal. We all have to learn how to respect each other and really share what's called universal love.
music.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=445205
Here is an interview with Clef
Interview with Wyclef Jean, host of the 2008 MTV Australia Awards
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Hip-hop legend Wyclef Jean is the host of the new MTV Australia Awards 2008. The Haitian-born Grammy-Award-winning artist is known for many things: musician, rapper, producer, social activist — and his list of artistic endeavours will no doubt continue to grow.
With a career that has seen him join forces with some of the biggest names in the business, including Lauryn Hill (fellow Fugees member), Destiny's Child, Timbaland, Cypress Hill, Missy Elliott, Bono, Mick Jagger and Tupac Shakur — Wyclef is on the top of everyone's wishlist.
We caught up with Wyclef when he was between laying down tracks in his studio.
Are you excited about hosting the MTV Awards?
Yeah, it's definitely exciting. I love performing; ever since I was young I was the cat out there standing up in the middle of my family and just cracking jokes all day. So it's just going to be a fun, fun time. The Australian people are like me — party all day. So we're going to have a good time.
Sounds like you were born for the role!
Oh yeah, I was born for the role. You see all my videos, I just like having fun. Serious guy but a very fun guy, you know what I'm saying?
Are you able to tell us a little bit about how this year's show will run?
I can't let the cat out of the hat. But I think bringing in me this year, bringing in 50 [Cent], is just going to have a whole other vibe to it. And I'm not just a host. I'm a performer too. And I think what always makes a really great show is when you can combine all of the different cultures and put them together. And that synergy and that fusion is where it's at. I mean you have Wyclef, you have 50 … it's going to be crazy!
Is this your first time in Australia?
No, I've been in Australia with the Fugees and a lot of people, when they ask, "what's one of your favourite spots?" I always say Australia. Not just because I'm talking to you, but because Australia's a place that I can remember being with the Fugees and those early memories are always the best.
So that was quite a few years ago?
Yeah, so I look forward to coming back and it's definitely going to be fun for me because it's been seven or eight years since I've been out there. People have probably seen me on the TV, but now they get to see me live going crazy, so it's going to be cool.
Are you familiar with any Australian artists?
I've been out of the loop a bit so it's definitely going to be a learning process. But I grew up with Men At Work! I'm dying to do a remix of them, reggae style.
Other than your MTV performance, can we look forward to a tour from you?
Well, I've got the album out now, which is called Carnival Vol II: Memoirs of an Immigrant, so there's definitely going to be a tour. I love coming back to Australia. I think we just put out the single 'Sweetest Girl' and it's already number one in the States, so it's going to be fun.
Do you have a message to your fans looking forward to your arrival?
My message to my fans is everybody who knows Wyclef knows that when I say Fugees it's short for refugees and I'm not just saying that. I even have relatives that came over to America on a boat. The most important thing is that in our hearts, deep in our hearts, we should not believe in racism and we should treat each man and each woman equal. We all have to learn how to respect each other and really share what's called universal love.
music.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=445205