Post by TB Call Me S.E.X Diamond:) on Jan 19, 2007 21:20:31 GMT 1
Wyclef Jean : Interview
Wyclef Jean rolls through Georgetown tonight for a headlining concert at Southwestern University’s Corbin J. Robertson Center. The college show sits between stadium performances in San Antonio and Dallas, where Jean is guest to Shakira on her “Oral Fixation” tour.
Jean first found fame in early 1996 when his former group, The Fugees (with Lauryn Hill and Pras), went multi-platinum with their album The Score, selling 17 million copies and becoming international superstars.
Jean’s career continued to climb when he went solo in 1997. His first solo album, The Carnival, was immensely successful and produced memorable singles such as “Gone Till November” and “We Trying to Stay Alive.” Jean has worked with the most accredited names in music, including Bono, Queen and Carlos Santana, and recently played for billions when he performed at this year’s World Cup.
Tonight, Jean will bring things back to basics when he plays for a significantly smaller crowd at Southwestern University. “I respect college,” he said of the upcoming show. “When I was in college I was like the dorm house band. We’d always jam out for our peers ... though eventually they kicked us out.”
Coincidentally, today’s college crowd is composed of the same kids who grew up listening to The Fugees.
Jean is opening the show on all 23 of Shakira’s current U.S. tour dates and is enjoying being along for the ride. “Everything is remarkable,” he said. “We’re having a good time.” The two first worked together when Jean recorded “Hips Don’t Lie” with the Colombian pop act earlier this year.
Jean doesn’t feel that opening for a pop sensation like Shakira will hinder his credibility as an artist. “It’s all good, because before I was just the guy in the Fugees video who’d yell ‘one time,’” he said. He believes that, if anything, touring with Shakira will open up new doors. “It’s dope to keep reinventing yourself and to crossover to the next generation,” he said. “When I hit them with the new album, The Carnival 2, next summer all the kids who know me as the ‘Shakira man’ will be blown away.”
Even while on the road, Jean is hard at work on his upcoming album, which is expected to hit stands next summer. “I’ve been recording. I have a studio on my tour bus and hotel,” he said. “After shows I’ll go back to my room and work for a couple of hours.” The Carnival 2, the album’s projected title, is a follow-up to his first solo release, The Carnival.
“My approach is just a continuation from part one: bring back some of the characters and the music themes,” he said of the upcoming release. “I’m working with Mary J. Blige, T.I., Carlos Santana, and my cousin Jerry Wonder and I will be producing. It’s gonna be crazy.”
Fans still holding out for a highly anticipated Fugees reunion will not be let down. “It’s going to happen; it’s just taking a long time. It’s gotta be hot,” Jean said. The group performed together in 2004 during the filming of Dave Chappelle’s “Block Party”, released in June.
Jean will also incorporate his work from “Block Party” in The Carnival 2. “That ‘If I was President’ joint from “Block Party” is gonna be on there,” he said.
Those able to check out Jean’s headlining show are in for a treat. “I was raised mostly in Brooklyn, and I take the energy of a block party to the masses,” he said. “You get stressed in college and you just want that one night of mad entertainment before exams.
“Get ready baby, it’s the greatest show on earth.”
Tonight’s show begins at 8 p.m. in the Corbin J. Robertson Center at Southwestern University. Austin’s Overlord opens
Source www.dtweekend.com/issues/20060921/wyclef.php
Wyclef Jean rolls through Georgetown tonight for a headlining concert at Southwestern University’s Corbin J. Robertson Center. The college show sits between stadium performances in San Antonio and Dallas, where Jean is guest to Shakira on her “Oral Fixation” tour.
Jean first found fame in early 1996 when his former group, The Fugees (with Lauryn Hill and Pras), went multi-platinum with their album The Score, selling 17 million copies and becoming international superstars.
Jean’s career continued to climb when he went solo in 1997. His first solo album, The Carnival, was immensely successful and produced memorable singles such as “Gone Till November” and “We Trying to Stay Alive.” Jean has worked with the most accredited names in music, including Bono, Queen and Carlos Santana, and recently played for billions when he performed at this year’s World Cup.
Tonight, Jean will bring things back to basics when he plays for a significantly smaller crowd at Southwestern University. “I respect college,” he said of the upcoming show. “When I was in college I was like the dorm house band. We’d always jam out for our peers ... though eventually they kicked us out.”
Coincidentally, today’s college crowd is composed of the same kids who grew up listening to The Fugees.
Jean is opening the show on all 23 of Shakira’s current U.S. tour dates and is enjoying being along for the ride. “Everything is remarkable,” he said. “We’re having a good time.” The two first worked together when Jean recorded “Hips Don’t Lie” with the Colombian pop act earlier this year.
Jean doesn’t feel that opening for a pop sensation like Shakira will hinder his credibility as an artist. “It’s all good, because before I was just the guy in the Fugees video who’d yell ‘one time,’” he said. He believes that, if anything, touring with Shakira will open up new doors. “It’s dope to keep reinventing yourself and to crossover to the next generation,” he said. “When I hit them with the new album, The Carnival 2, next summer all the kids who know me as the ‘Shakira man’ will be blown away.”
Even while on the road, Jean is hard at work on his upcoming album, which is expected to hit stands next summer. “I’ve been recording. I have a studio on my tour bus and hotel,” he said. “After shows I’ll go back to my room and work for a couple of hours.” The Carnival 2, the album’s projected title, is a follow-up to his first solo release, The Carnival.
“My approach is just a continuation from part one: bring back some of the characters and the music themes,” he said of the upcoming release. “I’m working with Mary J. Blige, T.I., Carlos Santana, and my cousin Jerry Wonder and I will be producing. It’s gonna be crazy.”
Fans still holding out for a highly anticipated Fugees reunion will not be let down. “It’s going to happen; it’s just taking a long time. It’s gotta be hot,” Jean said. The group performed together in 2004 during the filming of Dave Chappelle’s “Block Party”, released in June.
Jean will also incorporate his work from “Block Party” in The Carnival 2. “That ‘If I was President’ joint from “Block Party” is gonna be on there,” he said.
Those able to check out Jean’s headlining show are in for a treat. “I was raised mostly in Brooklyn, and I take the energy of a block party to the masses,” he said. “You get stressed in college and you just want that one night of mad entertainment before exams.
“Get ready baby, it’s the greatest show on earth.”
Tonight’s show begins at 8 p.m. in the Corbin J. Robertson Center at Southwestern University. Austin’s Overlord opens
Source www.dtweekend.com/issues/20060921/wyclef.php
