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Purpose: An Immigrant's Story
Purpose is Wyclef Jean’s powerful story of a life rooted in struggle, soul-searching, art, and survival.
In his own voice the multi-platinum musician and producer shares everything, from his childhood in Haiti to his rise to the top of the American music scene. For the first time ever, Wyclef reveals the behind-the-scenes story of the Fugees, including his partnership with Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel, the details of their award-winning album The Score, and the solo career that followed.
For fans of early Wyclef efforts like The Carnival or later albums like From the Hut, To the Projects, To the Mansion—and for fans of books like Jay-Z’s Decoded or Russell Simmons’ Super Rich—Wyclef’s Purpose is an inspiring, one-of-a-kind look at one of the world’s most talented artists.
In his own voice the multi-platinum musician and producer shares everything, from his childhood in Haiti to his rise to the top of the American music scene. For the first time ever, Wyclef reveals the behind-the-scenes story of the Fugees, including his partnership with Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel, the details of their award-winning album The Score, and the solo career that followed.
For fans of early Wyclef efforts like The Carnival or later albums like From the Hut, To the Projects, To the Mansion—and for fans of books like Jay-Z’s Decoded or Russell Simmons’ Super Rich—Wyclef’s Purpose is an inspiring, one-of-a-kind look at one of the world’s most talented artists.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2011
56 people are currently reading
430 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
December 2, 2012
Wyclef (*shakes head from side to side*). Your god complex is showing (he even compares himself to Jesus several times). A bunch of stories from Wyclef's life including stories from his childhood in Haiti, his youth in the US, his introduction to music, his time with the Fugees, his work for his humanitarian organization and the alleged scandals, his relationship with Lauryn Hill, his repeated justifications for his infidelity during his marriage and his relationship with Reverend daddy. Oh and let's not forget about the time he tried to poison his grandma.
A bit repetitive.
A bit repetitive.
July 10, 2018
I've rediscovered Wyclef lately and I've been having a new found appreciation to his music. So, it was an appropriate time to pick up his memoir to learn more about him, and gladly it served its purpose. Wyclef's faith in himself is remarkable but at times he crosses the thin line between confidence and arrogance. His affair with Lauryn Hill and the way he wrote about it with much entitlement angered me because he threw her under the bus regardless of the pain he caused to her and his wife while giving himself every excuse in the book.
December 9, 2012
I really like Wyclef Jean, but he can really be a fink. His story is almost fascinating, and at one point, I was turned off by the 20 pages trying to justify and explain his affair with Lauryn Hill during the early years of his relationship and marriage with his wife. But he redeems himself with his honesty and passion....
January 21, 2018
I only had the barest idea who Wyclef Jean was when I picked this book up, and this book definitely have me a glimpse of how he sees himself. I'm not certain if it was the ebook I read or if other editions had the same number of typos and errors, but it was occasionally difficult to follow the meaning without rereading.
June 9, 2014
I was surprised to enjoy this book as much as I did. What I found was a nuanced multi layered account of various aspects of the life and coming of age of this Haitian immigrant in the United States who throughout the book insists on designating himself as Haitian, without hyphenation.
First, there's Wyclef's childhood in quasi-rural Haiti while waiting for his parents to send for him and his younger brother. Much of his personality was forged then and it is heart wrenching to hear him talk about his parents as mythical intangible figures during these years where he was cared for by extended relatives. Among the highlights: he receives schooling that teaches him about the Haitian revolution, a story he enjoys and finds empowering, and he is surrounded by a well woven clan. Among the downsides, he often goes hungry.
He also spends quite a bit of time on his rebellion against his pastor father who himself had rebelled against his houngan patriarch. It is a fascinating multigenerational dynamic which almost serves as an ethnography on the relationship between vodou and christianity in Haiti. I would recommend this book for that reason to those who are interested in the motives and mechanisms of converting to evangelical christianity for certain Haitians. In Wyclef's father's case it is safe to say that the embrace of evangelical christianity offered him a multinational network which allowed him to migrate to the US, surely a powerful motivator beyond pure religious belief.
Wyclef also spends quite a bit of time on the Fugees, their formation and their demise, his affair with Lauryn Hill, his own American odyssey grappling with anti-Haitian harassment in school and on the streets, bouts of petty larceny and his early training as a musician.
Surely, Wyclef wrote this book with public relations objectives in mind as he spends quite a bit of time attempting to set the record straight on allegations of financial mismanagement and fraud at his NGO Yele, rumors that he negatively influenced Lauryn Hill artistically and that his talent did not equal hers and his unsuccessful bid for the Haitian presidency.
First, there's Wyclef's childhood in quasi-rural Haiti while waiting for his parents to send for him and his younger brother. Much of his personality was forged then and it is heart wrenching to hear him talk about his parents as mythical intangible figures during these years where he was cared for by extended relatives. Among the highlights: he receives schooling that teaches him about the Haitian revolution, a story he enjoys and finds empowering, and he is surrounded by a well woven clan. Among the downsides, he often goes hungry.
He also spends quite a bit of time on his rebellion against his pastor father who himself had rebelled against his houngan patriarch. It is a fascinating multigenerational dynamic which almost serves as an ethnography on the relationship between vodou and christianity in Haiti. I would recommend this book for that reason to those who are interested in the motives and mechanisms of converting to evangelical christianity for certain Haitians. In Wyclef's father's case it is safe to say that the embrace of evangelical christianity offered him a multinational network which allowed him to migrate to the US, surely a powerful motivator beyond pure religious belief.
Wyclef also spends quite a bit of time on the Fugees, their formation and their demise, his affair with Lauryn Hill, his own American odyssey grappling with anti-Haitian harassment in school and on the streets, bouts of petty larceny and his early training as a musician.
Surely, Wyclef wrote this book with public relations objectives in mind as he spends quite a bit of time attempting to set the record straight on allegations of financial mismanagement and fraud at his NGO Yele, rumors that he negatively influenced Lauryn Hill artistically and that his talent did not equal hers and his unsuccessful bid for the Haitian presidency.
September 9, 2014
This book sucked me in. I love memoirs because it allows people to relate to those who are in the spotlight and have gained celebrity status. Wyclef is a very well-known rapper and producer in the United States. He is most well-known for his time in the group the Fugees alongside Lauryn Hill and Pras. In his memoir he recounts his childhood in Haiti, his move to the States up through the excitement, celebrity and eventual downfall of the Fugees. He also talks about his work with Haiti and his group Yele which was one of the first aid groups to help after the earthquake hit.
I have never laughed harder while reading a book. There is a part where he decided to get a Mexican goat and take him on stage with him and the Fugees to try and get more publicity. The goat ended up freaking out and pooping all over the stage. It is hilarious.
Wyclef puts it all out there including his infidelities and mistakes. He explains that he wants his daughter to know that he has owned up to everything he is done and he doesn't want his daughter to learn things about him via internet.
I think that this book would be enjoyed by anyone interested in hearing a different American dream story. It was a great insight into Haitian American life.
I have never laughed harder while reading a book. There is a part where he decided to get a Mexican goat and take him on stage with him and the Fugees to try and get more publicity. The goat ended up freaking out and pooping all over the stage. It is hilarious.
Wyclef puts it all out there including his infidelities and mistakes. He explains that he wants his daughter to know that he has owned up to everything he is done and he doesn't want his daughter to learn things about him via internet.
I think that this book would be enjoyed by anyone interested in hearing a different American dream story. It was a great insight into Haitian American life.
June 9, 2016
How do you rank a biography?
Based on writing style? 3 stars - it was a bit disjointed and hard to piece together the chronology
Based on entertainment? 4 stars - it was an easy read and interesting, kept me engaged and pages turning
Based on accuracy? unknown - I would guess the other Fugees might contest some of the information, but who knows
Based on likability of the subject? 2 stars
I have Haitian sons. I wanted to love this book, to find a role model for my boys. To show them someone who came from the same roots and became a "success". But it all depends on your definition of success. Wyclef made lots of money and made a mark on the music industry. He helped his homeland with financial and leadership supports. In that light he was a success - but my definition is relates more to Christian character. Despite his honesty in admitting some sins that hurt others I never got the feeling that if given the chance for a "do over"he would choose differently. It was more I'm sorry I hurt others with my bad decisions, but I would do it again if I was in the same position. I just couldn't find myself liking the guy. And I SO wanted to! His prevailing arrogance just didn't win me over.
Based on writing style? 3 stars - it was a bit disjointed and hard to piece together the chronology
Based on entertainment? 4 stars - it was an easy read and interesting, kept me engaged and pages turning
Based on accuracy? unknown - I would guess the other Fugees might contest some of the information, but who knows
Based on likability of the subject? 2 stars
I have Haitian sons. I wanted to love this book, to find a role model for my boys. To show them someone who came from the same roots and became a "success". But it all depends on your definition of success. Wyclef made lots of money and made a mark on the music industry. He helped his homeland with financial and leadership supports. In that light he was a success - but my definition is relates more to Christian character. Despite his honesty in admitting some sins that hurt others I never got the feeling that if given the chance for a "do over"he would choose differently. It was more I'm sorry I hurt others with my bad decisions, but I would do it again if I was in the same position. I just couldn't find myself liking the guy. And I SO wanted to! His prevailing arrogance just didn't win me over.
July 4, 2018
I randomly picked up Wyclef's memoir during a trip to the library a few weeks ago. It was on display for Black Music Month; and based on the synopsis, I decided to borrow it. And to be honest, I wasn't impressed.
This book had so much potential but it was poorly organized and it didn't flow. I couldn't follow the timeline of the events that happened in his life because the story was all over the place and was redundant in several places. I did however, enjoy reading about how The Fugees got started and the events leading up to their disbandment. His chapters about their rise to fame had me reminiscing about their songs and I ended up playing a few tracks from their album, The Score while I read his book.
I was also annoyed by Wyclef's perspective about his role in some of the unfortunate situations that he put himself in. It felt like he was trying to convince his readers and himself that some of the poor choices and decisions that he made were justified. Given the fact that his actions directly impacted other people, I wish he would've avoided taking the whole "I had no real choice in the matter" position. But at the end of the day, this is his memoir; not mine.
This book had so much potential but it was poorly organized and it didn't flow. I couldn't follow the timeline of the events that happened in his life because the story was all over the place and was redundant in several places. I did however, enjoy reading about how The Fugees got started and the events leading up to their disbandment. His chapters about their rise to fame had me reminiscing about their songs and I ended up playing a few tracks from their album, The Score while I read his book.
I was also annoyed by Wyclef's perspective about his role in some of the unfortunate situations that he put himself in. It felt like he was trying to convince his readers and himself that some of the poor choices and decisions that he made were justified. Given the fact that his actions directly impacted other people, I wish he would've avoided taking the whole "I had no real choice in the matter" position. But at the end of the day, this is his memoir; not mine.
February 28, 2019
I listened to the audio version, and it was so cool that it was read by his younger brother. The book started off slow but it quickly picked up. I feel like I’ve learned a lot about Wyclef. I knew he was a Haitian immigrant but I didn’t know his back story. I love the fact that he was vulnerable enough to talk about the ups and downs of his life, and how he knows he’s not perfect but is willing to make mistakes and learn from them. He talks about his relationship with Lauryn Hill while he was married, he talks about him running for president, and him helping the people of Haiti. I think the most entertaining part of the book is when he “gets his respect back” for his little brother. I think the most touching part of the book is when he went back to Haiti after the earth quake and what he saw. The most vulnerable part of the book is when we spoke about his affair with Lauryn Hill. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the book
January 7, 2013
uh...
sometimes it is good to not know so much about an artist.
if i read how much he loved Lauryn Hill one more time i was going to puke. he kept going on, and on, and on and then on some more. dude, we know you loved her (in my mind still does).
you can love two people - but how he handled it was errrr WRONG...
then he'd throw a dash of Pras in there just to "not forget him".
the part that really made my blood boil is his comparison of all the artists of the Fugees and who had the most hit records. Blow smoke much?
I by no means want to speak for his wife, but she is for sure more woman than I could ever be. The Lauryn situation I could understand - may not have liked it, but could have understood. but then he went on to mention his other slip up w/ other women? oh no...
i tell you a preacher and a pimp run neck and neck, ijs.
sometimes it is good to not know so much about an artist.
if i read how much he loved Lauryn Hill one more time i was going to puke. he kept going on, and on, and on and then on some more. dude, we know you loved her (in my mind still does).
you can love two people - but how he handled it was errrr WRONG...
then he'd throw a dash of Pras in there just to "not forget him".
the part that really made my blood boil is his comparison of all the artists of the Fugees and who had the most hit records. Blow smoke much?
I by no means want to speak for his wife, but she is for sure more woman than I could ever be. The Lauryn situation I could understand - may not have liked it, but could have understood. but then he went on to mention his other slip up w/ other women? oh no...
i tell you a preacher and a pimp run neck and neck, ijs.
January 8, 2016
I will always respect Wyclef Jean for his musical legacy, but as I learned more about him as a person, I grew disgusted. His affair with Lauryn Hill, as a married man, and his justification for all of his affairs were despicable. To me, he never seems to take full responsibility, he just always pins the reasoning for his actions on someone else. I think I would have been better off just enjoying his music and not desiring to know more about him as a person.
It makes me wonder how Lauryn Hill's career would have differed if she never entered a romantic relationship with him. Unfortunately we will never know.
It makes me wonder how Lauryn Hill's career would have differed if she never entered a romantic relationship with him. Unfortunately we will never know.
January 19, 2015
Wyclef is a great artist but an awful person! I was really put off by his extended explanation of his affair with Lauryn Hill - take some responsibility for being a cheater, as well as the times you've failed in life. He came off completely pompous, especially when claiming he was the greatest artist with the most success after the Fugee demise. Lauryn was the first hiphop artist to win the Grammy for Album of the year, and she deserved it. His explanation of the Yele scandal after the earthquake was laughable. I almost regret reading this book!
April 27, 2013
Really nice read by Mr. Jean. I caught myself laughing out loud from his childhood stories. He gave a lot more than I expected. I was impressed.
September 28, 2012
Eh. I like Wyclef but I felt like his explanation of his time in the Fugees was kinda crap.
August 24, 2018
I know the names: Wyclef Jean, the Fugees, Lauryn Hill, and may have heard some of their music prior to reading Purpose: An Immigrant's Story by Wyclef Jean with Anthony Bozza, but did not know anything about the artists and their music.
Rhyming over the beat has no meaning for me, nor the technical aspects of recording equipment, thus I got a bit bored reading those details.
Confusing:
"My parents named me Jeannel Wyclef Jean, a name that honors two rebel leaders in the history of man. The first is John Wycliffe..."
"The other man I am named after is Toussaint L'Ouverture..."
How does one get Jeannel from Toussaint L'Ouverture?
Later, he says: "Nel is an abbreviation of my first name, Nelust." I thought his first name was Jeannel? Maybe Nel came from the second part of his first name, giving rise to his first rapper nickname: Nelly Nel?
Later still, he says "...he may not have raised a church man like John Wycliffe, but he'd raised a leader like Toussaint Jean."
Who is Toussaint Jean?
Also:
"Her oldest son, Jean, was a real tough kid..."
"His last name was Jean just like mine..."
So was his cousins name was Jean Jean?
There were other inconsistencies throughout the book. He says he lied to Claudinette because she was older, saying his age was "twenty-two or something, so she'd go out with me." The next page he says she did not believe him when he lied saying he was nineteen. Maybe she was twenty-two and he was seventeen and he really meant he lied saying he was nineteen?
The book was good in that it did give a clear picture of Wyclef's childhood. It was inconsistent in that he says his parents were strict, their punishments just because it kept him from getting into trouble. Their punishment amounted to child abuse, especially when his grandmother cut his back multiple times with a knife.
It seems to me their punishments drove him to wild behavior, because he still shoplifted and was destructive even after severe beatings.
I was interested in reading Purpose due to it being an immigrant's story. Some of he and his family's immigrant trials & tribulations were interesting; most of it was run-of-the-mill. Any immigrant's story of life in the U.S. of A.
Wyclef was surprised that there is racism in Germany. He did not think "racism like that existed outside of the Untied States, why would it?" Gee, I guess he never heard of Hitler's Nazi Germany; did he think Hitler would have considered dark-skinned people to be equal to the blue-eyed blonde Master Race he envisioned?
What I got from reading Purpose was many visits to You Tube (with more to follow) to check out music mentioned in Wyclef's memoir.
A quote from his father:
"You must never fear another man," he said. "No man can take from you what you don't give him yourself. Only you can give a man the knowledge that grants him the freedom to take all that is yours."
Purpose: An Immigrant's Story probably deserves more stars, but I can not truthfully say that I liked it. I did enjoy the glimpses into Haiti, and the devastating earthquake.
Rhyming over the beat has no meaning for me, nor the technical aspects of recording equipment, thus I got a bit bored reading those details.
Confusing:
"My parents named me Jeannel Wyclef Jean, a name that honors two rebel leaders in the history of man. The first is John Wycliffe..."
"The other man I am named after is Toussaint L'Ouverture..."
How does one get Jeannel from Toussaint L'Ouverture?
Later, he says: "Nel is an abbreviation of my first name, Nelust." I thought his first name was Jeannel? Maybe Nel came from the second part of his first name, giving rise to his first rapper nickname: Nelly Nel?
Later still, he says "...he may not have raised a church man like John Wycliffe, but he'd raised a leader like Toussaint Jean."
Who is Toussaint Jean?
Also:
"Her oldest son, Jean, was a real tough kid..."
"His last name was Jean just like mine..."
So was his cousins name was Jean Jean?
There were other inconsistencies throughout the book. He says he lied to Claudinette because she was older, saying his age was "twenty-two or something, so she'd go out with me." The next page he says she did not believe him when he lied saying he was nineteen. Maybe she was twenty-two and he was seventeen and he really meant he lied saying he was nineteen?
The book was good in that it did give a clear picture of Wyclef's childhood. It was inconsistent in that he says his parents were strict, their punishments just because it kept him from getting into trouble. Their punishment amounted to child abuse, especially when his grandmother cut his back multiple times with a knife.
It seems to me their punishments drove him to wild behavior, because he still shoplifted and was destructive even after severe beatings.
I was interested in reading Purpose due to it being an immigrant's story. Some of he and his family's immigrant trials & tribulations were interesting; most of it was run-of-the-mill. Any immigrant's story of life in the U.S. of A.
Wyclef was surprised that there is racism in Germany. He did not think "racism like that existed outside of the Untied States, why would it?" Gee, I guess he never heard of Hitler's Nazi Germany; did he think Hitler would have considered dark-skinned people to be equal to the blue-eyed blonde Master Race he envisioned?
What I got from reading Purpose was many visits to You Tube (with more to follow) to check out music mentioned in Wyclef's memoir.
A quote from his father:
"You must never fear another man," he said. "No man can take from you what you don't give him yourself. Only you can give a man the knowledge that grants him the freedom to take all that is yours."
Purpose: An Immigrant's Story probably deserves more stars, but I can not truthfully say that I liked it. I did enjoy the glimpses into Haiti, and the devastating earthquake.
July 15, 2024
The beginning of the book enraptured and challenged me as it opens up with Jean providing aid to the earthquake in Haiti. Usually, I listen to celebrity memoirs in situations that do not require involved listening, yet as I started the book, I told myself that this celebrity memoir was going to be too meaningful for passive listening as it covered heavy topics. Yet, about 25% in lost its more meaningful content about Wyclef's life in Haiti and became just another celebrity memoir. In the end, it was sort of disappointing hearing a person talk about the need for supporting charity, but in the next breath bragging about his watch collection that is worth half a million dollars. All in all, a decent celebrity memoir that could have amounted to a bit more.
January 10, 2024
i really did not care for this memoir. I learned that he and Lauryn Hill were in a relationship, he basically cheated on this then gf. His childhood was typical I felt like he had undiagnosed ADHD. I would not trust him . He have a very large ego and comes off arrogant.
If you are a die hard fan sure check it, but if you are someone like me that will jam to 1 or 2 joints 4 would be pushing it then i don't recommend.
If you are a die hard fan sure check it, but if you are someone like me that will jam to 1 or 2 joints 4 would be pushing it then i don't recommend.
May 9, 2018
Great read. Wyclef transports you to an era forgotten, the struggle many immigrants went through to have a better opportunity for their family. Lessons through life that the youth of today will never really understand nor the things that really matter in life. It is beautifully written, a little sad at times but would read again.
July 8, 2020
I had a great time reading this story and getting to know more about this incredibly talented individual. In this book he'll take you on a journey from rags to riches and truly make you grateful for all the things we all take for granted. I give my man Wyclef mad Props for sharing his story with the world along with his music and love. One Love mate.
June 8, 2018
Initially I was deterred that the author wasn’t reading his own biography, but I soon got past all that. This is raw and unapologetically honest story of a hip hop artist I grew up with yet never truly knew.
September 3, 2020
The book was well written. I left it wondering what it's purpose was... but of course the purpose was for a celebrity to talk about himself. Gives interesting insights into the industry, culture, and areas where Wyclef grew up.
December 14, 2020
There were two anecdotes that were just hilarious. I enjoyed reading it and relistening to The Carnival, which I remember playing on repeat in high school (or middle school?). (It has value outside the anecdotes)
July 14, 2017
Pretty good!
I enjoyed the book. Seems he was very honest and open about his life. Hope he's successful with restoring and helping Haiti.
I enjoyed the book. Seems he was very honest and open about his life. Hope he's successful with restoring and helping Haiti.
October 29, 2018
**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** A very good book
July 22, 2021
Had the makings of a great book but it's a pity his ego got in the way...took the good out of the book for me
May 16, 2022
I'll take a roman à Wyclef over a roman à clef, any day.
June 13, 2022
Serves its purpose in putting me in the mind and though process of Wyclef Jean, but of course would be great if his mind could have a little more self-reflection.
October 28, 2022
Audiobook: A bit of history of Haiti and a little making of a musical legend
January 5, 2015
It was a real treat to read this book. I did not want it to end. I got a behind the scenes look at one of the most influential bands in the world and a band that reminded me of growing up in Nigeria. Who knew that while they were experiencing their biggest success, they were also going through a lot of turmoil. Oh Wyclef, why did you have to go there with Lauryn Hill!!!!
While reading this book, I found myself going to play Fugees records. Now that I knew what was going on behind the scenes, I wanted to see if I could sense those emotions from the records.
Some thoughts
• The band Fugees deserved all of their success- That band worked really hard, for years and years before they finally hit it big. Wyclef especially did whatever he could to bring the group attention and notoriety.
• Wyclef is deserving of all the success he achieved- He worked hard for it. He was involved in music from a very young age. He taught himself how to play piano by ear. He sang in his father’s church band, was in his school’s choir, jazz band and a group called Exact Change. He interned at RCA records, learned how to produce music and was doing all of this while under the harsh disapproval of his father who hated hip hop. He was actually signed as a solo artist way before the Fugeees.
• Wyclef and Lauryn Hill were a combustible mix-He takes responsibility for not listening to Pras and making a play for Lauryn. Still, he speaks very lovingly about her. He did date her though, while seeing his future wife which was a recipe for disaster.
• Wyclef loves Haiti- (p. 200) “I am a Haitian first and an American second, and that feeling for my homeland has centered me ever since”
• Pras is not given as much credit as he should- He basically formed the Fugees. Several times, in this book, Wyclef tried to correct that and show that Pras warranted more credit than he ever got from the public. He truly was a visionary.
That said
• Wyclef is also delusional- I love him, but he is delusional. That delusion is what has brought him his success though, as you have to think beyond what mere mortals think to be successful. You have to be operating on a higher plane. He was also delusional to think that Lauryn Hill would afford him the same access and trust that she previously did when they tried to make another album in 2006. Dude. you broke her heart. Secondly, she was now older, made a definitive album and was now the recipient of 5 grammys. No way on earth was she going to allow you run ship solo. Her opinions had to count. Last delusional bit (p. 134) “ I have a five-octave-range". Dude, you don't have a 5 octave range. That's Mariah Carey and you don't have that range.
Typos- There are some minor typos which someone should have caught. Also, there are some repetitions and contradictions.
I also got the feeling that even though Wyclef was mostly honest in this book, in some areas, he held back and did not give the real reasons for why he did certain things. It was just the sense I got
Overall, I enjoyed this book. There are many gems here. Wyclf was a real truant in his youth, and I’d argue to this day.
Last question, Whatever happened to Shoe Man?
While reading this book, I found myself going to play Fugees records. Now that I knew what was going on behind the scenes, I wanted to see if I could sense those emotions from the records.
Some thoughts
• The band Fugees deserved all of their success- That band worked really hard, for years and years before they finally hit it big. Wyclef especially did whatever he could to bring the group attention and notoriety.
• Wyclef is deserving of all the success he achieved- He worked hard for it. He was involved in music from a very young age. He taught himself how to play piano by ear. He sang in his father’s church band, was in his school’s choir, jazz band and a group called Exact Change. He interned at RCA records, learned how to produce music and was doing all of this while under the harsh disapproval of his father who hated hip hop. He was actually signed as a solo artist way before the Fugeees.
• Wyclef and Lauryn Hill were a combustible mix-He takes responsibility for not listening to Pras and making a play for Lauryn. Still, he speaks very lovingly about her. He did date her though, while seeing his future wife which was a recipe for disaster.
• Wyclef loves Haiti- (p. 200) “I am a Haitian first and an American second, and that feeling for my homeland has centered me ever since”
• Pras is not given as much credit as he should- He basically formed the Fugees. Several times, in this book, Wyclef tried to correct that and show that Pras warranted more credit than he ever got from the public. He truly was a visionary.
That said
• Wyclef is also delusional- I love him, but he is delusional. That delusion is what has brought him his success though, as you have to think beyond what mere mortals think to be successful. You have to be operating on a higher plane. He was also delusional to think that Lauryn Hill would afford him the same access and trust that she previously did when they tried to make another album in 2006. Dude. you broke her heart. Secondly, she was now older, made a definitive album and was now the recipient of 5 grammys. No way on earth was she going to allow you run ship solo. Her opinions had to count. Last delusional bit (p. 134) “ I have a five-octave-range". Dude, you don't have a 5 octave range. That's Mariah Carey and you don't have that range.
Typos- There are some minor typos which someone should have caught. Also, there are some repetitions and contradictions.
I also got the feeling that even though Wyclef was mostly honest in this book, in some areas, he held back and did not give the real reasons for why he did certain things. It was just the sense I got
Overall, I enjoyed this book. There are many gems here. Wyclf was a real truant in his youth, and I’d argue to this day.
Last question, Whatever happened to Shoe Man?
December 24, 2023
This book started slow for me but picked up after the first 20% or so. Wyclef is a great storyteller and I enjoyed the journey throughout his life and into the present. I had several laughs while reading the book, which wasn't something I was expecting. At times his confidence bordered cocky and could be a bit off-putting, but I still really enjoyed overall.
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