The Carnival

This article is about the Wyclef Jean album. For the British band, see The Carnival (UK band). For the Michael Fedo story, see The Carnival (short story). For other uses, see Carnival (disambiguation).

The Carnival
Studio album by Wyclef Jean
Released	June 24, 1997
Recorded	1996-1997
Genre	Hip hop, World, Reggae, Reggae fusion, Pop, R&B, hip hop soul Soul
Length	73:51
Label	Sony Music/Columbia Records
Producer	Wyclef Jean, Jerry Wonda
Wyclef Jean chronology
- The Carnival (1997) The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book (2000)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
RapReviews	(7.5/10)
Rolling Stone

"The Carnival" is the debut album released by hip hop musician Wyclef Jean. Released on June 24, 1997, Jean also served as the album's executive producer. The album encompasses many musical genres, including hip hop, reggae, folk, disco, soul, Son Cubano and Haitian music. The album features guest appearances from Celia Cruz, The Neville Brothers and Jean's bandmates from The Fugees, Lauryn Hill and Pras. The Carnival spawned the singles "Gone Till November", "We Trying to Stay Alive", "Guantanamera" and "To All the Girls". The album features skits between many of its songs, most of them set in a fictional trial for Wyclef Jean, in which he is accused of being "a player" and a "bad influence". The final three songs on the album are sung in Haitian Creole. The album sold over 5 million copies worldwide, and was RIAA certified 2x Platinum. In 2005, comedian Chris Rock ranked it 16th on his list of the Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums ever.

Tracklisting

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Intro"
2.	"Apocalypse"
3.	"Guantanamera" (Featuring Celia Cruz, Jeni Fujita & Lauryn Hill.)
4.	"Pablo Diablo (Interlude)" (Featuring Crazy Sam & Da Verbal Assassin)
5.	"Bubblegoose"
6.	"Prelude To "To All The Girls""
7.	"To All The Girls"
8.	"Down Lo Ho (Interlude)"
9.	"Anything Can Happen"
10.	"Gone till November"
11.	"Words Of Wisdom (Interlude)"
12.	"Year Of The Dragon" (Featuring Lauryn Hill)
13.	"Sang Fézi" (Featuring Lauryn Hill)
14.	"Fresh Interlude"
15.	"Mona Lisa" (Featuring The Neville Brothers)
16.	"Street Jeopardy" (Featuring John Forté & R.O.C.)
17.	"Killer M.C. (Interlude)"
18.	"We Trying to Stay Alive" (Featuring John Forté & Pras)
19.	"Gunpowder" (Featuring Lauryn Hill)
20.	"Closing Arguments (Interlude)"
21.	"Enter The Carnival (Interlude)"
22.	"Jaspora"
23.	"Yele"
24.	"Carnival" (Featuring Jacob Desvarieux, Jocelyne Béroard & Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly)

Chart Performance

Album

Year	Single	Chart	Top position
1997	The Carnival	The Billboard 200	16
		Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	4

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Top position
1997	"We Trying to Stay Alive"	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	14
		Hot Rap Singles	3
		The Billboard Hot 100	45
	"Guantanamera"	Latin Pop Airplay	16
		Latin Tropical/Salsa Airplay	12
1998	"Cheated (To All the Girls)"	Hot Rap Singles	6
	"Gone till November"	Canadian Singles Chart	4
		Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales	1
		Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	9
		Hot Rap Singles	2
		Rhythmic Top 40	19
		The Billboard Hot 100	7
		UK Singles Chart	3
	"To All the Girls"	Canadian Singles Chart	19
		Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	48
		The Billboard Hot 100	61

Personnel

• Wyclef Jean - guitar, keyboards
• Rita Marley - background vocals
• Judy Mowatt - background vocals
• Marcia Griffiths - background vocals
• Sonny Kompanek - Arranger
• Salaam Remi - Producer, Engineer, Mixing
• Warren Riker - Mastering, Mixing
• Rudy - Assistant Engineer
• DJ Skribble - Scratching
• Funkmaster Flex - Scratching
• Crazy Sam & Da Verbal Assassins - Performer
• Manuel Lecuona - Mastering
• Rawle Gittens - Mixing Assistant
• Tony Gonzales - Assistant Engineer
• Lauryn Hill - Arranger, Performer, Executive Producer
• Jerry Duplessis - Guitar, Bass, Producer
• Alex Olsson - Mixing Assistant
• John Forté - Performer
• Jay Nicholas - Mixing Assistant
• Pras - Performer, Executive Producer
• Melky Sedeck - Performer
• New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Performer
• Tomas Muscionico - Photography
• Mike Roach - Mixing Assistant
• Storm Jefferson - Mixing Assistant
• Paul Epworth - Assistant Engineer
• Brian Dozoretz - Engineer, Mixing Assistant
• Jocelyne Béroard - Performer
• Sweet Micky - Performer
• The Neville Brothers - Performer
• Celia Cruz - Performer