Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival

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Untitled
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).

Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival Featuring Refugee All Stars, or more simply The Carnival, is the first solo album by Wyclef Jean.

Released shortly after The Fugees' blockbuster hit album The Score, the Carnival became one of hip-hop's most unusual and unique albums, with a guest list ranging from salsa legend Celia Cruz to New Orleans crooners The Neville Brothers. Among the album's many accomplishments were bringing New York underground hip-hop into the mainstream, and introducing America to the sounds of Haiti.

The album begins with a movie-promo like intro, featuring many of the album's guest stars, and establishing one of the album's two major "concepts" — that Wyclef is on trial for being a dangerous influence on society (the other "concept" being the "Carnival" theme). Some twenty tracks later, it "ends" with Wyclef's acquittal, and then appends a coda of Haitian music sung in creole.

Standout tracks include "Gone Till November," which includes a full orchestra (and a video that featured Bob Dylan), "Mona Lisa", an old-school love ballad in the tradition of "Tell It Like It Is", and hit single "We Trying to Stay Alive." With this album Wyclef established himself as arguably one of the most musically-minded producers in hip hop. Moreover, the record went on to become RIAA certified Platinum three times.

In 2005, comedian Chris Rock ranked it 16th on his list of the Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums ever. [1].

Track listing

  1. "Intro/Court/Clef/Intro" (Skit/Interlude)
  2. "Apocalypse"
  3. "Guantanamera" feat. Celia Cruz & Lauryn Hill
  4. "Pablo Diablo" (Interlude) feat. Crazy Sam & Da Verbal Assassins
  5. "Bubblegoose"
  6. "Prelude to "To All the Girls" (Interlude)
  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" feat. Lauryn Hill
  13. "Sang Fézi"
  14. "Fresh Interlude"
  15. "Mona Lisa" feat. Neville Brothers
  16. "Street Jeopardy" feat. John Forté & R.O.C.
  17. "Killer MC" (Interlude)
  18. "We Trying to Stay Alive" feat. John Forté & The Bee Gees
  19. "Gunpowder"
  20. "Closing Arguments"
  21. "Enter the Carnival" (Interlude)
  22. "Jaspora"
  23. "Yele"
  24. "Carnival"

Chart positions

Album

Year Single Chart Top position
1997 The Carnival The Billboard 200 No. 16
1997 The Carnival Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums No. 4

Singles

Year Single Chart Top position
1997 "We Trying to Stay Alive" Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks No. 14
1997 "We Trying to Stay Alive" Hot Rap Singles No. 3
1997 "We Trying to Stay Alive" The Billboard Hot 100 No. 45
1997 "Guantanamera" Latin Pop Airplay No. 16
1997 "Guantanamera" Latin Tropical/Salsa Airplay No. 12
1998 "Cheated (To All the Girls)" Hot Rap Singles No. 6
1998 "Gone Till November" Canadian Singles Chart No. 4
1998 "Gone Till November" Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales No. 1
1998 "Gone Till November" Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks No. 9
1998 "Gone Till November" Hot Rap Singles No. 2
1998 "Gone Till November" Rhythmic Top 40 No. 19
1998 "Gone Till November" The Billboard Hot 100 No. 07
1998 "To All the Girls" Canadian Singles Chart No. 19
1998 "To All the Girls" Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks No. 48
1998 "To All the Girls" The Billboard Hot 100 No. 61

Credits

Rita Marley (Vocals (Background)), Judy Mowatt (Vocals (Background)), The Neville Brothers (Performer), Celia Cruz (Performer), Marcia Griffiths (Vocals (Background)), Sonny Kompanek (Arranger), Salaam Remi (Producer), Salaam Remi (Engineer), Salaam Remi (Mixing), Warren Riker (Mastering), Warren Riker (Mixing), Rudy (Assistant Engineer), DJ Skribble (Scratching), Funkmaster Flex (Scratching), Crazy Sam & Da Verbal Assassins (Performer), Wyclef Jean (Guitar), Wyclef Jean (Keyboards), Wyclef Jean (Producer), Wyclef Jean (Main Performer), Wyclef Jean (Executive Producer), Manuel Lecuona (Mastering), Rawle Gittens (Mixing Assistant), Tony Gonzales (Assistant Engineer), Lauryn Hill (Arranger), Lauryn Hill (Performer), Lauryn Hill, Lauryn Hill (Executive Producer), Jerry Duplessis (Guitar (Bass)), Jerry Duplessis (Producer), Alex Olsson (Mixing Assistant), John Forté (Performer), John Forté, Jay Nicholas (Mixing Assistant), Pras (Performer), Pras, Pras (Executive Producer), Melky Sedeck (Performer), Melky Sedeck, New York Philharmonic Orchestra (Performer), Tomas Muscionico (Photography), Mike Roach (Mixing Assistant), Storm Jefferson (Mixing Assistant), Paul Epworth (Assistant Engineer), Brian Dozoretz (Engineer), Brian Dozoretz (Mixing Assistant), Jocelyn Berouard (Performer), Sweet Mickey (Performer), Will Kennedy (Digital Imaging)

See also

External links

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