The Carnival

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

Related Topics:
Wyclef Jean - Refugee All Stars

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Released shortly after the Fugees' blockbuster hit record The Score, the Carnival became one of hip-hop's most unusual and unique records, 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.

Related Topics:
Fugees - The Score

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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.

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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." However, with Wyclef establishing himself as one of the most musically-minded producers in hip-hop, the entire album deserves repeated listenings.

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