Wyclef Jean Biography

Wyclef Jean who is also known by his nickname Jean is one of the famous rappers from Haiti. He has also established himself as an actor and a musician. He rose to prominence after being honored with the Grammy Awards in 1997.

Wyclef Jean's Early Life, Nationality, and Family Background

Wyclef Jean was from a middle-class family born as Nell Wyclef Jean on the 17th of October 1969 in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti to parents of Haitian descent. His nationality is Haitian and his ethnicity is black. His parents are Yolana Jean and Gesner Jean.

Wyclef Jean is a popular rapper

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Since his childhood days, Wyclef Jean was good at rapping and he also had a great dream to be a famous rapper in the future. When he was just in his mid-teens he formed a musical band with his friends.

Wyclef Jean's career

Wyclef Jean and his friends signed a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1993 and finally released their first album the following year.

Since his professional debut as a rapper, Wyclef Jean has released a total of 13 record albums. During the course of his career, he has worked with many other musical personalities like Avicii, Gerard Pique's wife, Shakira, and Young Thug.

Wyclef Jean also stood for the presidentship of Haiti, but unfortunately lost.

Wyclef Jean's married life and son

Wyclef Jean married Marie Claudinette Jean in the year 1994. She is one of the famous fashion designers. They are serving a great example of a celebrity who is good at keeping his married life tight and long.

Besides this one, both of them are not involved in any kind of extra affairs and they are happy to be each other’s loving spouses. They have adopted a child together; Angelina Claudinelle Jean. After 29 years, the married duo still shares a strong bond together.

Apart from that Wyclef Jean was rumored to be in a short-lived love affair with Lauryn Hill.

Wyclef Jean's Net Worth and Earnings

Jean earned a huge amount from his successful music career over some decades. His salary as an actor and rapper is a dream for every individual and his net worth is around $15 million till now.

Jean's earnings from his record albums have been given below:

• The Score (1996): $6 million
• The Carnival (1997): $3 million
• The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book: $1.5 million

The rapper owns a mansion in Saddle River, New Jersey which he bought in the year 1998 at the price of $1.85 million. Further, the father of one is still actively involved in various music projects along with other showbiz works and is still in a race to add more millions to his name. He lives a high-profile life with his earnings.

Quick Look at His Controversies

Wyclef Jean has faced some controversies throughout his career. He founded a charitable organization called Yéle Haiti in 2005 with the aim of providing humanitarian aid and development assistance to Haiti. However, the organization faced allegations of financial mismanagement and misappropriation of funds. After the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, Yéle Haiti came under increased scrutiny, and questions were raised about how the funds were being used. The organization eventually closed in 2012.

In 2010, the rapper announced his candidacy for the presidency of Haiti. However, his bid was met with controversy and legal challenges. Some critics argued that he did not meet the constitutional requirement of having resided in Haiti for at least five consecutive years before the election. Ultimately, the Haitian electoral council disqualified his candidacy.

Again, there have been reports of Wyclef facing financial difficulties and tax issues. In 2012, it was reported that he owed millions of dollars in unpaid taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the United States.

Jean's personal life has also been the subject of controversy. In his autobiography, he revealed infidelity during his marriage, which caused significant media attention and criticism.

Let's Talk about Some Achievements Under Jean's Belt

Wyclef Jean, 53 years, has received several awards and achievements throughout his career. Here are some notable ones:

Grammy Awards:

1. Best Rap Album - "The Score" (as part of The Fugees, 1997)
2. Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals - "Killing Me Softly" (as part of The Fugees, 1997)

Other Awards and Achievements:

1. BET Awards - Best Group (as part of The Fugees, 1997)
2. NAACP Image Awards - Outstanding Duo or Group (as part of The Fugees, 1997)
3. ASCAP Pop Music Awards - Songwriter of the Year (1997)
4. World Music Awards - World's Best-Selling Hip Hop/Rap Artist (2000)
5. Billboard Latin Music Awards - Crossover Artist of the Year (2001)
6. MTV Video Music Awards - Best R&B Video - "Gone Till November" (1998)
7. VH1 Hip Hop Honors - Honoree (2007)

Honorary and Philanthropic Recognition:

1. Time 100 List of Most Influential People in the World (2009)
2. Humanitarian Award at the BET Awards (2010) for his efforts in Haiti through Yéle Haiti

These are just a few examples of Jean's awards and achievements. He has had a significant impact on the music industry and has been recognized for his contributions as a musician, songwriter, and philanthropist.

Songs

Multi-talented artist, Wyclef Jean is known for his solo career as well as his work with the hip-hop group The Fugees. Here are some famous songs by Wyclef Jean:

1. "Gone Till November"
2. "911" (featuring Mary J. Blige)
3. "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" (featuring Akon, Lil Wayne, and Niia)
4. "Hips Don't Lie" (Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean)
5. "Perfect Gentleman"
6. "We Trying to Stay Alive" (as The Fugees)
7. "Ready or Not" (as The Fugees)
8. "Two Wrongs" (featuring Claudette Ortiz)
9. "Divine Sorrow" (featuring Avicii)
10. "Anything Can Happen" (featuring Lauryn Hill)
11. "Diallo" (featuring Youssou N'Dour and MB²)
12. "It Doesn't Matter" (featuring The Rock and Melky Sedeck)
13. "The Sweetest Thing" (as The Fugees)
14. "Fast Car" (featuring Paul Simon)
15. "Party to Damascus" (featuring Missy Elliott)

These are just a few examples of Jean's songs, and he has released numerous other tracks throughout his successful music career.

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