Wyclef Jean, aka “The Preacher’s Son” was recently in Miami shooting the video for his next single from The Preacher’s Son album, “Who Gave The Order” featuring Buju Banton. AHH’s Miami correspondent was on the scene to get Clef’s thoughts on the struggle in Haiti, our upcoming Presidential election, the possibility of a Fugee’s reunion and more. Peep it.
AllHipHop.com: How do you feel about the current situation in Haiti?
Wyclef: What’s goin on right now, let bygones be bygones. What’s done is done; it’s all about moving forward. And the way we gonna move forward is to take the Haitians around the world. And it’s gonna take the world helping Haiti, it’s gonna take the whole Caribbean coming in. The United Nations, all of the nations coming into Haiti. Not just for 6 months. The government of Haiti has to feel like they being policed right now by the UN. The Haitian government has to feel like there is an alternate force that’s policing them; it’s all law and order.
AllHipHop.com: You’ve expressed support for the Haitian rebels. Was there anything in particular you disliked about Aristide’s administration?
W: No no no, that’s a misquote. What I said was that I don’t like people saying “rebels”. What happened is… the majority of the situation is, that there is a civil war going on. I don’t support anything that is criminal activity. I support the people and I support jobs. Know what I mean? Right now it’s about trying to form a new Haiti.
AllHipHop.com: Was Aristide in power when you had your ground breaking concert in Haiti?
W: No, the president in power was Rene Preval, but he was under the supervision of Aristide.
AllHipHop.com: Why didn’t you shoot this video in Haiti?
W: This video right here could not be shot in Haiti because of everything that’s goin’ on over there right now, it’s too crazy.
AllHipHop.com: What are your thoughts about the upcoming U.S. presidential election?
W: All I can tell you is, my next album is called Silent But Deadly. And the first single is called “If I Was President”. I’m not sure if you caught it on the Dave Chappelle Show…
AllHipHop.com: Nah I think I missed it…
W: …Ok, I’ma give you the first 4 lines: If I was president, I’d get elected on Friday, assassinated on Saturday, buried on Sunday, and go back to work on Monday. Aight?
AllHipHop.com: What do you think about John Kerry saying he understands hip-hop and the culture?
W: I mean, I think somebody coached Kerry on what to say, but I hope he can really get inside of the culture and really understand it ‘cause it’s a deep thing, it would be a great thing if he does understand it.
AllHipHop.com: Do you vote?
W: Yea no doubt, you gotta vote
AllHipHop.com: What are your thoughts about the whole censorship frenzy that’s surfaced since the Super Bowl?
W: I mean really, you have your networks that are like the family networks, and then when you wanna watch your junk, you turn on to the junk networks. It’s real simple. If you got little kids then you want them to watch the family networks. And if it’s a family network, you gotta trust that it’s family shows. But in the case of Janet Jackson, I think it was a mistake. I don’t think she meant to do it intentionally and I also think it was blown way out of proportion.
AllHipHop.com: There have been reports of the police monitoring hip-hop artists in New York, and now there are reports they’re doing the same thing in Miami. Notice anyone paying you any extra attention down here?
W: Can’t no police pay me any extra attention in Miami, I’m the mayor down here (laughs). I don’t have no criminal activity goin’ on. But I don’t think the police should be following the rappers. There’s a whole lotta other people they should be following, they shouldn’t be following the rappers.
AllHipHop.com: What did you think about Lauryn dissing the Catholic Church at the Vatican?
W: I don’t think she dissed them at all. I think in a nutshell what she is saying is, that we all have sinned and we all should stop condemning each other and be real with each other. If someone commits a crime they should be charged and punished for it.
AllHipHop.com: Have you and Pras mended things?
W: Oh I don’t have any problems with Pras. That’s like a giant versus an ant. When he is ready, he will come crawling back on his knees like the little coward that he is and he will apologize. And what I will do is, squirt some holy water on his forehead and smack him in the face, and give him some Similac milk to drink. And then I will forgive him. Make sure you print it exactly like that.
AllHipHop.com: You got it. So I guess that answers my next question, if there will ever be a Fugee’s reunion? It would probably be good for all of hip-hop.
W: Man listen I’ll put it like this…if Pras don’t get his act together there’s gonna be a Fugee’s reunion and Pras is gonna be replaced by Tito Jackson (laughs).
AllHipHop.com: Are you staying with RCA records now that J Records has been folded into the label?
W: Yea yea, I’m definitely staying and merging with RCA. The next album coming out is called Silent But Deadly. The Preacher’s Son was my first record with J Records and I think will take a few albums for them to get my system, then it’s gonna be on.
AllHipHop.com: Clive Davis said that it’s very special when an important artist (referring to you) tops anything he or she has done creatively and that he was thrilled to have worked with you on The Preacher’s Son. I know you’ve worked with Clive in the past but this is the first time you collaborated on an entire album. How was it working with him?
W: It was great working with Clive. I think he is a genius at what he does and I look forward to working with him in the future.
AllHipHop.com: Ok one last question. I read that when your father passed, it made you create music in a different way. How has his passing influenced your material?
W: I mean really, the purpose of my music is to uplift the race man. That’s my mission, to uplift the human race…period.
