"Revolution is in my bloodline," he says, before explaining how Toussaint was one of the key figures in the Revolution for Haiti. "So with the tone of the message that I would be giving when I rapped, the name automatically came to me," he elaborates. "The EP goes back to the essence. It was important to go back to the basics and the fundamentals, because sometimes you get so big that people forget where you come from," he adds. "I wanted people to understand that I have not forgotten Hip-Hop. I’ve not forgotten lyrics; that is very important in what I do." 

From The Hut, To The Projects, To The Mansion not only documents Wyclef's personal success story, but also reflects his musical journey and progression. The project stands out for a number of reasons, but perhaps most notably for the intriguing choice of featured artists, including 80's pop singer Cindi Lauper, Lil Kim and Eve. Explaining his unconventional choice of vocalist for Slumdog Millionaire, he jokes "I wanted that Cindi Lauper swag, so why not just get Cindi Lauper?" He also points out that many female vocalists today have been heavily influenced by the singer. 

Perhaps most striking of all, however, is Eve's performance on Suicide Love, which is reminiscent of her earlier, more agressive rhyming style. "Everyone is like 'yo Eve sounds so sharp on that record and she hasn’t been out in a minute, why does she sound so sharp?' But I think, what happened is you always have to remember that as a producer I’m always going to try to focus and bring the best out of an artist," Wyclef explains. "The cool thing with Eve was, when she was doing the vocals she was with Salaam Remi and Salaam is one of my mentors (he did the Fugees)." He then adds, "She was able to pull out the passion naturally because she’s still one of the best, period." 

Suicide Love provides a long-awaited answer to Wyclef and Eve's critics, who insist that both artists may have traded in their grittiness and relevancy for mainstream success. As he honestly admits in The Streets Pronounce Me Dead, "Last time, [they] felt me was when I rhymed with Big Pun." Frankly his concern is greater than just Hip-Hop these days with his music catering to people from all corners of the globe, although as he proves with the EP he is still a "warrior," he just chooses a variety of outlets to vocalize his struggle now.  

"At the end of the day, as long as you have overcame something (and be clear, it’s not about if you’re from the ghetto or from the suburbs or from the hut), if you feel that you have accomplished that thing when people counted you out and you rose to the occasion, you are a warrior," he stresses. After all, it is much more lucrative to produce and pen hits for some of the biggest names in the music world and by doing so, Wyclef has ensured that his music and messages will reach a more diverse, global audience. He explains that while his EP represented Hip-Hip, his forthcoming album "is going to represent the world." 

Due in Spring 2010, his eponymous album Wyclef Jean marks the precursor to a true musical revolution. He jokes that following his return to Hip-Hop, with the album he "is bringing that stadium music." Although most artists tend to go the self-entitled route for debuts, Wyclef felt that despite his extensive career, the project marks the first true introduction to himself. "This is the first album in my whole entire career where the first seven songs are only going to be Wyclef. [It's] an insight into just me, because it’s time for you all to know who I am," he explains.  

"The album is Wyclef Jean the complete artist," he declares proudly. "When you come to the show, it’s the man playing seven instruments; the man sings, the man rhymes, the man dances and the girls throw their things on stage," he jokes. "The guys go crazy, they pick up chairs and want to throw them in the air and that’s all going to be on one album!" He then explains that the album attempts to recreate the atmosphere at his concerts. "The first seven records you’re going to hear are very personal, like when you come to my show the first thing I do is I get my guitar and talk to you for like 30 minutes.We talk. We converse. Then after that I pick up the microphone and then the party starts." 

"When you put on that Wyclef album, it’s going to be a sing-along album from beginning to end. I’m going to make sure that you sing every song and the album is all stories. Every song is a story." Hoping his album will inspire others to tap into their own creativity, he explains, "I’m going to close [the album] with me going crazy on guitar on a joint called Guitar Hero. So, all of my little aspiring guitar players, make sure you get your guitar and learn that song."  

Wyclef Jean promises to transgress musical boundaries like never before. The lead single from the project will be Hold On, an optimistic collaboration with Dancehall singer Mavado. "I wanted to set the tone of the album in a sense of letting people know where my mind set is at," he clarifies. "With everything going on in the world, it’s good to have like a feel-good record and let people know it’s all going to be ok." He passionately describes the offering as "the pinnacle of the start," before elaborating, "this album has to be right because this represents a new millennium and this is the sound that I want to go with for the future." 

Hopefully From The Hut, To The Projects, To The Mansion and Wyclef Jean will also succeed in opening doors for his other main passion, Haiti. Since founding his charity Yéle Haiti in 2005, Wyclef has worked tirelessly to improve the bleak outlook for his homeland. Sadly many fellow expats do not share his vision; he explains, "Haitian people in America have got to get it straight and go back and start helping their country, because if everyone is starting to go back and help your country, you can’t sit back and let them do the work."  

"If Bill Clinton is going back to your country, everyone is going back to your country; you should be in your country right now doing some work," he adds in an accusative tone. "It’s like I said on the mixtape, "From the hut, to the projects, to the mansion." No excuses; let’s get it!" As Wyclef recognizes, it is not going to take a quick fix to mend years of poverty and corruption in Haiti, but rather long-term initiatives. 

His main goal is to raise funds to build the Yéle Center, which will be a "ten year process." Wyclef explains that theYéle Center "will be a facility that consists of a sports center, Wyclef Jean School of the Arts, a cultural center focusing on the environment and an internet café." "That’s the key; we build sustainable opportunity," he says optimistically."When people approach Haiti they try to save a nation and in order to save a nation, you have to start by saving very few. So with Yéle Haiti it’s not about saving the nation, it’s about saving a few kids and these kids will save the nation." 

In order to make the Yéle Center become a reality, Wyclef appeals to all his "warriors that are online" to join him in a massive social networking project that will take place in about six months from now. "We’re going to use Twitter, we’re going to use Facebook, we’re going to put all of our energies together and everyone’s going to donate $1, that’s it," he explains. "$1 can make a difference in a child’s life." Effectively using his internet presence to drive a massive fundraising effort, he invites "everybody online to get with [him] on that, to see if we can start raising money to put toward the Yéle Center." 

With Twitter being used by rappers for a number of interesting and obscure purposes, it is refreshing to see a Hip-Hop artist putting it to a positive and productive use. As Wyclef explains proudly, "We’re putting out the message of revolution, not the revolution of the arms but the revolution of the mind. Bring people together." The veteran entertainer reveals that he shares a gift with his late father, the ability to captivate his listeners. "If you’re going to listen to me, I can get you to do almost anything," he says light-heartedly before adding on a more serious note, "so it’s good that you use the influence to have people do positive things." 

Having said that, he is quick to point out that music in essence is still a form of entertainment and feels that people should be less judgmental toward the more commercial artists. "I don’t knock any of it," he says. "As much as we want to think Soulja Boy is stupid because the kids are singing Get Your Swag On, it’s the same way they thought we were stupid when we were dancing to the Humpty Hump." "Maybe we’re getting old," he jokes. "Y’all go ahead and get old, I’m staying young. I’m getting my swag on!" After all, "Hip-Hop is always about revolution and you’re going to get change in it." He explains that the genre is merely "a reflection of the community" and its various aspects. 

As Wyclef acknowledges, in order to progress and retain relevancy in the industry today you have to adapt, experiment and reinvent your own style. "I think longevity has to do with the passion, how passionate are you for what you do," he says reflectively. "There are very few people that are passionate about what they do and you can hear those people because every time they do a record, they act like it’s their first record, every time they go onstage, they act like it’s their first show." He adds, "you can see that passion through the years." In fact, if there is one common factor throughout Wyclef"s work it is that genuine passion for music and From The Hut, To The Projects, To The Mansion is no exception. With Toussaint St. Jean at the forefront, a revolution of sorts may well be imminent. 
 

From The Hut, To The Projects, To The Mansion is available for download now. For more information about Wyclef and his forthcoming projects visit wyclef.com or follow him on Twitter (@wyclef). If you wish to support Yéle Haiti or get involved, then please visit yele.org.

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