Former Fugees member Wyclef Jean is giving fans another taste of his eclectic musical style with his forthcoming release The Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant.
The album, which features production from Jean and Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis, marks the Grammy-winning rapper/producer’s first full-length project for Columbia Records since his last offering, Masquerade.
Released in 2002, Masquerade entered the Billboard Top 200 chart at number six.
For The Carnival II, Jean revealed that the release is “a continuation of (his 1997 Top 10 hit)’Gone Till November’.”
“I focus a lot on the songwriting,” Jean said of the album.
The first single from the album iis “The Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill),” which features Akon, Lil’ Wayne and Niia.
The record urrently sits at number three on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
Other guests on The Carnival II include Paul Simon, who appears on the song “Fast Car”, Mary J. Blige, T.I., Norah Jones, Serj Tankian (of System Of A Down)and Shakira, who worked with Jean on her 2006 single “Hips Don’t Lie.”
The Carnival II, the sequel to Jean’s 1997 triple platinum solo debut album Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival Featuring Refugee All-Stars” (aka The Carnival), is slated to hit stores this fall.