Wyclef Jean (born Nelust Wyclef Jean on October 17, 1969) is a Haitian-American rapper, musician, producer, and composer. He rose to prominence as a founding member of the hip-hop group the Fugees in the 1990s. The Fugees' second album, "The Score" (1996), became a massive success, blending hip-hop, soul, and reggae influences and winning two Grammy Awards. Following the Fugees' success, Wyclef Jean launched a solo career with the album "Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival" (1997), which included the hit "Gone till November".
Beyond his music career, Jean is known for his philanthropy and involvement in Haitian politics. He founded the Yéle Haiti Foundation to support relief efforts in Haiti. While the organization was later disbanded, Jean's commitment to his home country remains. He has also explored the intersection of music, technology, and social impact, co-founding SodoMoodLab, composing music for Showtime's "The Chi", acting as Chief Creative Officer of OpenWav, and consulting for Google DeepMind on AI technology. In 2025, Wyclef Jean released the single "Back From Abu Dhabi". He was honored with the 2025 Innovator Award from Music Will and continues to be a Global Ambassador for Global Citizen.
