Wyclef Jean: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

[@nprmusic]

How do you love rap when rap doesn’t love you back? From Rico Nasty’s harassment from toxic Carti fans, to Saucy Santana's unapologetically femme aesthetics in a queerphobic industry, to the assault case that put Megan Thee Stallion’s entire image on trial, each episode of Louder Than A Riot - the second season of our investigative hip-hop podcast - unpacks the unspoken rules of rap that hold the entire culture back. Tap in to our first episode at n.pr/louder-season-2.

[@CANDYSOULonline]

Book Mos Def! I am loving this! Yazz Wyclef!!!

[@RodneyCroom-xh6oe]

Wellrap changed to hip-hop and pop the. Rb even country I don't worry about a song our lyric at the least love. However if au thinkojirfeellike I love it maybe uare ipoloser or a loser. Anyway rap will be àaound. Forever will they I will and if jayzwantedbeef he knows we're iammat so do ricka dnasandtherestoftherappersthatucalledthem.botprofetsornmuslim. Is always callwedthemgoodguysandthereisthedeferncedogirlslovethem.isee umaywithurnewearpieces.

[@squirrelbutler2119]

If I was speaking as a black man, I would say that one of the big issues rap faces is the overwhelming number of rap 'artists' who have little to no musical ability. (And, yes, you can list rappers who do, in fact, have musical ability. Wyclef Jean def has it, and lots of it. But so many don't, and are only able to spit lyrics in a monotone, and cannot write a musical hook to save their lives) Added to this is the fact that anger, misogyny, ego-gratification, drive so much of the world of rap that it turns off and shuts out a huge slice of the public. Again, exceptions exist. But there are so many rappers who follow that formula that it's a dead-end. And if one wants to point out that rap music sells millions of dollars worth every year, you'd be right. But that is more a function of great marketing and a successful plan to convince young listeners that rap is musical, rather than any real musical value. Word.

[@fionahita6434]

😊

[@fionahita6434]

love it ❤

[@user5362]

Wyclef has to be one of the more underrated artists around. He's an absolute pillar in Hip Hop history with his bars and MC work with the Fugess, and then he has a beautiful singing voice and can play and compose with multiple instruments weaving that all together. Respect.

[@808Living.com-Patrick]

Completely agree. Underrated. He’s too big for the Tiny stage

[@eddypierre9081]

The Best HAITIAN ARTIST in The World. Salute.🇭🇹

[@ErikGunter-o5q]

what about the best haitian guitarist?

[@patbenz4327]

What about Jimmy Jean Louis?

[@EonsOfReflection]

NPR is like TED talks of music

[@karinbaptiste7799]

Genius comment!!!!!!

[@RRUUFFEEOO]

This is the most underrated comment of all time I love Tiny Desk listen to it all the time and they have turned me on to so many dope artists

[@camiltv1521]

Exactly

[@blkexcellence6183]

Truth

[@unmethompson9416]

@Cool Cool 0

[@Slackerplast]

The carnival album is my top 3 and I have so many memories from that album ❤️❤️ love from sweden

[@iliogonzalez]

This is the most impressed I have ever been out of a tiny desk, and that is saying something because Tiny Desk Series is amazing. He played 3 different instruments, rapped and sang in 3 different languages, and kept the crowd engaged the WHOLE time with his stories/jokes. Such a performer... I am in awe.

[@c.claydigital5805]

Makes me question what I am doing with my life lol #CrazyTalent

[@stephenmccorry6833]

Definitely one of the best most entertaining live performances iv ever seen

[@vars7]

Forgot to mention play behind the back!

[@BVTMVN007]

IlioMusic should have way more views

[@aliuevincej8924]

True

[@thajaymantv]

Wyclef is a legend, period!!

[@jermaine7736]

So am I tbf

[@WallStreet06]

. And a thief. From his own people.

[@user-ic9cd8dp5h]

Legendary! Give Wyclef all the flowers now while he’s alive. Rock n Roll Hall of Fame worthy.

[@mizterpofficial9924]

True talk..he deserves more that.. More love to him..wyclef jean the greatest

[@estrellagomes401WAVY]

.

[@chamiladesilva9660]

Well Said.

[@CintekzCollectibles]

💐💐💐

[@mesyestrongarmhnz9772]

I saw Wyclef perform in concert and it was one of the best concerts ever. I wish this was longer. Wyclef is a musical genius and a very skilled musician. The Drummer, The Guitarist, and Jazzy were dope. Gotta Give Wyclef all the flowers now while he’s alive. He's definitely Rock n Roll Hall of Fame worthy. Legendary!!!

[@CintekzCollectibles]

💐💐💐

[@eannicole205]

💐🌸🌼💐🌸🌼

[@roseyanez1419]

Also a comedian 💕

[@1stthink236]

Man... the drummer's keeping the pace for real!!!

[@TheGreatBenderina]

Agreed! His perfectly subtle beats are so dope in this set.

[@s3hooligan]

The drummer was laying it down but we needed the bass player to turn up his volume. You could barely hear him play.

[@Jrealnj]

I saw Wyclef perform quite a few times and he puts his heart and soul into every performance regardless of where it is or how many people are there. I saw him at a bar in my home town. I was literally right next to him for most of the performance, that’s how small the place is. Yet he gave us one of the best performances I’ve ever seen (live or otherwise). He is a true artist.

[@taracochran-patrick784]

Lucky

[@stephenandrich3864]

sounds badass . sounds like cleff. what bar ? what town? I never hear of him coming through saint louis. extremley creative artist . way overlooked if you think about all he does

[@ErinSGregor]

Starting a petition for a Fugees Reunion Tour - Who's with me?!

[@mbulelobam7529]

me and the rest of the civilized world, who were apparently busy for the past nine months.

[@usrine]

WORD!!!!!!

[@PabloPazosGutierrez]

nope, that is over, life goes on.

[@jamiehoe2368]

Yeah

[@RydemsplertIMPARTIALMUSIC]

Fugees - on their first european tour - were obviously biting a whole lot of the reggae world. Be it bits from Bob Marley, Cutty Ranks (?) etc. Whole lot of stuff that was not really their own........

[@shawny926]

WYCLEF is actually everything that Kayne thinks of himself, the real musical genius.

[@getwetsoon]

word!

[@thicknfineto]

Only Wyclef can spit bars in Spanish, French, and English calling Trump out! I don't think people realize the musicality of this man. NPR you continue to feed my soul with great music.

[@josemercado3133]

one if the greatest ever.

[@DavidKlausa]

I'd like to hear more of him in Spanish and French. The way he uses them here feels like a gimmick designed to impress and build a brand of eclecticism, without doing anything substantial with it. Reggie Watts does this too. It's cool to play with languages but it doesn't automatically make you brilliant/talented or mean you actually speak it. (I realize WJ does at least speak French.)

[@brandonmatthews4934]

David Klausa Wyclef is from Haiti they speak French. Plus the Dominican Republic is right next to them. So most people from the Caribbean is bi or trilingual.

[@DavidKlausa]

That's why I said I realize he speaks French. And probably knows some Spanish. Still feels like a gimmick, until he does it for longer, more in depth. I've seen a couple other videos of him freestyling in other languages and it's brief, basic, repetitive.

[@rustayballs]

Agreed - what Wyclef says in Spanish is not in any way related to Trump (it`s more or less `hey lady, how are you and your family, I`m coming at you on the mic, I hope everything is good). My French isn`t as good so not entirely sure what he is saying there. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5nRfX2toqqslc0 All that said - I love this show and Wyclef is still a legend. Everybody stop requesting other artists and appreciate what you are listening to. I love Vulf too, trust.

[@dragonxv4737]

I don’t think Clef ever got over Lauren, Jazzy sounds just like her close your eyes and listen. Pure musical genius before you. I’m gutted I missed the Fugees live back in the 90’s when they came here in the UK. I wish Lauren was still doing her thing ☮️❤️🙏 from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿😊

[@heartdavid2797]

I thought exactly this

[@totoh82]

Dear Tiny Desk organizers, thank you so much for the endless incredible musicians, just like Wyclef. You have brought inspiration, empathy, love, joy, celebration, mourning and sadness into my life by introducing me to the most insanely creative and colourful artists on this channel. I look forward to the rest of what you're bringing forwards, appreciate your incredible sense of good taste and thank you once more for giving me meaning and relief in this crazy life of mine. Love you, T.

[@chappahx]

Tova H excellent comment!

[@et2850]

2019. I concur

[@SK-zy2ri]

@yeh!!!!!

[@dustinallen211]

Couldn’t have said it better myself ! Much love . 🙏🏼❤️

[@christopermitchell5019]

The wise man mourns neither for others nor himself.

[@TheBella2u]

Thank you for the Whitney story Wyclef, that's my girl. I miss her, wish we were all hearing new music from "the VOICE".

[@ejotuandrew]

This is in my humble opinion the best tiny desk performance.This must've been what they had in mind before it all started. Such a talent! Wyclef for president!

[@CintekzCollectibles]

He'd get elected on Friday, Assasinated on Saturday, Burried on Sunday, They go back to work on Monday

[@AliceJones-yc1kh]

Wyclef John, could say more?! At 65 years old, I still feeling this young man and his talented group! We all are color blind, when will that happen? Somebody got to ask the questions. Amen

[@myshanamakisi6063]

Man, i almost forgot how talented Wyclef is...brought back high school memories. Great show. Thx

[@SmartMoneyBro]

To carry a Tiny Desk with 3 musicians is amazing!!!

[@hypgnosis3159]

Aw man, what else can be said about Wyclef!? Hes beyond genius, hes BLESSED BY JAH, Like a positive pied piper, The angels of music must have hated to let this talented soul go , even if just for a humans lifetime, Anything he does is magnetic, just phenomenal, and he barely seems like hes trying, such an inspiration to alp musicians out there, young , old, good, terrible, red, black , white, or yellow, he's the MAESTRO, I always play ANY thing hes touched when i feel down & blue, or just need some musical schooling, soul lifting, or want to be elevated & lifted, thank you Wyclef, Keep on cstching ViBES, my frkend , JAH BLESS

[@calvinethobbes66]

Whyclef is the perfect guy, the one who pay cocktail to everyone with smile just to have a good feeling in a party. I love this guy.

[@mellowcreme3212]

Love the Whitney story. OMG. The greatest

[@tgardner866]

This dude is da truth! Talent, pure talent. Slept on talent.

[@electricslideshow]

I’d forgotten how talented Wyclef is. And he makes it all look so easy peazy. This was a real groovy tiny desk.

[@Nicole73672]

Listening to this thru my headphones while wearing a Bob Dylan t-shirt. I'm jamming and washing dishes! Thank you

[@doubled1989]

It's amazing how many acts you see at tiny desk that you might assume are just pop artists making generic hits, and then you realize they're amazing artists with an extreme amount of talent. Lesson learned, multiple times, not to judge people based on their hits, thank you @NPR Music.

[@heathermithchell7288]

Right on

[@rockdamostone4236]

it tooked me 20 years to realise that this refugee camper has one of the strongest soul voices i´ve ever heard. he got the vocab, you got the vocab Lauryn..

[@MannyXO]

You are watching THE MAN at work. Holy cow! Legend himself no cuts.

[@hypgnosis3159]

Wow, Ha!! Wyclef, shredding a LP !!! How sweet is THAT --??

[@xxxxxxxxxxxwendyxxxx]

Jazzy sings so beautifully, and she complements his sound so well. She definitely just got a new fan here 😍😍

[@Moormores]

Ewuraesi You have a new fan as well. 😍😍😍😍

[@lhomosui-generis3230]

Ewuraesi me too

[@secondopinion53]

Real Talk

[@mychelleshenae]

Same here. Can you subscribe to my KZbin channel Mychelle Wiltshire

[@mychelleshenae]

@@secondopinion53 can you subscribe to my KZbin channel Mychelle Wiltshire please subscribe thank you so much.

[@service-liftee]

Merci Wyclef pour ce moment de bonheur. Force et courage aux Haïtiens....

[@Danisimonecouture]

Thank you Wyclef for that story about Whitney. I'm tearing up just thinking about that amazing woman and talent, gone far far too soon.

[@pllastmanstanding9716]

Yeh great story

[@jus6276]

Clef is the Most Prolific Artist in our Generation.

[@DerekJetsetter]

The talent and charisma this man has is next level

[@dwightallen7708]

Wyclef my Class mate from Vailsburg High School. I am so proud of him.

[@bleunt]

Wyclef is a musical genius. He's clearly a very skilled musician. So why not just do this on an entire studio album? Please!

[@dabereuko6140]

Wyclef was so beautiful with everything he did here. I love his artistry a lot more now

[@elliextrabarabass6228]

That Girls singing in the second song is the thruth!!!!!! Such an Amazing voice!!!!!!!

[@DrinkmoWater.]

She was rocking thru it 🔥

[@TLYSMJ]

Let the church say Amen

[@maryelenav955]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKilh6yAosiWmNE

[@elton8650]

SUCH AN AMAZING 8HEAD!!!

[@itsTRBLE]

Jazzy Amra

[@curtjones8077]

So freaking good. English to Spanish to French and back (didn't even make a stop at the Creole). Bass to Piano to Guitar. Just stop with the talent pouring out of this dude. And so nice - met him once in the Foundation Room in Cleveland and once at some club in Vegas. Too nice. Too talented.

[@TyeDocs]

Easily one of my favorite Tiny Desk concerts. His stories were just as entertaining as the performances.

[@TheBlkac1]

The bass playing is on point! Dude is smooth with IT!!

[@dandowell8501]

Wyclef draws from the universe and creates from 100 different genres. Now he's soloing with instruments into another dimension.

[@gabrielarodrigues5441]

I've been watching this specific tiny desk almost every day during quarantine because the Whitney Houston story always brings me a smile thinking that the is the sweetest way to remember a person

[@Lettnar]

The Fugees should come to theTiny Desk. It would be the best concert of all time

[@krhksk]

he is a rapper, a musician, and one of the great artist in pop music history.

[@raisecain]

That feeling when you're listening to music and the tears just come and pour out. The beauty of being alive and serving the master - MUSIC.

[@pierredestin8079]

Damn this man is heavenly talented, thanks monsieur Jean Wyclef

[@zackkingston4158]

I'll always respect wyclef...I'm diggin the Haitian French patois....can't ever hate that...n what a nice fellow to throw Malcolm gladwell on bass...

[@michaelc.6145]

Malcolm Gladwell on bass lol

[@geronimoheavyshadow5046]

He is not speaking french patois but french

[@toblerusseta]

It's the tipping point y'all

[@polymath1666]

That's regular French....

[@productjunkie1018]

He was speaking french lol

[@cherylambrosi4747]

This remains my favorite tiny desk even years later. I can’t count the amount of times I’ve watched it! Wyclef and the other musicians are so talented

[@creemeeontop]

This guy is still on top of his game after all these years. An amazing artist!

[@victordali2404]

Wyclef is just an amazing musician not just an artist. One love.

[@sagat666]

Gotta love, an intuitive drummer too.. Oh myyy

[@A_Sleap]

He's going into the 🇭🇹 history books for sure 🐐

[@ES-ms9jw]

smooov Let's get D'Angelo on this set already!

[@jermaun]

Yes!

[@tyeshawhite7133]

Omg , that would be an instant classic

[@user-nd7re9sf8d]

and maxwell

[@dr.dermixgirlmd7479]

Yaaaaaassss! Get him on the desk.

[@Naiatelu]

Tellem

[@sergeakouete4187]

I can feel the nostalgie of my childwood... the struggle..the road...the joy at the end..thank you the poet.

[@megaskyburst]

Damn, this turned into one of the best Tiny Desks

[@JasperThompson-v8z]

Greatest artist of my lifetime thank you god 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@nastystew6942]

I've been to a Wyclef concert and I was not disappointed! He knows how to entertain!

[@patrikpavelcz]

wow, Wyclef rules, those Fugees 90's vibes are still strongly resonating in me, genius, I bow down to his musical skills and his life experience of being poor

[@fall3n245]

I don’t even listen to wyclef but this was the first tiny desk I saw and I come back to watch every now and again

[@allanhuff4163]

I'm a long-haul trucker so the song going till November has another meaning to me lol👍😁

[@PattKuz]

Wyclef is a a damn stud, a legend. Guy is a master. Guy ripped this session. He's too real for this world. Turn me good is honestly one of the best songs made. People need to listen to this.

[@NoahZeus]

One of the best complete tiny desks.

[@perryphd9744]

My favorite: November. I enjoyed this performance by Wyclef.

[@amyweber5350]

Hands down my favorite in the series. For so many reasons. DAMN....

[@MarTiGirL1966]

It's 3:25a ...and I'm *STILL* awake and checking out Lovely artists on *Tiny Desk.* Wyclef Jean. Yes, indeed.

[@somebodysnobody2616]

Preach that truth brother man, bless you reading this all of you who truly believe. One love BE THE LIGHT

[@balletdancernj6894]

A wonderful performance brother Wyclef. 🎤🎸🎼 One of Jersey’s finest. Thanks NPR 😊

[@stevedoublen1641]

Wyclef Jean is my 2nd Favourite Musician after Michael Jackson, no other musician can claim those spot till the end of time.

[@BVTMVN007]

Steve Double N he didn’t play any instruments

[@sparklerosemary1021]

With that that guitar playing Robert Johnson , Bo Diddley, BB King, Chuck Berry, Prince, Jimmy Hendrix, Albert King, Eddie Hazel, and Dr. know are jumping up and down screaming!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🙏🏾🙌🏾☮️💗💋✨

[@munenekirimi5887]

Wyclef Jean made me subscribe to NPR Music

[@DrinkmoWater.]

One of my favorite desks to visit ..

[@mikeyswaggg]

Long live steez💕💕💕

[@abcdefg8510]

+Paco Aguilar agreed. I'm a big fan of this tiny desk but he fucks up so many elements of it. Bass solo on the first song he should leave to the bassist and just play the root notes himself, keyboard solo on the second is terrible and he fucks up when he should be coming in on vocals a lot and third song is just some horrible guitar playing with a terrible rap in the middle. He's clearly a big talent but should let the experts do their thing and not try to steal the limelight.

[@numbrr5.]

abcd efg y’all tripping ! Lol I enjoyed everything.

[@fernanzgz]

+abcd efg Reading this sounds like he should just stand outside the tiny desk...LOL

[@ryubey9336]

@abcd efg Sounds just how a hater would state it... get yours... your arms are too short for those heights bub.

[@jamesgreen9611]

And there's Wyclef... gobsmacked at this artist's talent, such respect for this man.

[@Moeslater]

wyclef is the TRUTH!!! i love his energy and he is so talented. Don't get me wrong the Fugess is so important to this hip hop music but Wyclef is defiantly underrated. The carnival is way before our time and still one of my top 10 albums of all time...one of my favorite desks visit..

[@MarkCzmic420]

Wyclef is such a talented musician. Love it keep doing what you do...

[@afemzy]

Just love the faces that the drummer makes when he's vibing with the super talented & cool Wyclef and the rest of the band, lovely mellow music all through.

[@wblk]

Saw Wycleff at a concert, he tore it up, he turned the concert into a carnival nobody was sitting everybody was on their feet

[@TyeDocs]

Classic Fugees style to rap AND sing. Wyclef and Lauryn Hill pioneered this style.

[@wheelzj]

Always been a fan of Wyclef, but this performance really had me LOCKED IN!!

[@shawruck7573]

This man is super talented and him telling a wonderful story of Whitney was 😉

[@onionpeeling5822]

Not an easy thing to speak more than 2 languages ! Props to the ones that do it !

[@alexmighty9004]

Wyclef's Carnival album was a whole vibe. Underrated album! I feel like I'm in the caribbean. Ty!

[@ericcopple169]

Probably the coolest guy on the planet. He came to my nightclub Costas in Palm Desert Ca a couple of times and was so nice and listened to every person that approached him. Love and respect🤙

[@michelbesedin7081]

Becides all gooood words about Wyclef i have to add: this nigga at drums is amazing - watching him play bring up huge smile at my face. Many thanks and respect from Belarus for all you guys!

[@Loke905]

Thanks Wyclef Jean and NPR Tiny Desk, keep going! Much love from Norway

[@shanamoreno6190]

This mellow as hell I love it..Wyclef love him.

[@rodflo2979]

Wyclef is simply a musical genius !!!

[@georgedadon]

What a multi talented artist, can rap, sing, play various instruments, simply amazing human being

[@carlettagoodrich-mann1377]

I remember when Blacks taught children seven languages. What disciplines we had. GReenHill farms made us proud of our culture. Proud of who we are. TIME is a group. Relaunch the sounds that we appreciate .

[@muhammadiq]

that girl sings like Lauryn, so good!

[@jeremenelson4227]

"Inside of a BASEMENT" it's where all the best music is made 👌

[@nhlanhlazwane9465]

This has to be the most versatile Tiny Desk Performance!

[@aspectratio6580]

Ude be pushed to find a more engaged artist on the planet, Wyclef is a musical legend of our time.

[@bricciville]

I take all my time to listen his music. Cuz his music is our music.

[@BtheOutLIer]

This man right here is a genius. Doesn’t get the respect he deserves

[@tomyoda]

Wyclef my Bro ! Respect from Russia ! Ural/Perm Region

[@carlyork6024]

low-key indication of his greatness is how amazing he sounds here. pick a language or an instrument.

[@TWhite-mq6uf]

What a musical genius! Lots of respect to Clef!