Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival

1997 studio album by Wyclef Jean

Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival

Studio album by

Wyclef Jean

Released| 24 June 1997
Recorded| 1996–1997
Genre| Hip hop[1]
Length| 73:51
Label| Columbia[2]
Producer| Wyclef Jean, Jerry Wonda
Wyclef Jean chronology
|  | Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival
(1997)  | The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book
(2000)

|
|

Singles from  The Carnival

1. "We Trying to Stay Alive"
Released: 27 May 1997
2. "Anything Can Happen"
Released: 22 September 1997
3. "Guantanamera"
Released: 8 October 1997
4. "Gone till November"
Released: 25 November 1997
5. "Cheated (To All The Girls)"
Released: 28 July 1998
6. "Gunpowder"
Released: 28 September 1998

Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival, also known simply as The Carnival, is the debut studio album released by Haitian hip hop musician Wyclef Jean. The album was released on 24 June 1997. Wyclef Jean also served as the album's executive producer. The album features guest appearances from Celia Cruz and The Neville Brothers and multiple appearances from Jean's former Fugees bandmates, Lauryn Hill and Pras.

The album was released to critical acclaim. While commercially it peaked at number sixteen on the US Billboard 200 chart, and at number four on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, it garnered Jean three Grammy Award nominations, including two nominations at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards, for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Guantanamera", and Best Rap Solo Performance at the 41st Grammy Awards in 1999, for his top-ten hit "Gone till November".[3]

## Music and lyrics

[edit]

The album encompasses many musical genres, including hip hop, reggae, folk, disco, soul, Son Cubano and Haitian music. The album features guest appearances from Celia Cruz, The Neville Brothers, John Forté, Jeni Fujita, and Jean's bandmates from The Fugees, Lauryn Hill and Pras, among others. It also features skits between many of its songs, most of them set in a fictional trial for Wyclef Jean, in which he is accused of being "a player" and a "bad influence". The final three songs on the album are sung in Haitian Creole.

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [4]
Chicago Tribune| [5]
Entertainment Weekly| A[6]
The Guardian| [7]
Los Angeles Times| [8]
NME| 8/10[9]
Pitchfork| 8.0/10[10]
Rolling Stone| [11]
Spin| 8/10[12]
The Village Voice| A−[13]

The Carnival was released to critical acclaim.[14] In a contemporary review for The Village Voice, music critic Robert Christgau found the album more R&B than the "diasporan flavors" it uses as "half decoration, half concept", and remarked that Jean uses the sampler for "one-dimensional tunes" that showcase his "well-articulated morality tales and popwise carnivalesque."[13] In his review for Playboy, Christgau asserted that the album is more likely than any other well-meaning hip hop to impact the demographic it aims at and also works as an attempt to prove Jean is equally worthy of the attention given to Lauryn Hill.[15]

Stephen Thompson of The A.V. Club, in a favorable review, called The Carnival "a stunning solo album that's light years beyond The Score".[16] He also wrote "In his universalist embrace of music of all forms, Wyclef Jean makes a more powerful call for peace and unity than a thousand East Coast–West Coast 'Stop the violence, y'all' intros put together."[16] The Carnival was voted the sixteenth best album of the year in The Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop critics poll for 1997.[17] Christgau, the poll's creator, ranked it twentieth on his own list.[18]

In 2011, Rolling Stone ranked The Carnival the 69th best album of the 1990s.[19]

## Commercial performance

[edit]

The Carnival debuted at number sixteen on the US Billboard 200, selling 52,000 copies in its first week.[20] It also debuted at number four on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album spawned the singles "Gone Till November", "We Trying to Stay Alive", "Guantanamera" and "To All the Girls". On 16 December 1998, the album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and sold approximately two million copies worldwide.[21]

## Track listing

[edit]

The Carnival – Standard editionNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Court Clef" (Intro)|

* Wyclef Jean

| Jean| 3:15
2.| "Apocalypse"|

* Jean

| Jean| 3:49
3.| "Guantanamera" (featuring Celia Cruz, Jeni Fujita, and Lauryn Hill)|

* Jean
* Jerry Duplessis
* Lauryn Hill
* Pete Seeger
* Julián Orbón
* Joseíto Fernández
* José Martí

| Jean| 4:30
4.| "Pablo Diablo (Interlude)" (featuring Crazy Sam and Talent)|

* Jean

| Jean| 0:39
5.| "Bubblegoose" (featuring Melky Sedeck)|

* Jean
* Salaam Remi

| Salaam Remi| 3:49
6.| "To All the Girls (Prelude)"|

* Jean

| Jean| 0:29
7.| "To All the Girls"|

* Jean
* Al McKay
* Albert Hammond
* Ben Liebrand
* Guy O'Brien
* Hal David
* Henry Jackson
* Maurice White
* Michael Wright
* Philip Bailey
* Sylvia Robinson

| Jean| 4:18
8.| "Down Lo Ho (Interlude)" (featuring Talent and Wil Shannon Briggs)|

* Jean

| Jean| 1:13
9.| "Anything Can Happen"|

* Jean
* Duplessis

| Jean| 4:36
10.| "Gone till November"|

* Jean
* Duplessis

| Jean| 3:27
11.| "Words of Wisdom (Interlude)"|

* Jean

| Jean| 0:45
12.| "Year of the Dragon" (featuring Lauryn Hill)|

* Jean
* Duplessis
* Hill
* G. Summers

| Jean| 4:07
13.| "Sang Fézi" (featuring Lauryn Hill)|

* Jean
* Alan Price

| Jean| 4:02
14.| "Fresh Interlude"|

* Jean

| Jean| 1:45
15.| "Mona Lisa" (featuring The Neville Brothers)|

* Jean

| Jean| 4:30
16.| "Street Jeopardy" (featuring John Forté and R.O.C.)|

* Jean
* Duplessis
* John Forté

| Jean| 3:57
17.| "Killer M.C. (Interlude)" (featuring Pras)|

* Jean

| Jean| 0:32
18.| "We Trying to Stay Alive" (featuring John Forté and Pras)|

* Jean
* Forté
* Pras Michel
* Barry Gibb
* Maurice Gibb
* Robin Gibb

| Pras| 3:11
19.| "Gunpowder" (featuring Lauryn Hill)|

* Jean

| Jean| 4:24
20.| "Closing Arguments (Interlude)" (featuring Talent and Wil Shannon Briggs)|

* Jean

| Jean| 1:35
21.| "Enter the Carnival (Interlude)"|

* Jean

| Jean| 0:24
22.| "Jaspora"|

* Jean

| Jean| 4:03
23.| "Yelé" (featuring Joel Servilus and Lauryn Hill)|

* Jean

| Jean| 5:24
24.| "Carnival" (featuring Jacob Desvarieux (credit as "Jacob Desvavieux"), Jocelyne Béroard (credit as "Jocelyn Berouard"), and Sweet Mickey)|

* Jean
* Duplessis

| Jean| 5:06

The Carnival – Bonus tracksNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

25.| "Imagino (Creole version)"|

* Jean

| Jean|
26.| "Bubblegoose (Bakin' Cake Mix)"|

* Jean
* Remi

| Salaam Remi| 3:30
27.| "No Airplay (Men in Blue)" (featuring Youssou N'Dour)|

* Jean

| Jean| 4:46
28.| "Cheated (To All the Girls) (R&B Remix)" (featuring Queen Pen)|

* Jean
* Remi
* Hammond
* David

| Salaam Remi| 4:05
29.| "What's Clef?" (featuring Naomi Campbell)|

* Jean
* Remi

| Salaam Remi| 4:17
30.| "Chickenhead (Icerider Remix)" (featuring Spragga Benz)|

* Jean
* Remi
* Hammond
* David

| Salaam Remi| 4:31

## Personnel

[edit]

* Wyclef Jean – guitar, keyboards
* Rita Marley – background vocals
* Judy Mowatt – background vocals
* Marcia Griffiths – background vocals
* Sonny Kompanek – arranger
* Salaam Remi – producer, engineer, mixing
* Warren Riker – mastering, mixing
* Rudy – assistant engineer
* DJ Skribble – scratching
* Funkmaster Flex – scratching
* Crazy Sam & Da Verbal Assassins – performer
* Manuel Lecuona – mastering
* Rawle Gittens – mixing assistant
* Tony Gonzales – assistant engineer
* Lauryn Hill – arranger, performer, executive producer
* Jerry Duplessis – guitar, bass, producer
* Alex Olsson – mixing assistant
* John Forté – performer
* Jay Nicholas – mixing assistant
* Pras – performer, executive producer
* Melky Sedeck – performer
* New York Philharmonic Orchestra – performer
* Tomas Muscionico – photography
* Mike Roach – mixing assistant
* Storm Jefferson – mixing assistant
* Paul Epworth – assistant engineer
* Brian Dozoretz – engineer, mixing assistant
* Jocelyne Béroard – performer
* Sweet Micky – performer
* The Neville Brothers – performer
* Celia Cruz – performer

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

Weekly chart performance for Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival | Chart (1997–1998)  | Peak
position

|

Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[22] | 42
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[23] | 48
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[24] | 81
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[25] | 31
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[26] | 24
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[27] | 16
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[28] | 28
UK Albums (OCC)[29] | 40
US Billboard 200[30] | 16
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[31] | 4

### Year-end charts

[edit]

1998 year-end chart performance for Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival | Chart (1997)  | Position

|

US Billboard 200[32] | 88
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[33] | 38
1998 year-end chart performance for Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival Chart (1998)  | Position

|

US Billboard 200[34] | 91
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[35] | 81

## Certifications

[edit]

Certifications for Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Canada (Music Canada)[36] | Platinum  | 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[37] | Silver  | 60,000*
United States (RIAA)[38] | 2× Platinum  | 2,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Nelson, Havelock (3 January 1998). "The Rap Column". Billboard. p. 85. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
2. ^ "All Music Label". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
3. ^ "Awards Nominations & Winners". GRAMMY.com. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
4. ^ Stanley, Leo. "Presents the Carnival – Wyclef Jean". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
5. ^ Kot, Greg (27 June 1997). "Wyclef Jean: Wyclef Jean presents the Carnival featuring Refugee Allstars (Ruffhouse)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
6. ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (18 July 1997). "The Carnival". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
7. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (4 July 1997). "Wyclef Jean: Presents the Carnival Featuring Refugee Allstars (Sony)". The Guardian.
8. ^ Johnson, Connie (21 June 1997). "Presenting a Daring Solo 'Carnival' Ride". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
9. ^ Batey, Angus (21 June 1997). "Wyclef Jean Featuring Refugee Allstars – The Carnival". NME. Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
10. ^ Zeichner, Naomi (8 October 2017). "Wyclef Jean: The Carnival". Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
11. ^ Morales, Ed (26 June 1997). "Wyclef Jean: The Carnival". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 1 April 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
12. ^ Michel, Sia (August 1997). "Wyclef Jean: Presents the Carnival featuring Refugee Allstars". Spin. 13 (5): 111. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
13. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (23 September 1997). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
14. ^ Morgan, Joan (2018). She Begat This: 20 Years of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-5082-6878-9.
15. ^ Christgau, Robert (July 1997). "Doc Cheatham & Nicholas Payton, Wyclef Jean, Strip Jointz". Playboy. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
16. ^ a b Thompson, Stephen (29 March 2002). "Jean ventures far beyond the places he knows". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
17. ^ "The 1997 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. New York. 28 February 1998. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
18. ^ "Pazz & Jop 1997: Dean's List". The Village Voice. New York. 28 February 1998. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
19. ^ "100 Best Album of the Nineties". Rolling Stone. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2017.[dead link]
20. ^ Harris, Chris (12 December 2007). "Josh Groban Rules Billboard Chart For Third Straight Week: Blake Lewis Barely Cracks Top 10". MTV. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
21. ^ Mitchell, Gail (24 November 2007). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
22. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2171". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
23. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Wyclef Jean feat. Refugee Allstars – Presents The Carnival" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
24. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Wyclef Jean feat. Refugee Allstars – Presents The Carnival" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
25. ^ "Charts.nz – Wyclef Jean feat. Refugee Allstars – Presents The Carnival". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
26. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Wyclef Jean feat. Refugee Allstars – Presents The Carnival". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
27. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Wyclef Jean feat. Refugee Allstars – Presents The Carnival". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
28. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Wyclef Jean feat. Refugee Allstars – Presents The Carnival". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
29. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
30. ^ "Wyclef Jean Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
31. ^ "Wyclef Jean Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
32. ^ "Billboard 200: Year End 1998". Billboard. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2024.`{{cite magazine}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
33. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1997". Billboard. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
34. ^ "Billboard 200: Year End 1998". Billboard. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
35. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1998". Billboard. Archived from the original on 4 November 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
36. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Wyclef Jean – The Carnival". Music Canada.
37. ^ "British album certifications – Wyclef Jean – The Carnival". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
38. ^ "American album certifications – Wyclef Jean – The Carnival". Recording Industry Association of America.

* v
* t
* e

Wyclef Jean

Discography

Studio albums|

* The Carnival
* The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book
* Masquerade
* The Preacher's Son
* Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101
* Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant
* From the Hut, To the Projects, To the Mansion
* Carnival III: The Fall and Rise of a Refugee

Compilations|

* Greatest Hits

EPs|

* If I Were President: My Haitian Experience
* J'ouvert

Singles|

* "We Trying to Stay Alive"
* "Guantanamera"
* "Gone till November"
* "Cheated (To All the Girls)"
* "Gunpowder"
* "Another One Bites the Dust"
* "New Day"
* "It Doesn't Matter"
* "911"
* "Perfect Gentleman"
* "Wish You Were Here"
* "Two Wrongs"
* "Pussycat"
* "Party to Damascus"
* "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)"
* "Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)"
* "Divine Sorrow"

Featured singles|

* "No, No, No"
* "In the Zone"
* "Maria Maria"
* "Loving You (Ole Ole Ole)"
* "One Nite Stand"
* "Shape of You (Reshaped)"
* "Learn Chinese"
* "Hips Don't Lie"
* "Nuestro Himno"
* "Dangerous"
* "You Know What It Is"
* "Five-O"
* "Dimelo"
* "Dear Future Self (Hands Up)"

Tours|

* The Carnival Tour

See also|

* Barikad Crew
* Jimmy O
* The Fugees

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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