In a SXSW Interview on Thursday at the Convention Center, Wyclef Jean sounded like a man with something to prove: “If you think Wyclef can’t rap no more, please motherfucker, try me.”
Later that night at the Pandora Discovery Den, the refugee all-star doubled down. Jean, whose eighth studio album Clefication is forthcoming, could have easily coasted through hits from the Fugees’ 1996 smash album The Score or his solo debut, The Carnival, which came out a year later. Instead, he delivered a SXSW performances for the ages.
Save for a 2014 collaboration with Avicii, so much time has passed since Jean released new music of consequence that it’s easy to forget how insanely talented the Haitian-born, Jersey-bred MC is. He freestyled in three different languages, covered a pair of Bob Marley ballads (“No Woman No Cry,” “Redemption Song”), played keys, and plucked guitar with his teeth like so many Sixth Street Stevie Ray Vaughan wannabes.
Hits came in the form of “Fu-Gee-La,” “Ready or Not,” and “Guantanamera.” In an unlikely collaboration, the rapper played a swirling guitar riff as H-Town vet Trae tha Truth popped the trunk on Texas rap classic “Swang,” which seamlessly morphed into “Gone Til November.” To paraphrase a Carnival classic, anything can happen.
As curfew approached, the would-be Haitian presidential candidate hopped a barrier and worked his way through the crowd, singing much of “Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill).” He even did a backflip before leaving the stage, because of course Jean can do a backflip. The only thing he didn’t do was reunite the Fugees.
What would that take? He answered that question earlier in the day: “The only motherfucker that could make that happen is Dave Chappelle.” Who’s starting the petition for Block Party 2?
Complete SXSW Music coverage at austinchronicle.com/sxsw/music
This article appears in March 20 • 2015.
