With Wyclef Jean and Coolio both borrowing Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler," for recent songs, it's a wonder the country music legend didn't tell each hip-hop artist of the other's plans. Surely, if they're intent on paying homage to Rogers, the man's put out fifty-nine albums from which to choose a song.

"They were done simultaneously because Wyclef's was done originally for his live show and was not going to be used on the record," explains Rogers. "Then I did the thing with Coolio which was done specifically for a record, and then Wyclef called back and said, 'Do you mind if I do this on the record?' And I said, 'No, that's fine.'"

Wyclef's version, entitled "Kenny Rogers -- Pharoahe Monch Dub Plate," was released on his latest album, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II A Book. Rogers says he's not clear how the idea for the collaboration with the one-time Fugee came about.

"I'd never even met Wyclef. My manager said that he was a big fan and he wanted to know if I'd be interested in doing something," Rogers says. "He was going to do country-based R&B thing for his live show and he wanted me to do a little thing and he was going to use it only in his live show. I just sang a cappella to a track, and then he took it. I actually haven't even heard what he did yet."

Coolio's take on "The Gambler" is scheduled to appear on his upcoming album. "He did something called 'The Rebel,' instead of 'The Gambler,'" recounts Rogers. "I did a video with him and it takes place in the Old West. I had a whole Gambler outfit.

"When I met Coolio, when I went to do the video, I said, 'Coolio, this is just me and you. Where the hell did you ever hear about me?' And he said, 'Well, before rap, the black people in L.A. specifically listened to country music. They knew me, they knew George Jones, they knew Dolly Parton, they didn't know any of the newer people.

"He started singing lyrics to 'Coward of the County' and 'Daytime Friends.' I was so shocked to hear Coolio do this. I was very flattered. That's why when he called, there was no question I would do it. There's something really wonderful about this cross-genre of music, and no one does it better than a rap group."

And Rogers should know, as a "twisted" version of his duet with Dolly Parton, the Bee Gees-penned "Islands in the Stream," was used by former Fugee Pras for "Ghetto Superstar," featuring Mya and Ol' Dirty Bastard.

While he views the pairings as no different than when Pavarotti teams with someone outside the opera world, Rogers says there are no other collaborations with urban artists on the horizon.

KAREN BLISS
(April 11, 2001)