.

Exclusive Video: Wyclef Jean Performs Live and Talks Haiti

December 7, 2010 9:05 AM ET

Wyclef Jean recently stopped by Rolling Stone's offices to perform an intimate acoustic set of new and old songs. Two of the songs — "My Haitian Experience" and "Earthquake," are from his new EP, If I Were President: My Haitian Experience . The third track is a rollicking version of "Gone Till November," the hit single from his 1997 debut solo LP, Carnival.

It's been quite a year for Jean: His homeland of Haiti was ravaged by an earthquake in January, yet his efforts to bring attention to the crisis brought millions of dollars in relief to the ravaged country. In August, he announced he was running for president of Haiti, but his candidacy was ultimately rejected by the country's government.

In the interview segment, Wyclef talks at length about the news songs, his attempt to run for president and how Bono dubbed the Fugees "the hip-hop Beatles."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

prev
Music Main Next

blog comments powered by Disqus
Daily Newsletter

Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
marketing partners.

X

We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

Song Stories

“The A Team”

Ed Sheeran | 2011

This debut track from the then-20-year-old British singer-songwriter has a dark story behind it. Sheeran says he culls songwriting inspiration from "viewing other people's situations," which, for the heroine in "The A Team," involves drug addiction and prostitution that began as a teen. Sheeran paints the woman's trials with haunting imagery such as "But lately her face seems/Slowly sinking, wasting/Crumbling like pastries." "I did a gig at a homeless shelter, [and the song] is about one of the women there. It's her story," he said.

More Song Stories entries »