The Carnival

Infobox Album | Name = The Carnival
Type = Album
Artist = Wyclef Jean


Released = June 24, 1997
Recorded = 1997
Genre = Hip-hop
Length = 73:51
Label = Sony Music/Columbia Records
Producer = Wyclef Jean
Reviews =
*"Allmusic" Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:pl3m964ofep7 link]
* "Pitchfork" (8.1/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/23253-the-carnival link]
*"RapReviews.com" rating-10|7.5 [http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_thecarnival.html link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/224611/the_carnival RS 764/765]
Last album = -
This album = "The Carnival"
(1997)
Next album = ""
(2000)

"Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival Featuring Refugee All Stars", or more simply "The Carnival", is the first solo album by Wyclef Jean.

Released shortly after The Fugees' blockbuster hit album "The Score", the Carnival became one of hip-hop's most unusual and unique albums, with a guest list ranging from salsa legend Celia Cruz to New Orleans crooners The Neville Brothers. Among the album's many accomplishments were bringing New York underground hip-hop into the mainstream, and introducing America to the sounds of Haiti.

The album begins with a movie-promo like intro, featuring many of the album's guest stars, and establishing one of the album's two major "concepts" — that Wyclef is on trial for being a dangerous influence on society (the other "concept" being the "Carnival" theme). Some twenty tracks later, it "ends" with Wyclef's acquittal, and then appends a coda of Haitian music sung in Creole.

Standout tracks include "Gone Till November," which includes a full orchestra (and a video that featured Bob Dylan), "Mona Lisa", an old-school love ballad in the tradition of "Tell It Like It Is", and hit single "We Trying to Stay Alive." With this album Wyclef established himself as arguably one of the most musically-minded producers in hip hop. Moreover, the record went on to become RIAA certified Platinum three times.

In 2005, comedian Chris Rock ranked it 16th on his list of the Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums ever. [http://rateyourmusic.com/list/tha_flu/chris_rocks_top_25_hip_hop_albums] .

Track listing

# "Intro/Court/Clef/Intro" (Skit/Interlude)
# "Apocalypse" (Saint-Preux & Danielle Licari-Concerto pour une voix)
# "Guantanamera" feat. Celia Cruz & Lauryn Hill
# "Pablo Diablo" (Interlude) feat. Crazy Sam & Da Verbal Assassins
# "Bubblegoose"
# "Prelude to "To All the Girls" (Interlude)
# "To All the Girls"
# "Down Lo Ho" (Interlude)
# "Anything Can Happen"
# "Gone Till November"
# "Words of Wisdom" (Interlude)
# "Year of the Dragon" feat. Lauryn Hill
# "Sang Fézi"
# "Fresh Interlude"
# "Mona Lisa" feat. Neville Brothers
# "Street Jeopardy" feat. John Forté & R.O.C.
# "Killer MC" (Interlude)
# "We Trying to Stay Alive" feat. John Forté & The Bee Gees
#*Contains a sample of "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees
# "Gunpowder"
# "Closing Arguments"
# "Enter the Carnival" (Interlude)
# "Jaspora"
# "Yele"
# "Carnival"

Chart positions

Album

ingles

Credits

Rita Marley (Vocals (Background)), Judy Mowatt (Vocals (Background)), The Neville Brothers (Performer), Celia Cruz (Performer), Marcia Griffiths (Vocals (Background)), Sonny Kompanek (Arranger), Salaam Remi (Producer), Salaam Remi (Engineer), Salaam Remi (Mixing), Warren Riker (Mastering), Warren Riker (Mixing), Rudy (Assistant Engineer), DJ Skribble (Scratching), Funkmaster Flex (Scratching), Crazy Sam & Da Verbal Assassins (Performer), Wyclef Jean (Guitar), Wyclef Jean (Keyboards), Wyclef Jean (Producer), Wyclef Jean (Main Performer), Wyclef Jean (Executive Producer), Manuel Lecuona (Mastering), Rawle Gittens (Mixing Assistant), Tony Gonzales (Assistant Engineer), Lauryn Hill (Arranger), Lauryn Hill (Performer), Lauryn Hill, Lauryn Hill (Executive Producer), Jerry Duplessis (Guitar (Bass)), Jerry Duplessis (Producer), Alex Olsson (Mixing Assistant), John Forté (Performer), John Forté, Jay Nicholas (Mixing Assistant), Pras (Performer), Pras, Pras (Executive Producer), Melky Sedeck (Performer), Melky Sedeck, New York Philharmonic Orchestra (Performer), Tomas Muscionico (Photography), Mike Roach (Mixing Assistant), Storm Jefferson (Mixing Assistant), Paul Epworth (Assistant Engineer), Brian Dozoretz (Engineer), Brian Dozoretz (Mixing Assistant), Jocelyn Berouard (Performer), Sweet Mickey (Performer), Will Kennedy (Digital Imaging)

ee also

* concept album

External links

* [http://kitoba.com/pedia/Reconstructivist%20Art.html Reconstructivist Art] : Wyclef's "Mona Lisa"