12/07/07 - Wyclef Jean: The Carnival Vol. II Memoirs of an Immigrant (allhiphop)

Legendz · 12-07-2007, 03:48 AM

When approaching a Wyclef album you know not to expect traditional Rap music. He has always colored outside the lines, blurring the boundaries of what it’s suppose to sound and feel like. The Carnival Vol. II Memoirs Of An Immigrant (Columbia) is no different. It plays more like a Reggae/Soca album than Hip-Hop, with Wyclef crooning his rhymes more than actually rapping them. With that being said, this is not the album geared for the Hip-Hop purist.

He opens up with the Rock/Hip-Hop mash-up “Riot” featuring System Of A Down front man Serj Tankian. At about the half way mark, the song turns to a dub plate featuring Reggae legend Sizzla, then back to the mash-up. Needless to say, this encompasses the feel of the entire project: a fusion of genres and an eclectic assortment of featured artists. The lead single, “Sweetest Girl” featuring Lil’ Wayne and Akon, is an acoustic guitar lead soft rock type of ballad with ethereal humming background vocals. Weezy throws what feels to be a half-ass verse on it and Akon does his signature high pitch nasal sing/rap shtick. In between verses, Wyclef recites Wu-Tang’s legendary hook for “C.R.E.A.M.”

He then takes it to Latin America with “Selena.” With assistance from R&B singer Melissa Jimenez; the Reggae/Merengue track pays homage to late great Latin artists Selena, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz. “Touch Your Button Carnival Jam” is a thirteen minute long track that is deeply rooted in Caribbean culture with shout outs to Eastern Parkway, the home of the New York city’s epic two-day long West Indian Day Parade. The song begins as a pop number then transcends to an all out Soca Carnival jam featuring Soca star Machel Montano, Haitian rappers Black Alex, Djakout Mizik and Brazilian samba singer Daniela Mercury; a veteran on the Caribbean music scene who commands stadium status across the globe.

Wyclef takes a step back from globetrotting with “What About The Baby” where he is assisted by Mary J. Blige. This is the second time that the two have collaborated and it’s just as good as the first (“911”). This sounds like a follow up to one of Wyclef’s most popular songs, “Gone Till November,” with Wyclef returning only to be met with hostility and a broken heart.

The self-proclaimed “Prince of Haiti's” loyalty to his homeland and to all of the other West Indian islands is unmatched. Wyclef definitely shows his musical dexterity and flexes his international prowess all over this album. Stuffing almost every type of Caribbean inspired musical genre on to one album will work for his fan base, but may prove to be too much for new recruits.

THE GAME TIME · 12-07-2007, 06:09 PM

props on dis.....

Eynak Tsew · 12-07-2007, 07:58 PM

wordlfe on this....wyclef brings dope caribean music

M0ney · 12-10-2007, 09:40 AM

Not bad overall...... Akon joint was crazy

moniquethe1 · 12-15-2007, 09:25 AM

kind of dissappointed vol 1 is way better

Sergalicious · 12-16-2007, 03:42 PM

yo, at first, i didn't no wat that song "sweetest girl" was supposed to be about. it sounded like it was a bout a prostitute and her pimp.

12-07-2007, 03:48 AM	#1
Legendz Veteran Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 6,735 Repped: 877 Repped 9,264 Times in 1,395 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 1 Time in 1 Post	12/07/07 - Wyclef Jean: The Carnival Vol. II Memoirs of an Immigrant (allhiphop) 12/07/07 - Wyclef Jean: The Carnival Vol. II Memoirs of an Immigrant (allhiphop) When approaching a Wyclef album you know not to expect traditional Rap music. He has always colored outside the lines, blurring the boundaries of what it’s suppose to sound and feel like. The Carnival Vol. II Memoirs Of An Immigrant (Columbia) is no different. It plays more like a Reggae/Soca album than Hip-Hop, with Wyclef crooning his rhymes more than actually rapping them. With that being said, this is not the album geared for the Hip-Hop purist. He opens up with the Rock/Hip-Hop mash-up “Riot” featuring System Of A Down front man Serj Tankian. At about the half way mark, the song turns to a dub plate featuring Reggae legend Sizzla, then back to the mash-up. Needless to say, this encompasses the feel of the entire project: a fusion of genres and an eclectic assortment of featured artists. The lead single, “Sweetest Girl” featuring Lil’ Wayne and Akon, is an acoustic guitar lead soft rock type of ballad with ethereal humming background vocals. Weezy throws what feels to be a half-ass verse on it and Akon does his signature high pitch nasal sing/rap shtick. In between verses, Wyclef recites Wu-Tang’s legendary hook for “C.R.E.A.M.” He then takes it to Latin America with “Selena.” With assistance from R&B singer Melissa Jimenez; the Reggae/Merengue track pays homage to late great Latin artists Selena, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz. “Touch Your Button Carnival Jam” is a thirteen minute long track that is deeply rooted in Caribbean culture with shout outs to Eastern Parkway, the home of the New York city’s epic two-day long West Indian Day Parade. The song begins as a pop number then transcends to an all out Soca Carnival jam featuring Soca star Machel Montano, Haitian rappers Black Alex, Djakout Mizik and Brazilian samba singer Daniela Mercury; a veteran on the Caribbean music scene who commands stadium status across the globe. Wyclef takes a step back from globetrotting with “What About The Baby” where he is assisted by Mary J. Blige. This is the second time that the two have collaborated and it’s just as good as the first (“911”). This sounds like a follow up to one of Wyclef’s most popular songs, “Gone Till November,” with Wyclef returning only to be met with hostility and a broken heart. The self-proclaimed “Prince of Haiti's” loyalty to his homeland and to all of the other West Indian islands is unmatched. Wyclef definitely shows his musical dexterity and flexes his international prowess all over this album. Stuffing almost every type of Caribbean inspired musical genre on to one album will work for his fan base, but may prove to be too much for new recruits.

12-07-2007, 07:58 PM	#3
Eynak Tsew The Goons Gone Getcha Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Miami Posts: 299 Repped: 40 Repped 14 Times in 12 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 14 Times in 6 Posts	wordlfe on this....wyclef brings dope caribean music __________________ The Rise of American Soccer

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12-07-2007, 06:09 PM	#2
THE GAME TIME Veteran Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: ... Posts: 2,865 Repped: 685 Repped 12,647 Times in 910 Posts Neg Reps: 31 Neg Repped at 32 Times in 29 Posts	props on dis.....

12-10-2007, 09:40 AM	#4
M0ney Haitian Berry White Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Next Door Posts: 184 Repped: 67 Repped 80 Times in 4 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Not bad overall...... Akon joint was crazy

12-15-2007, 09:25 AM	#5
moniquethe1 Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 96 Repped: 32 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	kind of dissappointed vol 1 is way better

12-16-2007, 03:42 PM	#6
Sergalicious Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 66 Repped: 17 Repped 1 Time in 1 Post Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	yo, at first, i didn't no wat that song "sweetest girl" was supposed to be about. it sounded like it was a bout a prostitute and her pimp.