In 1990, he formed the New Jersey–based hip hop trio Fugees with fellow musicians Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel; Jean served as its lead producer and guitarist.

His second solo album, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book (2000), was supported by the top 40 single "911" (featuring Mary J. Blige) and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The following year, his single "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" (featuring Akon, Lil Wayne and Niia), peaked within the chart's top 15 and preceded his sixth studio album, Carnival Vol.

[3][7] Jean's highly publicized efforts to raise relief funds after the 2010 Haitian earthquake were channeled through his charitable organization, Yéle Haiti.

The New York Times reported that much of the earnings raised by the organization in the Hope for Haiti Now telethon were retained by Jean.

[9][10][11] In 2011, President Michel Martelly of Haiti awarded Jean with the National Order of Honour and Merit to the rank of Grand Officer.

[12] Named after the biblical scholar John Wycliffe,[13] Wyclef Jean was born in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti[2] on October 17, 1969.

[14] At nine years old, he emigrated with his family to Brooklyn, New York City, and ultimately settled in East Orange and Newark, New Jersey.

He has cited reggae artist Bigga Haitian as one of his early influences, as well as neighborhood heroes MC Tiger Paw Raw and producer Lobster v.

Jean later revealed that Hill's dishonesty about the parentage of her child, Zion David, caused the rift that split the group up.

It performed well in several overseas nations, topping the Austrian, Canadian, French, German and Swiss albums charts, while also peaking at number two in Sweden and the United Kingdom.

"No Woman, No Cry" – a cover of the Bob Marley & The Wailers song of the same name – topped the singles chart in New Zealand.

The album's guests included Fugees members Lauryn Hill and Pras, along with Jean's siblings' group Melky Sedeck;[34] the I Threes (back-up vocals for Bob Marley); The Neville Brothers and Celia Cruz.

Released in 2000, Jean's second solo album The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book was recorded with guests including Youssou N'Dour; Earth, Wind & Fire; Kenny Rogers; The Rock; and Mary J. Blige.

He produced and wrote songs for the soundtrack to Jonathan Demme's 2003 documentary The Agronomist, about the Haitian activist and radio personality Jean Dominique.

[38] During a period between 2004 and 2006, fueled by a reunion performance in the documentary Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2005), it appeared that the Fugees would record a new album.

He joined Shakira on various dates of her Oral Fixation Tour in the U.S. Also in 2007, Jean scored the Angelina Jolie documentary A Place in Time.

In November 2009, a track titled "Suicide Love" featuring rapper Eve leaked online prior to the release of his EP.

Jean was also featured on the Young Thug song "Kanye West", from the rapper's mixtape Jeffery, released in August 2016.

Wyclef wrote an autobiography entitled Purpose: An Immigrant's Story with the help of journalist Anthony Bozza, published in September 2012.

In December 2017, Wyclef along with Naughty Boy appeared on the final of the fourteenth series of The X Factor, guest performing "Dimelo" with contestants Rak-Su.

It continued to provide scholarships, school funding, meals and other charitable benefits to citizens of Haiti in the following years.

[67] Jean took part in an MTV donation drive and other publicized fundraising,[68] such as the Hope for Haiti Now telethon, which he organized with actor and producer George Clooney.

[69] Yéle donated funds to orphanages, street cleaning crews, hospitals and medical clinics and organized food service to provide hot meals to refugees and victims of the catastrophe.

The former executive director, Sanjay Rawal, questioned Yéle's ability to handle large projects and criticized its lack of financial controls.

He resigned and announced that Yéle was closed, saying in a statement, "As the foundation's sole remaining employee, my decision implies the closure of the organization as a whole."

New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman investigated Yéle and attempted to reach a settlement over allegations of mismanagement.

In 2011 he told Women's Wear Daily that he was "a big fan of Sarah Palin", former vice-presidential candidate of the Republican Party.

[76][77] On August 5, 2010, Wyclef confirmed rumors that he was running for president of Haiti during an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

[8] and which takes him through the turmoil of immigration, The book depicts with painful detail,[91] the story of his childhood in Haiti, to his rise to the American music scene.