Wyclef singer sounds fresher than ever in “J’Ouvert”

Album - J'ouvertArtiste - Wyclef Jean Record Label - Heads Music (2017)Duration- 47 minutes

When the history of Hip hop is chronicled in its totality, Wyclef Jean’s name will be a part of such a rich culture, its twist and turns, and the amount of great art that it has blessed the world with. And although his catalogue is littered with hits, he continues to push through with more good music, and the reason is to be seen in J’ouvert” opener.

“All they wanna know is will I get another ring.” He sings on ‘The ring’.

The last time Wyclef stopped by with a new project, it was 2013’s “April Showers” mixtape. That’s four years ago, and a lot has changed. But Wyclef understand it, and you can feel him incorporate that change into his body of work.

“J’ouvert is a solid body of work. Solid enough to enjoy, but it won’t be in conversations about awards and accolades. Pop music has changed a lot, with Caribbean influences fueling the biggest hits. This makes it a perfect time for Wyclef to make a return to the game. And if ‘I swear’ doesn’t fulfill everything required by radio to become a hit, then nothing else does. Drake and his cohorts have benefited from exactly this template.

Where this album really lights up, is the few moments when Wyclef performs an inquest on his life. It is this endeavor that provides ‘Hendrix’, a detailed story about his life before fame knocked. While his homeland gets a beautiful ode on ‘Lady Haiti’.

Lyrically, this album holds nothing for you, but it is the delivery that carries it through, and masks some avoidable flaws. But Wyclef is an OG, and the skill in “J’ouvert” is undeniable. It is intertwined with every fibre of the project.

Rating 3.5/5.

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