Jean moved to Brooklyn, New York when he was nine, then to Northern New Jersey, where he began playing the guitar and studying jazz in his high school. In 1987, Jean, his friend (so close they told people they were cousins growing up) Prakazrel Michel (Pras) and his classmate, Lauryn Hill, formed a group called the Tranzlator Crew before becoming The Fugees. Wyclef worked as a cabdriver.
Recently he has been finding success as a collaborator - with his turn on Shakira's 2006 track 'Hips Don't Lie' hitting number one in many countries around the world.
In August of 2010, Jean announced his intent to seek the presidency of Haiti. This move came after his increasingly-high profile humanitarian work in the wake of the earthquake that devastated that nation.
Coqui
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She asked me do I love her that recorded song
By si si si si bunoes bonita.
You wanna ever be mine stay on hip hop
But tonight where gonna reggaeton the whole club.
I see you party in the streets,
See my myself climbing in the
Them days when I thought about throwing on a towel
The night before the month was like Christmas
This kid keep hustling me sometimes I felt
Like I couldn't breath I would have to sit back
And play naive and it hurt watching my mum struggle
Trust me when you broke and hungry it's hard
To stay out of trouble it's a survival of the fittest
Whatever it took to bring money to the table
I did it even my girl lost faith in me
Left me out trapped in this negative energy
Listening deeply but I have to keep on
Moving I refuse to let this darkness, cath up to me
Puerto Rico is where she come from
She asked me do I love her that recorded song
By si si si bunoes bonita.
You wanna ever be mine stay on hip hop
But tonight where gonna reggaton the whole club.
Dowled up but it was just a distraction
Even the streets never gave us a little time to relax
Writing my rhymes to a vibe scap in the corner
Wrapped me like a cake I'm trying to be this super man
In the ghetto get this paper take this music
To a whole new level trouble found me now
I found myself in Puerto Rico spy got hot
I had to roll living with my paps
I really don't no missing my lady try not to tell it show
Her new man telling her I would probably never blow
Wanted to tell to the flow I know robbin' it stay in the zone
And move hard or go home open my eyes now
I see myself on the rock miens bonitas
Everywhere I wanna ride
Puerto Rico is where she come from
She asked me do I love her that recorded song
By si si si bunoes bonita.
You wanna ever be mine stay on hip hop
But tonight where gonna reggaton the whole club.
All you gotta do is listen
Banno yellow telia mama(yeah, yeah, yeah)
Seie tiel mama bata
Bitu weil teia sicla
Como elese wella
Si pak pak wella
I never thought I would see the day
That I will be getting money making music
So these hatters wouldn't take nothing off me
When the chicks wouldn't holla I just
Play them back all I had was a flow and a ball
Cap, watch right across the room
Thinking they will be dancing to me soon so
I'm in the game selling the streets though rapped
So hard that I'm in Puerto Rico Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is where she come from
She asked me do I love her that recorded song
By si si si bunoes bonita.
You wanna ever be mine stay on hip hop
But tonight where gonna reggaeton the whole club.
All you gotta do is listen
She looks fine just whistle at her
See the cops coming then just miss at her
If I can't spend my weekend in a cell century
Reggaeton, reaggaeton, reggaeton (carnival style)
In Wyclef Jean's song "Coqui," the lyrics depict his connection to Puerto Rico and the struggles he faced in his journey as a musician. The opening lines introduce Puerto Rico as the place where "she" comes from, implying a romantic interest or a metaphorical representation of the island itself. The mention of a recorded song and the phrase "si si si si bunoes bonita" suggest the language and culture of Puerto Rico.
The lyrics then touch on Wyclef Jean's personal experiences, particularly his hardships and determination in the music industry. He reminisces about partying in the streets and climbing higher in his career, aligning the hood with a heavenly place. However, he also reflects on difficult times, feeling overwhelmed and almost giving up. The mention of his mother's struggle implies a childhood tainted by poverty and the challenges he faced growing up.
The song continues to emphasize Puerto Rico's influence on Wyclef Jean's life. He describes facing trouble and finding refuge on the island, living with his father. He expresses a longing for his love interest, most likely referencing a woman from Puerto Rico who lost faith in him. Wyclef Jean's dedication to his craft, highlighted by his continuous pursuit of success and refusal to succumb to darkness, conveys his determination and resilience.
The lyrics also allude to the reggaeton genre, which is popular in Puerto Rico. Wyclef Jean mentions that he and his love interest will celebrate and enjoy the music style, exemplifying his desire to stay connected to the hip hop community but embracing reggaeton for the night. The final lines of the song encourage listeners to pay attention and find enjoyment in the music, juxtaposing playful phrases in Spanish with a rhythmic, carnival-style refrain.
Overall, "Coqui" is a song that reflects Wyclef Jean's deep-rooted connection to Puerto Rico, the struggles he faced in his career, and his resilience in overcoming obstacles. It showcases his appreciation for the culture and music of the island while telling a personal narrative of determination and triumph.
Line by Line Meaning
Puerto Rico is where she come from
She hails from Puerto Rico
She asked me do I love her that recorded song
She inquired if I love her based on that song she recorded
By si si si si bunoes bonita.
In affirmation, she emphasized her beauty
You wanna ever be mine stay on hip hop
If she wants to be with me, she should remain in the hip hop genre
But tonight where gonna reggaeton the whole club.
Tonight, we will fill the entire club with the lively rhythm of reggaeton
I see you party in the streets,
I observe you enjoying the festivities in the streets
See my myself climbing in the Seats
I imagine myself rising up in life
the hood is like heaven now reminiscing
The neighborhood feels blissful in my memories
Them days when I thought about throwing on a towel
Back then, I contemplated giving up
The night before the month was like Christmas
The anticipation on the night before payday felt like Christmas
This kid keep hustling me sometimes I felt
This young individual constantly pressures me, occasionally making me feel overwhelmed
Like I couldn't breath I would have to sit back
As if I couldn't breathe, I had to take a step back
And play naive and it hurt watching my mum struggle
I pretended to be oblivious, but it was painful witnessing my mother's hardships
Trust me when you broke and hungry it's hard
Believe me, when you're financially broke and hungry, it's difficult
To stay out of trouble it's a survival of the fittest
Avoiding trouble becomes a battle for survival
Whatever it took to bring money to the table
I did whatever was necessary to provide financially
I did it even my girl lost faith in me
I persevered, even when my partner lost confidence in me
Left me out trapped in this negative energy
She abandoned me, leaving me trapped in negativity
Listening deeply but I have to keep on
Although I listen attentively, I must continue moving forward
Moving I refuse to let this darkness, cath up to me
I am determined to avoid succumbing to this darkness
Dolled up but it was just a distraction
Even though I put on a façade, it was merely a diversion
Even the streets never gave us a little time to relax
Even the streets didn't grant us any moments of relaxation
Writing my rhymes to a vibe scape in the corner
Composing my rap lyrics in a secluded spot, inspired by the surroundings
Wrapped me like a cake I'm trying to be this super man
The circumstances envelop me like a cake, as I strive to become a superhero
In the ghetto get this paper take this music
In the impoverished neighborhood, I attain financial stability through my music
To a whole new level trouble found me now
Taking my music to a new level attracted trouble towards me
I found myself in Puerto Rico spy got hot
I ended up in Puerto Rico, finding myself embroiled in trouble
I had to roll living with my paps
I had to flee and live with my father (paps)
I really don't no missing my lady try not to tell it show
I'm uncertain, but I deeply yearn for my lady and try not to let it become evident
Her new man telling her I would probably never blow
Her new partner convinces her that I will likely never achieve success
Wanted to tell to the flow I know robbin' it stay in the zone
I wanted to express my talent through rap, knowing I'm persevering despite the adversities
And move hard or go home open my eyes now
I realize that I must push forward or quit, and now my eyes are open
I see myself on the rock miens bonitas
I envision being on top, surrounded by beautiful women
Everywhere I wanna ride
I desire to travel and embrace every opportunity
All you gotta do is listen
Just pay attention and listen
Banno yellow telia mama(yeah, yeah, yeah)
Beautiful yellow-skinned lady (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Seie tiel mama bata
Say it, my dear
Bitu weil teia sicla
Make me feel like a king
Como elese wella
Like you did before
Si pak pak wella
Yes, again and again
I never thought I would see the day
I never expected to witness this moment
That I will be getting money making music
That I would earn money by creating music
So these hatters wouldn't take nothing off me
So that these haters wouldn't diminish my success
When the chicks wouldn't holla I just
When the girls ignored me, I simply
Play them back all I had was a flow and a ball
Win them over with my skills and charisma
Cap, watch right across the room
My cap and watch catch their attention from across the room
Thinking they will be dancing to me soon
Anticipating that they will soon be attracted to me and dancing with me
So I'm in the game selling the streets though rapped
Now, I'm involved in the music industry, selling my music to the streets
So hard that I'm in Puerto Rico Puerto Rico
I worked diligently, resulting in my presence in Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico
All you gotta do is listen
All you need to do is pay attention
She looks fine just whistle at her
If she looks attractive, simply whistle to get her attention
See the cops coming then just miss at her
If you spot the police approaching, pretend you missed her
If I can't spend my weekend in a cell century
If I don't want to spend my weekend locked up
Reggaeton, reaggaeton, reggaeton (carnival style)
Reggaeton, reaggaeton, reggaeton (in a festive carnival style)
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JERRY DUPLESSIS, WYCLEF JEAN, RUFUS MOORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jamarisbridges859
how can people hate this song this is fire!!
@ENDOSAVV0212
Ikr
@jayzhajohnson4034
2024 and I’m still singing this song at the top of my lungs “PUERTO RICOOOOOO IS WHERE SHE COME FROM”
@livelovemusicdance42
IVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THE NAME OF THIS MOVIE FOR YEARS !!! I FINALLY FOUND IT
@livelovemusicdance42
Jasmin Habibovic exactly!! that was the only thing i remembered too !
@sherlinegarcia2545
ME TOOO OMFGGG AND SPECIFICALLY THIS SONG, I google searched “black guy in Puerto Rico movie”🤣
@livelovemusicdance42
@@sherlinegarcia2545 LOL I've been searching since I was a little kid and I would search "movie with frog song" lmao 🤣
@DeadRIPKK
Seen this movie with my uncle and I knew Zulay from films like Illegal Tender, Fighting, so to see her go from a different setting to seeing Omarion go from You Got Served to Wrong Side of Town to this. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
@recklessjhit
Been looking for this movie for the longest finallyyyy found it
@JayyNora
This song gets me a little too hype! Love it! 2013 & I'll never forget it!