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.
Electric Avenue
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh no
Say we gonna rock down through electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Say we gonna rock down the Brooklyn avenues
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Oh no
Oh no
Yo Yo
Slick like Rick James when I hit
Super Freak chicks, I don't miss
Miss wit yo nose, my flows make you sick
Two chicks for me, none for you like twix
Play with niggas head like clef's guitar picks
Went from bottom pits to makin' hits and
Hollow tips and shootin' lips (right)
Handle my business, make sure it sits
Ride through the tunnels, fuck the guest lists
Light up the block with roman candlesticks
Known to blow shows with pyrotechnics
Rappin' bout yo wips while yo cat demands hits
Buyin' shorty gifts with checks from
Your record sound like a demo that was yet not mixed
Your whole styles broke and it should be fixed
Times runnin' out as my Rolex ticks
Don't get caught on the av, it's too electric
Say we gonna rock down through electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Say we gonna rock down through the Brooklyn avenues
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Oh no
Oh no
I dedicate this to my peeps who roam the streets
God bless they souls, may they rest in peace
They'res those who finance and those who choose to lease
Whatever suits you better on the terms of your lease
Different strokes for different folks, god, I refuse to going back and
being
Broke, Lord
He got struck wit lightin', he got hit hard
Faces 20 to life maximum
His whole life is scarred
The preacher's son and I came off the Santa Maria
Ten cases of malt I caught the diarrhea
Load the refugees on the aircraft carrier
Some say dirty cash
we never heard of ya
(you don't know me? and don't know me?)
Say we gonna rock down through electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Say we gonna rock down through the Brooklyn Avenues
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Oh no
Oh no
Alright alright
Watch yo back, watch yo side, swimmin wit sharks
String you like a harp while they playin' Mozart
No credentials, get nowhere like Ozlo
Sent to frisco, like the regal begal
Suave like rico, on fire like pyro
Frantic like scytso, rougher than Brillo
He caught the wrap like Donnie Brosko
Out in the streets there is violence
Down in Brooklyn there is violence
Down there in Queens there is violence
And there's a lot of work to be done (Lord)
Down there in the ghetto there's violence
In Miami there is violence
And there's a lot of work to be done (Lord)
Say we gonna rock down through refugee avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Say we gonna rockd own through Haiti avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
(refugee all stars, yeah, yeah)
The song "Electric Avenue" by Wyclef Jean features a series of powerful, socially conscious verses about life in the inner city. The opening lines of the chorus declare that "we gonna rock down through Electric Avenue," suggesting a journey through the tough streets of an urban environment. But the lyrics also promise that the journey will lead to something higher, something better: "we'll take it higher." Throughout the song, Jean uses vivid imagery to describe the realities of inner-city life, from the violence and poverty to the strength and resilience of the people who live there.
Jean's verses are filled with cultural references and wordplay, showing off his skill as a rapper. He compares himself to the legendary musician Rick James and boasts of his ability to handle any challenge. He speaks of people who "finance" and "lease" their lives, a stark contrast between the haves and the have-nots. And he mentions the Santa Maria, the ship on which Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas, using it as a symbol for the history of colonization and oppression.
The song's chorus is a memorable earworm, with its repetition of "oh no" and the upbeat promise of taking things higher. But it's the verses that make "Electric Avenue" a powerful statement on urban life and the need for change.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh no
Expressing concern, trouble, or apprehension
Say we gonna rock down through electric avenue
We're going to have a great time going through Electric Avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Things are going to get even better after going through Electric Avenue
Say we gonna rock down the Brooklyn avenues
We're going to have a great time going through the Brooklyn Avenues
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Things are going to get even better after going through the Brooklyn Avenues
Oh no
Expressing concern, trouble, or apprehension
Yo Yo
Calling someone's attention
Slick like Rick James when I hit
I'm smooth like Rick James when I start rapping
Super Freak chicks, I don't miss
I attract beautiful women and never miss out on their company
Miss wit yo nose, my flows make you sick
Your style is outdated, but people love my music
Two chicks for me, none for you like twix
I'm more successful with women than you are
Play with niggas head like clef's guitar picks
I mess with people's minds and emotions like Wyclef's guitar playing
Went from bottom pits to makin' hits and
I started with nothing, but now I'm successful
Hollow tips and shootin' lips (right)
I'm not afraid to speak my mind and rap about risky topics
Handle my business, make sure it sits
I take care of my responsibilities and ensure everything is perfect
Ride through the tunnels, fuck the guest lists
I don't need to be on a guest list to get where I'm going
Light up the block with roman candlesticks
I create a spectacle with fireworks
Known to blow shows with pyrotechnics
I'm famous for my explosive stage performances
Rappin' bout yo wips while yo cat demands hits
You're obsessed with showing off your material possessions while your music is terrible and not popular
Buyin' shorty gifts with checks from
You're trying to impress women by spending money you don't have
Your record sound like a demo that was yet not mixed
Your music sounds like an unfinished demo with poor sound quality
Your whole styles broke and it should be fixed
You need to fix your style because it's outdated
Times runnin' out as my Rolex ticks
Time is running out for you, but I have all the time in the world
Don't get caught on the av, it's too electric
Be careful on the avenue because it's electrifying and dangerous
I dedicate this to my peeps who roam the streets
I'm dedicating this song to my friends who spend time in the streets
God bless they souls, may they rest in peace
I pray for their souls to rest in peace
They'res those who finance and those who choose to lease
There are people who have money and those who don't
Whatever suits you better on the terms of your lease
Choose what's best for you based on your financial situation
Different strokes for different folks, god, I refuse to going back and
People have different tastes and preferences, but I refuse to be poor again
being Broke, Lord
I don't want to be poor again
He got struck wit lightin', he got hit hard
He's been hit hard by life
Faces 20 to life maximum
He's looking at 20 years to life in prison
His whole life is scarred
His entire life has been negatively impacted
The preacher's son and I came off the Santa Maria
I'm like the preacher's son, but I arrived in a different way
Ten cases of malt I caught the diarrhea
I drank too much malt liquor and got sick
Load the refugees on the aircraft carrier
Get the refugees safely out of the country
Some say dirty cash
Some people question my money's origin
we never heard of ya
We've never heard of you or your music
Watch yo back, watch yo side, swimmin wit sharks
Be careful because danger is all around
String you like a harp while they playin' Mozart
They'll play Mozart while they harm you
No credentials, get nowhere like Ozlo
You won't get anywhere without credentials like Oslo
Sent to frisco, like the regal begal
Sent to San Francisco, like being exiled
Suave like rico, on fire like pyro
I'm smooth and charming like Rico and explosive like pyrotechnics
Frantic like scytso, rougher than Brillo
I'm frantic like someone with multiple personalities but tough like a Brillo pad
He caught the wrap like Donnie Brosko
He got caught up in a bad situation like Donnie Brasco
Out in the streets there is violence
There is violence in the streets
Down in Brooklyn there is violence
There is violence in Brooklyn
Down there in Queens there is violence
There is violence in Queens
And there's a lot of work to be done (Lord)
There's a lot of work that needs to be done to fix our communities
Down there in the ghetto there's violence
There is violence in the ghetto
In Miami there is violence
There is violence in Miami
Say we gonna rock down through refugee avenue
We're going to have a great time going down Refugee Avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Things are going to get even better after going down Refugee Avenue
Say we gonna rockd own through Haiti avenue
We're going to have a great time going down Haiti Avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Things are going to get even better after going down Haiti Avenue
(refugee all stars, yeah, yeah)
This song is for all the refugees and the great music they make
Contributed by Cameron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@R-R.D.77
Sorry pal thats no music from "your days" that song is from my days when I was 5y.o. in '82...
Its from Eddy Grant not from whoever covered it first in '97
There are tons of songs from even before my time covered over & over again...unfortunly 90% of the covers are garbage yet ppl who heard it the first time as coverversion & didn't (&some still don't) know the original love the version they grew up with or heard first...
I don't know any 'modern'
singer who didn't cover from old songs ('60 to '80)
But in this case the cover version is really good/enjoyable & aceptable bc it wasn't ruined by the performer like many (most of the) other cover versions (or just main sequenzes of the musical part of a song)... Even 60% of the Jackson 5 were cover versions later covered again...songs like Ready or not/Fugees, Missy Elliots 'Suck it to me' from '96 as welloriginally performed in the late '60 beginning of '70...
Or songs ike "The Riddle"/Nick Kershaw or Rhytm is a dancer/Snap for example & so on...they all got covered in the last 20 years & 99% was unbearable to listen to
Miley Cyrus covered ol songs & the list goes on & on...
But nothing to wonder about bc there are only a certain amount of tones + accords, so after decades its hard to do something completly new
Time repeats itself & so does good music...
@R-R.D.77
@@christopherthorne7885 You got me wrong there - I never said I dont like Pras - (almost) all the Fugees members where/are good artists
What I just cant stand is that ppl - other than you - have no clue & think thats when it came out, while it came out in my generations time...& I said that 99% of (comercialy released) coverversions are unbearable to hear - that either didn't refeer to this one...
These days music like european "national" rap (like german-, Ex-Yu-, turkish-, polish-(etc) & especially 'broken german' talking migrants/asylants Rap is horrible & they (most of them) just look & act ridicolous just like their texts & really steal a lot from older songs (like '80, '90) & yet the young/er ppl think like "wow thats a cool sound well has to bc they/s/he are great/allways awesome..."
When I was young I loved Ghetto Superstar, only many years later to find out its a cover as well -
but absolutly different from meaning, energy & music yet the notes/tones of the melody is the same...forgot the songs name, but anything with 'industries' as 2nd/last word of the title, its from the late '60 early '70...however - I think now you understand what I'm talking about
theres a quote in my language comparable to the english 'you gotta pay your dues'...it says
'You have smell first, where I've allready took a $ hit along the way (of life)...(before you...)
- you got the idea...
So its just educational wise to tell the younger ppl that the original in this case is from '82 not '97 - Its o.k. if they just don't know but if they say '97 "my" time the best music ever' - I can't other than react to it even knowing that person has no clue about good music at all
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