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.
Interlude
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo Skribble I have one question
Could you please answer this for me?
I gotta know this yo
What makes a DJ
What makes an MC
What makes the ReFugees
'Cause we F, R, E, S, H
Fresh, fresh, fresh, that's, fresh!
F, R, E, S, H
Fresh, fresh, fresh, that's, fresh!
Hey you, player, with the dibble and the dabble
You want to battle who? Wyclef or DJ Skribble
Hold the stickup it's a freestyle session
Skribble where you from man
Well I'm from Haiti, then Brooklyn, then Jersey
With a universal tag, plus I got
You slept on this musician, plus the hip-hop art
Bring your best MC's
'Cause every man got disciples if you ever want a rival
Show up, with a mic, and a rifle
Wyclef stuck the bank at mid-day
And took all of Sony money, in a black van he got away
I just got a call from Tommy Mottola
He said forget about it "oh my word"
So I held John Agrassia, at gunpoint
He's shook, callin' Donny Aiena, while smokin' a joint
I said, 'Who's the informer?' They say, 'Michael Malden'
I had to take him out "Three the hard way!"
The moral of this story don't blame the record company
If your record ain't selling you lack creativity
But what you want me to say? What what you want me to say huh?
Yo I've been trying to get a deal for, years and it ain't
What you want me to say?
"And I'll kill anyone, who dares to go against me!"
The song "Fresh Interlude" by Wyclef Jean feat. Refugee Allstars starts with the discussion between Wyclef and DJ Skribble about the meaning of being a DJ, MC, and member of the Refugee Allstars group. Wyclef asks why kids are becoming jealous of them, and the answer lies in their freshness. The song goes on to showcase their rapping skills and ultimate message about creativity.
The lyrics are full of cultural references, especially to hip-hop and its influence on society. Wyclef and DJ Skribble share their origins from Haiti, Brooklyn, and Jersey, proving their migration story as a symbol of diversity and unity. As they battle for respect and recognition, the song becomes more about the struggle for identity and self-expression.
The song encourages creativity by dismissing the idea of blaming the record companies, instead of putting the responsibility of creativity on the artist themselves. The song closes with a violent twist by warning the world that Wyclef will "kill anyone who dares to go against him."
Overall, the "Fresh Interlude" is a commentary on hip-hop culture, creativity, and society. Through hip-hop, Wyclef and DJ Skribble found their voice, and the song celebrates their success, but it also recognizes the challenges they faced as immigrants and artists.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo yo, this Wyclef, alongside DJ Skribble (for the ladies)
Wyclef Jean and DJ Skribble are introducing themselves and the song.
Yo Skribble I have one question
Wyclef has a question for DJ Skribble.
Could you please answer this for me?
Wyclef is asking DJ Skribble to answer his question.
I gotta know this yo
Wyclef really wants to know the answer to his question.
What makes a DJ
Wyclef is asking what qualities make a good DJ.
What makes an MC
Wyclef is asking what qualities make a good MC (rapper).
What makes the ReFugees
Wyclef is asking what qualities make The Fugees (his musical group).
Why are kids getting jealous?
Wyclef wonders why some kids are envious of others.
'Cause we F, R, E, S, H
The reason why people are getting jealous is because Wyclef and his crew are fresh.
Fresh, fresh, fresh, that's, fresh!
Wyclef and his crew are really fresh.
Hey you, player, with the dibble and the dabble
Wyclef is addressing someone who thinks they are skilled.
You want to battle who? Wyclef or DJ Skribble
Wyclef is challenging the person to a rap battle with him or DJ Skribble.
Hold the stickup it's a freestyle session
Wyclef is about to start a freestyle session.
Skribble where you from man
Wyclef is asking DJ Skribble where he's from.
Well I'm from Haiti, then Brooklyn, then Jersey
DJ Skribble is explaining where he's from.
With a universal tag, plus I got
DJ Skribble is explaining his background and credentials.
You slept on this musician, plus the hip-hop art
Wyclef is commenting on how some people didn't appreciate his music and hip-hop in general.
Bring your best MC's
Wyclef is inviting the best rappers to come battle him and his crew.
'Cause every man got disciples if you ever want a rival
Wyclef is saying that everyone has followers, and if anyone wants to compete with him, they should be ready for a challenge.
Show up, with a mic, and a rifle
Wyclef is saying that if someone wants to battle him, they should come prepared with their best skills and attitude.
Wyclef stuck the bank at mid-day
This is a fictional story about Wyclef robbing a bank in broad daylight.
And took all of Sony money, in a black van he got away
Wyclef is saying that he stole all of Sony's money and got away in a black van.
I just got a call from Tommy Mottola
Wyclef received a call from Tommy Mottola (a music executive).
He said forget about it "oh my word"
Tommy Mottola is telling Wyclef to forget about the robbery.
So I held John Agrassia, at gunpoint
Wyclef is saying that he held someone named John Agrassia at gunpoint.
He's shook, callin' Donny Aiena, while smokin' a joint
John Agrassia is nervous and calling someone named Donny Aiena while smoking a joint.
I said, 'Who's the informer?' They say, 'Michael Malden'
Wyclef is asking who the informant is, and someone they ask says Michael Malden.
I had to take him out "Three the hard way!"
Wyclef killed Michael Malden (the informant) in a way that was difficult.
The moral of this story don't blame the record company
Wyclef is saying that if your music isn't selling, you shouldn't blame the record company.
If your record ain't selling you lack creativity
Wyclef is saying that if your music isn't popular, it's because you're not creative enough.
But what you want me to say? What what you want me to say huh?
Wyclef is asking what the listener wants him to say.
Yo I've been trying to get a deal for, years and it ain't
Wyclef is saying that he's been trying to get a record deal for years but hasn't been successful.
'And I'll kill anyone, who dares to go against me!'
This seems to be a boastful statement by Wyclef that he'll kill anyone who challenges him.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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