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.
PJ's
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I gotta rep for the PJ's
The elevators with the pissy hallways
Bangin on the project walls, all day
Yo if it wasn't for the PJ's y'all probably never heard of me
Y'all be like, "Who the hell is Wyclef, and what's a Fugee?"
I'd probably be standin on a corner, watch you approach
Run for brokes with the cash and the jewels
Bulls eye, I hold my breath when I shoot
The reason you should hold ya breath; 'cause most thugs
When they breathe and shoot tecs, they aim right but shoot left
Now they flesh being swept off the surface
If you ain't B.I.G. then you ain't Notorious
So why ya man reckless, side-ballin like he holdin heat
Someone bring him a bed, to the permanent sleep
Weight beneath Jacob's Latter and the Aftermath
Don't matter if you use a desert eagle as your armor
Blood splatter, glass shatter through the project slums
Another one in the obituary column son
(PJ's!) I was born in the PJ's
So I gotta rep for the PJ's
The elevators with the pissy hallways
Bangin on the project walls, all day
(PJ's) I gotta make noise for the PJ's
Wrote my first rhyme in the PJ's
You can hear it in my speech, I'm from the PJ's
The PJ's! PJ's
Before I was signed, I used to move on the grind
All I wanted to do was rhyme, rhyme, rhyme
Line for line, I make the blind man walk in a straight line
To prison and take a message to Shyne
Peace God from the PJ's to Ground Zero
It's a "Hardknock Life" but "The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow"
Walk with a shadow through ghettos, playin in every borough
You would think rap was rock they way I carry heavy metal
It such a shame, cocaine in ya veins, screamin
"Team Spirit" grippin the shottie like Kurt Cobaine
In the projects God, nuttin come easy
Gotta deal with the grimy, greasy, the sleasy
Move like a professional, young thug funeral
What ya thought this was another Pepsi commercial?
Nah it's the art of war, when you least expected it
Wyclef the president, the PJ's elected him
(PJ's!) I was born in the PJ's
So I gotta rep for the PJ's
The elevators with the pissy hallways
Bangin on the project walls, all day
(PJ's) I gotta make noise for the PJ's
Wrote my first rhyme in the PJ's
You can hear it in my speech, I'm from the PJ's
The PJ's! PJ's
Yeah, and to the teachers that said I wouldn't live
And my remains would be found under the Verizano Bridge
Well I'm alive teach! So put ya theory to rest
I ain't Makaveli but I might fake my death
Make no mistake, I'm a hip-hop artist
Before the diamond in the Billboard, the hood charted it
Surburbia bought it, we bootlegged it, we couldn't afford it
'Cause in the PJ's we undergroudn like black markets
The 'P' stand for public housing
The 'R' is for respect that ya get, when ya hold down ya set
The 'O's for ounces that we flip into keys
The 'J's for the judgement handed by the ju-ry
The 'E' is for enter, at your own risk
You know the 'C' that's for the cats that's out to get rich
And the 'T' trust no one
And the 'S' is for the snitches, you know the outcome
(PJ's!) I was born in the PJ's
So I gotta rep for the PJ's
The elevators with the pissy hallways
Bangin on the project walls, all day
(PJ's) I gotta make noise for the PJ's
Wrote my first rhyme in the PJ's
You can hear it in my speech, I'm from the PJ's
The PJ's! PJ's
The lyrics of Wyclef Jean's "PJ's" pay homage to the Place Jaudereau housing projects where he grew up in Haiti; it speaks about the daily struggles of life within the projects and how it shaped him into the artist he is today. The elevators with pissy hallways and banging on project walls all day are examples of everyday life in the projects where drugs, crime, and poverty are rampant. Wyclef's experiences growing up and hustling in the projects helped him to develop a fierce determination to succeed.
Wyclef also reflects on how the projects have molded him into the successful artist he is today, and he mentions that he would probably be a street thug if it were not for his upbringing in the PJ's. He uses his lyrics to pay homage to his roots and his community while also highlighting the challenges of life within the projects.
The PJ's is an anthem for those who feel like they have no voice or who have been overlooked by society. It is a statement of resilience and survival in the face of adversity. Wyclef's powerful lyrics remind us of the power of music to inspire, uplift, and connect us.
Line by Line Meaning
(PJ's!) I was born in the PJ's
I was born and raised in the public housing projects
So I gotta rep for the PJ's
I must represent and show respect for where I come from
The elevators with the pissy hallways
The unsanitary conditions of the living spaces in the projects
Bangin on the project walls, all day
The sound of music and expression echoing through the hallways all day and night
Yo if it wasn't for the PJ's y'all probably never heard of me
My upbringing in the projects played a significant role in my success as an artist
Y'all be like, "Who the hell is Wyclef, and what's a Fugee?"
Without my connection to the projects, I may have never been known or recognized
I'd probably be standin on a corner, watch you approach
Without music, I may have been involved in negative activities
Steal ya dope, sell ya coke, then snatch ya rope
I could have easily fallen into a life of crime and violence
Run for brokes with the cash and the jewels
I would have been willing to take risks and cause harm for material wealth
Bulls eye, I hold my breath when I shoot
I'm careful and calculating when it comes to taking risks
The reason you should hold ya breath; 'cause most thugs
Most criminals who lack precision when handling weapons usually miss their target
When they breathe and shoot tecs, they aim right but shoot left
Their accuracy is poor, causing unintended collateral damage
Now their flesh being swept off the surface
Violent crimes are taking lives and destroying families
If you ain't B.I.G. then you ain't Notorious
Only the most famous and successful artists in hip-hop are truly notorious
So why ya man reckless, side-ballin like he holdin heat
Why are some people taking reckless and dangerous risks?
Someone bring him a bed, to the permanent sleep
These risks may lead to death, which is why it's important to avoid them
Weight beneath Jacob's Latter and the Aftermath
Heavy burdens and consequences accompany foolish and dangerous behavior
Don't matter if you use a desert eagle as your armor
Even a powerful weapon like a Desert Eagle can't protect you from severe consequences
Blood splatter, glass shatter through the project slums
Violence and criminal activity takes a toll on the quality of life in public housing projects
Another one in the obituary column son
More people are dying violent deaths than should be in the projects
(PJ's) I gotta make noise for the PJ's
I must use my voice and talent to represent and bring attention to the struggles of the projects
Wrote my first rhyme in the PJ's
The projects were where I began my journey as an artist
You can hear it in my speech, I'm from the PJ's
My background and struggles influence my music and artistic expression
Before I was signed, I used to move on the grind
Before I became a successful artist, I struggled to make ends meet
All I wanted to do was rhyme, rhyme, rhyme
My passion for music was all that mattered to me
Line for line, I make the blind man walk in a straight line
My music has the power to inspire and uplift people of all backgrounds and abilities
To prison and take a message to Shyne
My music reaches even those who have been incarcerated and who are in need of inspiration
Peace God from the PJ's to Ground Zero
I aim to spread positivity and peace, even in the face of tragedy and hardship
It's a "Hardknock Life" but "The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow"
Life can be difficult, but it's important to maintain hope and optimism
Walk with a shadow through ghettos, playin in every borough
I've been inspired by my experiences in different neighborhoods and communities
You would think rap was rock they way I carry heavy metal
I approach my music with a powerful and intense style, much like heavy metal music
It such a shame, cocaine in ya veins, screamin
It's a tragedy to see people turn to drugs and addiction as a way out of their problems
"Team Spirit" grippin the shottie like Kurt Cobaine
People take dangerous risks and glamorize violence, which often ends in tragedy
In the projects God, nuttin come easy
Life in the projects is often fraught with difficulty and struggle
Gotta deal with the grimy, greasy, the sleasy
Living in the projects often means dealing with negative people and behaviors
Move like a professional, young thug funeral
To survive in the projects, you must be strategic and avoid dangerous situations
What ya thought this was another Pepsi commercial?
This isn't a commercial or a fake image—I'm speaking truthfully about life in the projects
Nah it's the art of war, when you least expected it
Surviving in the projects is like waging a war, and it requires constant vigilance and strategy
Wyclef the president, the PJ's elected him
My success as an artist represents the voice and power of the projects and its people
(PJ's!) I was born in the PJ's
I was born and raised in the public housing projects
So I gotta rep for the PJ's
I must represent and show respect for where I come from
The elevators with the pissy hallways
The unsanitary conditions of the living spaces in the projects
Bangin on the project walls, all day
The sound of music and expression echoing through the hallways all day and night
(PJ's) I gotta make noise for the PJ's
I must use my voice and talent to represent and bring attention to the struggles of the projects
Wrote my first rhyme in the PJ's
The projects were where I began my journey as an artist
You can hear it in my speech, I'm from the PJ's
My background and struggles influence my music and artistic expression
The PJ's! PJ's
The projects are an inseparable part of who I am and what I do
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERRY DUPLESSIS, SHEA TAYLOR, WYCLEF JEAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lazygambino
This should have millions of views, criminally underrated record.
@thestreets.aka.joshua
You have no idea
@jdilla999
Exactly
@cleffcv.recordz1678
Say it louder
@robertdamico6434
19 years later this still goes hard in 2021. Classic underrated NY record. 🔥 🗽
@cleffcv.recordz1678
Very underrated bro
@cleffcv.recordz1678
A LOT OF YOUNG KIDS DON'T KNOW IF CLEFF IS A REAL MC THAT GOT BARS# He's very versatile
@sectormentor6265
This is a classic. Sounds fresh and gritty. Timeless!
@xxMCUmilexx
Which Is Governor And Prolific? Thanks.
@cxlty.4593
Yeah