Nel Ust Wyclef Jean is a Haitian rapper and record producer. At the age of nine, he emigrated with his family to the Northeastern United States. In 1990, he formed the New Jersey-based hip hop trio Fugees with fellow musicians Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel. Jean served as lead guitarist and producer. The group released the albums
Blunted on Reality (1994) and
The Score (1996), the latter becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time. Following their success, Jean released his debut solo album,
Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival (1997), which yielded the
Billboard Hot 100-top ten single "Gone till November".