Wyclef Jean is back with the aptly named album Masquerade. Its aptly named because this album is masquerading as something its not i.e. Good. Wyclefs sampling skills are demonstrated admirably on the opening track 'Peace God' which blends mellow 'crouching tiger' style Chinese panpipes and hip hop to form one of this albums few decent tracks. Unfortunately from here it's down hill all the way with a succession of terrible cover versions, ego trips and 'messages to the streets'.
I'm sorry to have to say this but the whole thing smacks of Ali G when he wanted to 'Increase the peace'. Using your music to promote a positive message is all well and good, however on this album it quickly became boring and repetitive. Even worse than that Wyclef proceeded to completely contradict himself in the latter part of the album, when in several of the tracks he describes himself as a thug and a G. Pretty daft really when he's just spent 8 tracks urging kids not to try and live up to the gansta’ stereotype and explaining that rappers who describe them selves as gangsters and thugs are really pansies who'd piss themselves at the first sign of a fight.
This is an album that should produce a hit single or two but only because it's Wyclef.
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