Wyclef Jean‘s [click to read] latest album will take inspiration from a figure whose image has long ago become a symbol of freedom and revolution for the island-country of Haiti. Titled From The Hut To The Projects To The Mansion, the EP will see Clef channelling 18th-century Hatian revolutionary Toussaint L’Ouverture, leader of the Haitian Revolution, an uprising that led to the abolishment of slavery and Haiti’s independence.
Wyclef explained that his alterego on the EP, Toussaint St. Jean, delivers lyrics in a more aggressive fasion. “Toussaint is more direct,” he said. “He aint going to sugarcoat nothing. Whatever he’s thinking, he’s going to tell you. It’s like, I’ve still got this machete–my tonge is harper than it’s ever been.”
To emphasize the gritty backdrop of the album, Clef enlisted DJ Drama [click to read] to host the project, which was at first slated for mixtape status. “I asked myself, ‘Who’s the toughest guy out there?'” Wyclef explained about his choice in collaboration. “Then I said, ‘Well, DJ Drama is pretty badass.’ So I called him and asked if he’d be interested in doing a mixtape. He heard what I was up to andhe said, ‘We gotta do a book–this is a novel!’ He got excited, and it became more like an EP than a mixtape.”
The 13-track album will see appearances from Timbaland, Lil Kim, Eve, [click to read] and Cyndi Lauper who is credited as “Luscious Loo” on the project, and who will offer vocals to the track, “Slumdog Millionaire.” From The Hut To The Projects To The Mansion will release on November 10, and will be the precursor to Wyclef‘s full-length album Wyclef Jean, releasing in March of 2010.
