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Album Review
by SashaS
8-7-2002
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| Wyclef Jean's 'Masquerade' |
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Wyclef Jean: 'Masquerade'
(Columbia)
Jean-man: there is no pop-rapper like him
Wyclef Jean is the most visible face of the dormant (defunct?) The Fugees who deafened us with beauty that was their groundbreaking album a few years back. With his regularly issued albums, his third – while Lauryn Hill has managed only one and that was just an MTV ‘Unplugged’ recording – TV adverts and all the media coverage, it appears that he’s become omni-present (in the UK, at least).
In the process he’s increasingly familiarising with what his public wants and gives them more and more. It is not uncommon to consider him an instigator of another hip-hop sub-genre, the pop-rap that is as catchy as Kylie’s; Wyclef’s music has provided him with a number of hits to rival P.Diddy. But, it is not transparent as in the case of J-Lo’s ex.
There is a very clever subplot to Wyclef that comes from his origin (Haiti) and the revolutionary spirit of the Latinos, he’s influenced by. It is not only fun-for-fun’s-sake but certain serious subjects are broached. Topics of streets, comments on social alienation, morality themes, injustice and religion.
‘Peace God’ is the first example of where hooks and a message walk united in an undiluted hit moment that is followed by ’80 Bars’ and its perception of fans; it is a cautionary tale of getting caught in the ‘fame-game’. The thesis runs through the album, as the title is the code-word for images, public personae, fakery, the illusion entertainment is. ‘Masquerade’ is presented as a fictitious radio-station, actually.
There are plenty of guests and the namest one is Tom Jones, the ‘Las Vegas King’, for letting his vocal to the reworking of ‘Pussycat’ (i.e. the Welshman’s hit ‘What’s New Pussycat’), ‘Midnight Lovers’ is tailor-made for baby-making, a thrusting-ly groovy R’n’B cut… ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ is a bit of a disappointment with its lazy remoulding of Dylan’s track – and it is bloody strange to hear names of the slain rappers Notorious B.I.G. and Tupak Shakur within its lyrics…
But, there are plenty of goodies, the reggae-flavoured title track or ‘War No More’, as well as the ska-ish ‘You Say Keep It Gangsta’ with its rockstatic guitar motif in the background… Wyclef is an alchemist and if he had a little bit more darkness in his music, a little bit more voodoo, it would be prefect.
As it is, ‘Masquerade’ is a poplicious.
8/10
SashaS
8-7-2002
Wyclef’s album ‘Masquerade’ is released 08 July 2002 on Columbia
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