Statement by Wyclef Jean on Haiti earthquake

NEW YORK-The following is a statement by Wyclef Jean on today’s
magnitude 7.0 earthquake outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti:

“Haiti today faced a natural disaster of unprecedented proportion, an
earthquake unlike anything the country has ever experienced.

The magnitude 7.0 earthquake – and several very strong aftershocks -
struck only 10 miles from Port-au-Prince.

I cannot stress enough what a human disaster this is, and idle hands
will only make this tragedy worse. The over 2 million people in
Port-au-Prince tonight face catastrophe alone. We must act now.

President Obama has already said that the U.S. stands ‘ready to assist’
the Haitian people. The U.S. Military is the only group trained and
prepared to offer that assistance immediately. They must do so as soon
as possible. The international community must also rise to the occasion
and help the Haitian people in every way possible.”

Many people have already reached out to see what they can do right now.
We are asking those interested to please do one of two things: Either
you can use your cell phone to text “Yele” to 501501, which will
automatically donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund (it will be
charged to your cell phone bill), or you can visit http://www.Yele.org and
click on DONATE.

SEE OUR PAGE 1 PICTURE AND READ MORE HERE

Wyclef on CNN with Anderson Cooper

Wyclef Jean speaks to CNN’s Anderson Cooper on his show earlier! If I could get on a plane now to help out in way possible, I would! As each minute passes by, another life could be lost and I applaud all the relief workers from all over the globe for their efforts!

Find out how you can help:
1. Gift Of The Givers
2. Doctors Without Borders
3. The Red Cross
4. Yele Haiti

Keep up to date with the W.H.O, the U.N. and more and if there is any other organisation that y’all know about, leave a comment for everyone!

Wyclef and Bragelina pleadge support to Haiti

Pic: Shelley Christians

Haitian born musical genius Wyclef Jean was on the first available flight out to Haiti yesterday- after hearing news about the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck that country in the early hours of yesterday. It’s believed that up to 100 000 people could be dead and tens of thousands more are still trapped underneath the rubble. It’s terribly sad and I would love to assist in any way possible, so if anyone in this part of the world knows about relief efforts, holler!

One of Jean’s representative tweeted from his account yesterday saying, “WARRIORS NEWS:::: Wyclef is currently in Haiti giving aid and assessing the situation::::: Keep him and the Haitian people in your prayers.” He is also working closely with a company called Give On The Go in which he has asked people to send the word “Yele” to 501501. The smses cost $5 and already over $400 000 has been raised. BIg up Wyclef!

Hollywood supercouple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have also pledged their support to the Haitian people by donating $1million to Doctors Without Borders from their Jolie-Pitt Foundation. This makes me realise that when something of this nature happens, how powerful and unified the world becomes in order to assist those affected by this natural disaster!

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected and who have lost loved ones in this disaster!

The MAMAs in pictures

MTV Africa Music Award winners

The winners of the MTV Africa Music Awards with Zain 2009 are:
BEST FEMALE Amani (Kenya)
BEST MALE Nameless (Kenya)
BEST PERFORMER Samini (Ghana)
BEST GROUP P Square (Nigeria)
BEST ALTERNATIVE Zebra and Giraffe (South Africa)
BEST HIP HOP M I (Nigeria)
BEST R&B Darey Art Alade (Nigeria)
ARTIST OF THE YEAR D’Banj (Nigeria)
BEST NEW ACT M I (Nigeria)
BEST VIDEO HHP (South Africa)
LEGEND AWARD Lucky Dube (South Africa)
MY VIDEO AWARD Patricke-Stevie Moungondo (Congo Brazzaville)
LISTENERS CHOICE AWARD Nameless (Kenya).

I have asked MTV peops for details on when the show will air on MTV Base… deets to follow on that and the various musical collaborations on stage, Wyclef’s hosting duties and more.

Wyclef Jean pays tribute to Lucky Dube

My colleague and friend, Gabisile Ndebele is in Kenya for the 2nd MTV Africa Music Awards and she got to chat to host Wyclef Jean. Here’s the article.
In an interview with The Times in Kenya, where the awards will take place on Saturday night, Jean spoke about his performance as a tribute to Dube, saying he is his hero. “What I am to Haiti, what Bob Marley is to Jamaica, is what Lucky Dube is to Africa. I had a chance to meet Lucky before he was murdered and he was a great person and a star to me. He is a phenomonal guy and that is why I want to pay tribute to him,” he said.

Lucky Dube was killed in attempted robbery in October 2007. Jean has a song named after the reggae star titled Lucky Dube which he performed for the first time when he visited South Africa in December 2008. Jean, a former member of chart-topping group The Fugees, also took the opportunity to praise local rapper HHP. “I love SA and plan to come back there and this time to do a collaboration with an amazing singer, HHP. That dude is talented, he is a beast, I’m definitely gonna do something with him,” said Jean.
Other local artists in Kenya include Zebra and Giraffe, kwaito singer Bricks, soul singer Lira, Da Les and Cassette. The event will only be televised next week on MTVBase, DStv channel 322.

Estelle hard at work on her new album

Estelle is hard at work on her new album; her follow-up to “Shine”. Her 2008 album scored her a world-wide hit with the song “American Boy,” which also won her a Grammy award earlier this year in the Best Rap/Sung Category. So more on the yet to be named album now. She’s enlisted the help of several heavyweight producers including Wyclef Jean, Black Eyed Peas‘ will.i.am and John Legend, as well as some newbies like TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek. On the upcoming star she said, “
“A new guy called Dave Sitek from TV On The Radio – an amazing producer and brand new guy called Alex The Kid, he’s from London as well. I’m putting the features together now so it’s coming together.

Estelle told BBC’s Radio 1 that she’s “just recording this new album, I’m sick of singing American Boy, so I should do something new.”

Looking forward to hearing new material… with names such as the ones mentioned above and more, you know it’s going to be incredible. Here’s a track I still love, but that didn’t get as much exposure as I think it deserved. It’s Estelle ft Sean Paul called Come Over:

Estelle – Come Over Ft. Sean Paul

Wyclef's in SA

It’s the first time international star Wyclef Jean has been to South Africa and at first glance, he seems like such an awesome guy. Check this out, he even swapped jeans with one of the staff members from MTN. Apparently True Religion jeans are a thing of the past in the US So off they went, into the bathroom to swap jeans… Another fun thing about Mr Wyclef Jean? He called another guy up on stage. This guy claimed he could do 100 press ups… he got to thirty, which is good enough for me, but it just shows how humble and down to earth he is.

The Grammy winner is in the country as part of the Motorokr campaign, in which one lucky South African will travel to the USA to work with him and BEP’s Fergie on a track. How cool? You should check out some of the auditions, man oh man… some specials… and it’s a great way to gear up for the new installment of Idols (both American and South African).

Rocking with Wyclef and Fergie

Do you want to be famous? Live life in the fast lane while, producing some of the hottest tracks with some of the biggest names in music? Well here’s your chance. Cellphone manufacturer Motorola will be looking for South Africa’s newest and unsigned musician in their MOTOROKR STAR campaign. The competition will be judged by Wyclef Jean and BEP’s Fergie. That’s exciting, but even better… the winner will get to hang out with these two in New York City, produce a track and in addition to this, he or she will be signed to a major record label (rumour has it Sony is the label).

For competition entry details visit http://www.motorokrstar.com/za/home