Wyclef Jean

Wyclef Jean recounts his path from his impoverished childhood in Haiti to the projects of Brooklyn to Newark to the stage. In Purpose: An Immigrant’s Story, he writes of his upbringing and family, his time in the Fugees and his solo career, the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 and his efforts to help rebuild his homeland, including the controversy surrounding Yéle, his aid organization, and his exploratory bid for president of Haiti.

After Wyclef Jean's interview with Leonard, in which he said he wanted to sample Leonard on his next album, he sat down at the piano in WNYC's green room and played a song.

Wyclef Jean recounts his path from his impoverished childhood in "Baby Doc" Duvalier's Haiti and the projects of Brooklyn to Newark to the stage. In Purpose: An Immigrant’s Story, he writes of his upbringing and family, his time in the Fugees and his solo career, the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 and his efforts to help rebuild his homeland, including the controversy surrounding Yéle, his aid organization, and his exploratory bid for president of Haiti.

After an earthquake devastated Haiti in January, the country's presidential election was postponed until Nov. 28. Wyclef Jean, one of the country's most famous native sons, announced his bid for the presidency, but his candidacy ended with an election commission ruling. Today: the producer and musician talks with Soundcheck about the experience -- and his political future. And, Jean performs new songs from an upcoming EP, "If I Was President – My Haitian Experience, in our studio.

Singer Wyclef Jean has raised some two million dollars since the Haiti earthquake struck two weeks ago through his charity, Yele Haiti. We ask him what the country needs most right now.