NEW YORK (KOCH Records) - KOCH Records is proud to announce the release of Wyclef Jean's new album, "Sak Pasé Presents: Welcome to Haiti Creole 101," on October 5th. The first single, "President," is a timely political commentary sure to resonate with the masses during this heated U.S. Presidential election season.
Wyclef recently showcased the "President" polemic in high-profile performances at the Democratic National Convention at Fleet Center on July 28th, the "A Change Is Going To Come: The Concert for John Kerry" at Radio City Music Hall on July 8th and on Comedy Central's enormously popular program "Chappelle's Show" on May 4th.
Jean states, "'President' is more than just a critique of the current political and social environment, it's a message to young people about the importance of making their voices heard by voting and educating themselves about issues that affect their lives."
There's a Haitian proverb that says: "Mize nan wout, pote bon nouvel," which means "You may take your time, as long as you come home with good news." "Sak Pasé Presents: Welcome to Haiti Creole 101" is the album singer and activist Wyclef Jean has promised for many years and he is spreading the good news with joyous sounds that exude his Haitian pride.
"Haiti was the first Black Republic to gain independence from slavery and since 2004 is the 200th anniversary of this victory, I thought it was the perfect time to highlight our rich history," says Jean.
Since the mid 1990s when The Fugees garnered international fame with their critically acclaimed CD, "The Score," Wyclef has been cultivating the idea of a musical tribute to his homeland. "I've been working on this Creole album for a while," explains Jean, "but it took me some time because I have been mixing different types of music together over and over again. Whether someone speaks English, Spanish, Creole or French, I wanted them to hear the music and feel like it's one fluid piece."
After four solo albums, including his 1997 multi-Platinum release "Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival," several Grammy nominations and numerous Top 10 Billboard hits, the singer/songwriter/producer is ready to fully unveil the vibrant rhythms of his native country. Using his mother tongue and a blend of traditional Creole beats like Konpa, Zouk & Rara, Wyclef aptly pays homage to Haiti with a fantastic musical party.
"I have always incorporated elements of my heritage into my music and videos," says Jean, "but this album represents a total unification of my two worlds."
"Welcome to Haiti" is the first release from Jean's newly created record label, Sak Pasé, which means "What's Up?" in Creole. "This is Sak Pasé's debut album, so I am determined to make it successful, it's the blueprint for how I want the label to sound," explains Jean.
