Released shortly after The Fugees' blockbuster hit album The Score, the Carnival became one of hip-hop's most unusual and unique albums, with a guest list ranging from salsa legend Celia Cruz to New Orleans crooners The Neville Brothers. Among the album's many accomplishments were bringing New York underground hip-hop into the mainstream, and introducing America to the sounds of Haiti.
The album begins with a movie-promo like intro, featuring many of the album's guest stars, and establishing one of the album's two major "concepts" — that Wyclef is on trial for being a dangerous influence on society (the other "concept" being the "Carnival" theme). Some twenty tracks later, it "ends" with Wyclef's acquittal, and then appends a coda of Haitian music sung in Creole.
Standout tracks include "Gone Till November," which includes a full orchestra (and a video that featured Bob Dylan), "Mona Lisa", an old-school love ballad in the tradition of "Tell It Like It Is", and hit single "We Trying to Stay Alive." With this album Wyclef established himself as arguably one of the most musically-minded producers in hip hop. Moreover, the record went on to become RIAA certified Platinum three times. The album sold over 5 million copies worldwide.
In 2005, comedian Chris Rock ranked it 16th on his list of the Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums ever.
01. Intro/Court/Clef/Intro (Skit/Interlude)
02. Apocalypse
03. Guantanamera
04. Pablo Diablo (Interlude)
05. BubbleGoose
06. Prelude To 'All The Girls' (Interlude)
07. To All The Girls
08. Down Lo Ho (Interlude)
09. Anything Can Happen
10. Gone Till November
11. Words Of Wisdom (Interlude)
12. Year Of The Dragon
13. Sang Fezi
14. Fresh Interlude
15. Mona Lisa
16. Street Jeopardy
17. Killer M.C. (Interlude)
18. We Trying To Stay Alive
19. Gunpowder
20. Closing Arguments (Interlude/Skit)
21. Enter The Carnival (Interlude)
22. Jaspora
23. Yele
24. Carnival
Bookmarks