Purpose audiobook

This book sucked me in. I love memoirs because it allows people to relate to those who are in the spotlight and have gained celebrity status. Wyclef is a very well-known rapper and producer in the United States. He is most well-known for his time in the group the Fugees alongside Lauryn Hill and Pras. In his memoir he recounts his childhood in Haiti, his move to the States up through the excitement, celebrity and eventual downfall of the Fugees. He also talks about his work with Haiti and his group Yele which was one of the first aid groups to help after the earthquake hit.I have never laughed harder while reading a book. There is a part where he decided to get a Mexican goat and take him on stage with him and the Fugees to try and get more publicity. The goat ended up freaking out and pooping all over the stage. It is hilarious. Wyclef puts it all out there including his infidelities and mistakes. He explains that he wants his daughter to know that he has owned up to everything he is done and he doesn't want his daughter to learn things about him via internet. I think that this book would be enjoyed by anyone interested in hearing a different American dream story. It was a great insight into Haitian American life.

I listened to the audio version, and it was so cool that it was read by his younger brother. The book started off slow but it quickly picked up. I feel like I’ve learned a lot about Wyclef. I knew he was a Haitian immigrant but I didn’t know his back story. I love the fact that he was vulnerable enough to talk about the ups and downs of his life, and how he knows he’s not perfect but is willing to make mistakes and learn from them. He talks about his relationship with Lauryn Hill while he was married, he talks about him running for president, and him helping the people of Haiti. I think the most entertaining part of the book is when he “gets his respect back” for his little brother. I think the most touching part of the book is when he went back to Haiti after the earth quake and what he saw. The most vulnerable part of the book is when we spoke about his affair with Lauryn Hill. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the book

I had a great time reading this story and getting to know more about this incredibly talented individual. In this book he'll take you on a journey from rags to riches and truly make you grateful for all the things we all take for granted. I give my man Wyclef mad Props for sharing his story with the world along with his music and love. One Love mate.

Great read. Wyclef transports you to an era forgotten, the struggle many immigrants went through to have a better opportunity for their family. Lessons through life that the youth of today will never really understand nor the things that really matter in life. It is beautifully written, a little sad at times but would read again.

Audiobook: A bit of history of Haiti and a little making of a musical legend

**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** A very good book

I'll take a roman à Wyclef over a roman à clef, any day.

It was a real treat to read this book. I did not want it to end. I got a behind the scenes look at one of the most influential bands in the world and a band that reminded me of growing up in Nigeria. Who knew that while they were experiencing their biggest success, they were also going through a lot of turmoil. Oh Wyclef, why did you have to go there with Lauryn Hill!!!! While reading this book, I found myself going to play Fugees records. Now that I knew what was going on behind the scenes, I wanted to see if I could sense those emotions from the records. Some thoughts• The band Fugees deserved all of their success- That band worked really hard, for years and years before they finally hit it big. Wyclef especially did whatever he could to bring the group attention and notoriety. • Wyclef is deserving of all the success he achieved- He worked hard for it. He was involved in music from a very young age. He taught himself how to play piano by ear. He sang in his father’s church band, was in his school’s choir, jazz band and a group called Exact Change. He interned at RCA records, learned how to produce music and was doing all of this while under the harsh disapproval of his father who hated hip hop. He was actually signed as a solo artist way before the Fugeees.• Wyclef and Lauryn Hill were a combustible mix-He takes responsibility for not listening to Pras and making a play for Lauryn. Still, he speaks very lovingly about her. He did date her though, while seeing his future wife which was a recipe for disaster. • Wyclef loves Haiti- (p. 200) “I am a Haitian first and an American second, and that feeling for my homeland has centered me ever since” • Pras is not given as much credit as he should- He basically formed the Fugees. Several times, in this book, Wyclef tried to correct that and show that Pras warranted more credit than he ever got from the public. He truly was a visionary. That said• Wyclef is also delusional- I love him, but he is delusional. That delusion is what has brought him his success though, as you have to think beyond what mere mortals think to be successful. You have to be operating on a higher plane. He was also delusional to think that Lauryn Hill would afford him the same access and trust that she previously did when they tried to make another album in 2006. Dude. you broke her heart. Secondly, she was now older, made a definitive album and was now the recipient of 5 grammys. No way on earth was she going to allow you run ship solo. Her opinions had to count. Last delusional bit (p. 134) “ I have a five-octave-range". Dude, you don't have a 5 octave range. That's Mariah Carey and you don't have that range.Typos- There are some minor typos which someone should have caught. Also, there are some repetitions and contradictions.I also got the feeling that even though Wyclef was mostly honest in this book, in some areas, he held back and did not give the real reasons for why he did certain things. It was just the sense I got Overall, I enjoyed this book. There are many gems here. Wyclf was a real truant in his youth, and I’d argue to this day. Last question, Whatever happened to Shoe Man?

The title of my memoir is “Purpose: An Immigrants Story” by Wyclef Jean. The genre of this book is autobiography as it is about Wyclef Jean’s life, written by Wyclef himself. This book is about his time growing up and his journey to the top of the music industry. In this book he talks about moving from Haiti and how he overcame a lack of funds to become a music great. The time period of this book is pre to mid 1990s, when he had just started to make music and before he came to fame with the Fugees, and a little after he was famous. The majority of the setting is in the Projects of Brooklyn and Newark, while blurbs of Haiti is scattered throughout the book. The really only big character in the book is Wyclef, it is a story of him aging and becoming larger in the music industry. This book starts off with Wyclef talking about living in Haiti and how that is not a life that his parents wanted to be immersed in, so they moved to Newark, NJ. His family has always been poor, so when they moved to Newark they did not move into a large house, instead they lived in the projects. After a couple of years in Newark, his family moved to the projects of Brooklyn, that is where his career started to take off. While living in the projects he saw all the drugs and violence and did not want to be associated with that so he moved to music, which his dad was against. His father actually banned the creation of a studio in the basement, but soon after his father lost the house and one of his relatives purchased it he made a studio. This studio is where he recorded the first album called “the score” with his group “The Fugees.” Even though there were hardships The Fugees stayed together and that is ultimately what fueled his success. He was so successful and so inspirational, especially in Haiti; he almost became president of Haiti. My favorite aspect of the book was just his story of coming from nothing to be something. I think that this is really something that people could think about when they don’t want to do anything and just want to sit on their butt and collect Social Security and complain about how they can’t find a job. Go out start doing something, and who knows you may strike it rich. I would recommend this to anyone, especially if you like a well written meaningful tale of someone going from nothing to a major music mogul.

Pretty good. I like to get insight on musicians lives. I think they're one of the more extraordinary breed of people on this Earth. I can vividly recall when I first saw my first Fugees music video, 'Vocab' from their first album. I was like "Who are these rappers? They're so fun, but they're speaking to me! They're the future!!!" And I can recall being very excited for them when the rest of the world catch on with their multi-platinum second album, 'The Score.' It's a damn shame those are the only albums this group put out before their untimely demise. This book did a good job of explaining why. And man, did they have a reason!Wyclef also candidly opens up about his life as a Haitian immigrant in East Orange, NJ. When you think of Wyclef, you don't think of 'hard,' or 'tough.' Those images are normally reserved for the 50 Cent type. But Wyclef certainly had a rough upbringing and was quite the trouble-maker. I've got two words... AJAX & Milk. Read this enjoyable book and you'll get it.

Via Black 'n Write ReviewMy final thoughts:By the last few chapters the book is narrated back to a more current situation, the hurricane. The relief initiative Wyclef organized to help his people. The scandals and the news and rumours that revolved around it.Wyclef has a young daughter and to paraphrase he wrote it because eventually she’ll be able to read everything that’s on the internet about her father, and he figured he should lay it all out before this happened.I wouldn’t blame him. No father should have a reason to hide his life from his own blood. He wasn’t involved in the mob or anything excessive, he was a kid who met amazing people who allowed him to grow up mentally and lyrically, grew up listening to “bum music” and producing albums that have songs that mean more than just one thing to more than just two people.If you’re a fan or supporter of Wyclef Jean, I think you will enjoy and possibly be inspired that you are able to accomplish anything as long as you are able to put your whole into it.

This is a great book written by wyclef jean and all about his life as he grew up. He grew up without his parents in Haiti till he was 10! He started off on a bad foot in his life but then he found music. Music saved him from all the criminal things he was getting into. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about how someone goes through a bad time and then finds something that turns their life around.

I mean, it's four stars for a ghostwritten celeb bio.I like Wyclef, and liked learning about him. I also appreciated his willingness to admit to various mistakes and the conversational, fan-friendly tone he and his ghostwriter achieved.There were only two small issues with repetition which I'd call editing mistakes. The rest was an interesting bio of an interesting individual.

a very good read, i have listened to wyclef for years. i'm glad a book finally came out because i only knew a little about his charity work n was curious. he comes off as a bit conceited in parts but i can live with that lol.