With a formidable new album, "The Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant," on the way, the Haitian-born Grammy Award-winning musician/rapper/producer/social activist, Wyclef Jean is entering an important new phase of his career. "In the past few years many things have happened that have effected who I am," says Wyclef. "The unexpected passing of my father brought great spiritual reflection on what matters in life. God's gift of my daughter reminded me of how love is the greatest way to heal. I have traveled the world, seen the issues in my native land, and worked some of the most important recording artists artistically. This has given me a second wind, so to speak. Inspiration."

In the 20 years since first meeting his fellow Fugees cofounders -- Lauryn Hill and Prakazrel ("Pras") Michel -- and 10 years since launching his prolific solo career with 1997's "Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival Featuring The Refugee All-Stars," Wyclef Jean has effortlessly crossed genres, generations and geographic boundaries as a musical goodwill ambassador and a diplomat for positive cultural evolution.

"Everything I do revolves around music," says Wyclef. "If there was no music, I wouldn't be where I'm at. My music is the vessel I use." His musical journey began in Haiti, where he sang in his father's church at the age of 3. 12 years later, after moving to the United States at age 6, Wyclef formed his first serious musical collaboration, the Tranzlator Crew, in 1987, with New Jersey classmates Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel (whom Wyclef calls his "cousin"). By 1994, the Tranzlator Crew had become the Fugees and the group enjoyed its first critical acclaim and moderate chart success with its debut album, "Blunted On Reality." The Fugees next album, 1996's "The Score," fulfilled the group's promise in bigger ways than anyone had imagined, becoming a full-blown cultural phenomenon. "The Score" reached the #1 slots on Billboard's Top 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums charts, "The Score" went on to become the world's #1 top-selling hip-hop album of all-time, selling more than 17 million copies globally and still counting.

In 1997, the obvious next move for this very gifted writer and producer was to embark upon a solo project. "Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival Featuring The Refugee All-Stars" (aka "The Carnival") peaked at #16 on the Billboard 200 and #4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop album charts. Wyclef branched out even further with 2000's "The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II A Book," which he recorded with a diverse range of guest artists. His third solo album, 2002's "Masquerade," peaked at #6 on the Top 200 and reached #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop charts. His fourth solo album, 2003's autobiographic "The Preacher's Son," drew positive reviews. His next effort, 2004's "Welcome To Haiti: Creole 101," marked his most radical artistic and musical statement. It was during this period that he had made his first visit back to his homeland since childhood. Wyclef decided that he would sing much of the album in his native language, Haitian Creole, celebrating his musical heritage. His talents as a producer and collaborator have led to a myriad of successful projects over the past two decades.

Wyclef's approach towards challenges is especially apparent in work on humanitarian causes. He is particularly focused on efforts in producing results in his native Haiti. Wyclef Jean created the non-profit foundation Yéle Haiti (www.yelehaiti.org) to provide aid and assistance to that impoverished nation. Founded in January 2005, the charity has already changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of poverty-stricken Haitians through its programs of sustainable development. It links with existing groups and/or starts programs that feed the hungry and fight AIDS, as well as providing soul-sustaining nourishment through arts and sports programs.

My secret is that I always think I can learn something." These days he's looking at someone even younger as his ultimate inspiration: his two-year old daughter. "That kid did something to my life -- her energy, her youthfulness," Wyclef says. "I just have to be 50 times better than I was for her." And that drive comes through in everything he does because Wyclef knows his legacy will be his daughter, his humanitarian work and, above all, his music: "When I go into the studio and I sing a song, that song stays forever; so the secret to eternal life is a good song!"