Premiere: Listen to Wyclef Jean's "Hendrix"

Wyclef Jean shares "Hendrix" off his upcoming album 'Carnival III: Road to Clefication.'

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Wyclef Jean is back with "Hendrix," the new single off his upcoming album Carnival III: Road to Clefication. The title is a reference to legendary artist Jimi Hendrix, but the lyrics going deeper than that as Wyclef touches on growing up in a place that put him at a disadvantage and still making something of himself.

"This speaks to the neighborhood I grew up in and how it didn’t look like much," Wyclef told Complex via email. "The devil, or the streets, offered drugs and cartel and I chose music. Some homies chose the NBA, or we would see people like Shaq who are from Newark and see how they made it out the danger zone."

He added, "I  remember leaving Jersey and coming to New York at night and seeing those city lights and thinking this place has a lot of people. If you can make it here you damn sure can make it anywhere."

Wyclef takes this inspiration and turns it into a heat rock of a performance. He also showcases a double-time flow that proves he hasn't lost a step from a lyrical standpoint. Longtime fans of the celebrated artist will certainly dig this.

Bump "Hendrix" below and be on the lookout for Wyclef Jean's Carnival III: Road to Clefication coming this fall. The project will feature contributions from Avicii, Afrojack, and Emeli Sandé.

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