The Preacher's Son
After catching heat for 2002's disappointingMasquerade, Wyclef Jean jiggered his "ecleftic" formula a bit; this time he's come closer to hitting the mark. Listeners will be pretty hard-pressed to find much actual rapping onThe Preacher's Son, but the formerFugeedoes a good job showcasing a wide variety of musical genres, all crafted with the highest of production values. Tracks like "Baby Daddy" (an ode to step-fatherhood featuringRedman) and "Next Generation" (featuringRah Diggaand the always tightScarface) give a brief nod to Clef's MC status while "Party to Damascus" (a duet with the ubiquitousMissy Elliott) helps bridge the gap between traditional and next-wave hip-hop. But the eclectic roster of non-MC guests proves that Wyclef's musical vision is bigger than hip-hop. Where else would you be able to hearPatti LaBelle,Carlos Santana, and Haitiankompakings T-Vice all do their thing?--Rebecca Levine