Podcast Summary: All Of It with Alison Stewart
Episode: Wyclef Jean at the Blue Note
Aired: September 10, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart, WNYC

Episode Overview

In this engaging, wide-ranging interview, Alison Stewart sits down with musician, producer, and activist Wyclef Jean ahead of his limited run at the iconic Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City. The conversation spans Wyclef’s deep musical roots, jazz influences, New York memories, his thoughts on technology and AI in music, reflections on Haitian identity, collaborations with Lauryn Hill, and his creative process—interspersed with raw personal stories and live musical moments. The result is both a celebration of Wyclef’s multifaceted artistry and a reflection on music’s power to unify and heal.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Blue Note Residency: Bringing Jazz and Hip Hop Home

[01:15–03:39]

• Wyclef’s anticipation for playing intimate Blue Note shows, emphasizing it as a return to his jazz roots and a chance to showcase his instrumental versatility.
• Influences: Mentions his mentor Quincy Jones, early jazz education, and inspirations like Cab Calloway and Gershwin.
• The Blue Note as a dream stage: “As a composer, you always say, man, I wonder what my set would feel like at the Blue Note, to combine the energy of the Americas and coming to America.” (Wyclef, [04:37])
• He’ll revisit the spirit of his 15-year-old self, playing upright bass, Fender Rhodes, and B3 organ live—revealing the musical depth behind his hits.

2. Memory & Resilience: September 11, New York, and Healing

[05:37–06:41]

• Reflection: As his Blue Note residency begins on the anniversary of 9/11, Wyclef responds, “Triumph is the word I’ll use. Defiant ones, you know, conqueror. So celebration. For me, it’s a celebration. It’s not a defeat.” ([05:50])
• Song reference: He recommends listeners check out his track “Heavens in New York” for the city’s spirit, emphasizing honoring both loss and endurance.

3. Jazz Roots: From School Band to Prodigy

[06:41–07:28]

• Describes himself as a “jazz prodigy” and performs a snippet of “Take the A Train” live, demonstrating his foundational jazz chops.
• “I’m really from that school.” (Wyclef, [07:28])

4. Genre Exploration and Musical Influences

[07:28–09:04]

• Musical rabbit holes: Shares his love for diving into catalogs of legends—Aretha, Etta James, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and Thelonious Monk.
• Jazz fusion & genre bending: “Jazz fusion is just an eclectic, like, putting it all together and like, making it feel good.” (Wyclef, [08:53])
• Thelonious Monk inspires his “boldness” in blending genres, as heard throughout his career, especially on “The Carnival.”

5. Guitar as Life Path: From Survival to Artistry

[09:04–10:29]

• Origin story: Tells of his mother giving him a guitar as a safer alternative to the streets.
  • “You could accomplish more with a guitar than you can with a gun. I always remember those words.” (Wyclef, [09:39])
• Emphasizes the importance of giving youth a focus—be it music, science, or sports—to keep them out of trouble.

6. Reinventing the Guitar: The 'Hip Hop Guitarist'

[10:29–11:26]

• Defines his identity as a “hip hop guitarist”—someone who fuses jazz, rock, blues, and hip hop, defying categorization:
  • “What I do is I put scales together, like, what you expecting not to work. I genre bend it and I make it work on the scales.” (Wyclef, [11:20])

7. Music and Technology: Embracing and Shaping AI

[11:26–14:38]

• Engineering roots: “Music is my second job. My first job is I’m an engineer by trade.” ([11:40])
• Wyclef consults for Google DeepMind and teaches students: “I am the master of AI. AI is not the master of I.” ([14:38])
• Advocates for creative people to embrace AI as a tool—not a threat—while stressing the need for updated copyright protections in the AI era.
  • “What the AI do not have is a soul. And the AI don’t have creativity.” (Wyclef, [13:30])

8. Back to Hip Hop: “Back from Abu Dhabi”

[15:15–18:42]

• Return to roots: New song “Back from Abu Dhabi” (feat. Rick Ross & French Montana) marks Wyclef’s return to rapping after 15 years.
  • “The idea of this song is to let everyone know that I’m back ... going back to my roots in the underground of where I started.” ([15:23])
• Shares enthusiasm for blending worldwide experience with a “New York state of mind.”
• Discusses the music video’s MMA theme and how it showcases both his creativity and athletic side.

9. Pandemic Reflections: “Distance” and Human Connection

[18:42–20:43]

• Shares the meaning behind “Distance,” a song crafted during the pandemic:
  • “...just because we can’t touch each other... if you just close your eyes, you’ll find me.” (Wyclef, [18:50])
• Plays a segment of “Distance,” emphasizing hope and togetherness amid isolation.

10. Reuniting with Lauryn Hill: Creative Synergy

[20:43–22:39]

• Recounts a sold-out London show with Lauryn Hill:
  • “When we, like, we don’t have to say anything. Like when we on that court, you know, it’s like, it’s just magic. I don’t have to look at her to throw her the ball.” (Wyclef, [21:38])
• Highlights their deep, decades-long creative partnership—dating back to their teens, before The Fugees.

11. On Haitian Heritage, Immigration, and American Identity

[22:39–25:06]

• Addresses issues facing the Haitian community in the US, advocating for recognition and respect.
• “Haitians contributed to Louisiana Purchase. ...we are heavily part of the health system...” (Wyclef, [23:13])
• “If something don’t feel normal, we all have to talk about it. Because if we don’t, then what happens is we get caught in this cycle where it becomes normality.” (Wyclef, [24:30])
• Quoting and remixing Martin Luther King: “Injustice for one is like injustice for all.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On his Blue Note residency:
  “So in saying that, what you’re going to get at the Blue Note is you’re going to get like that Wyclef at 15.” ([02:40])
• On genre synthesis:
  “Jazz fusion is just an eclectic, like, putting it all together and like, making it feel good.” ([08:53])
• His mother’s wisdom:
  “You could accomplish more with a guitar than you can with a gun.” ([09:39])
• On AI and creativity:
  “I am the master of AI. AI is not the master of I.” ([14:38])
• On rekindling hip hop:
  “There’s certain things that I want to say that through rhyme and through poetry is like, how I could say it.” ([18:12])
• On music as unity:
  “If you close your eyes and you meditate real hard and you hold my hand, I’m gonna hold yours.” ([18:50])
• On Lauryn Hill:
  “It’s just magic. I don’t have to look at her to throw her the ball. She don’t have to look at me.” ([21:38])
• On Haitian-American contributions:
  “So at the end of the day, right, we are heavily part of the health system and it continues.” ([23:29])
• On justice:
  “Injustice for one is like injustice for all.” ([24:41])

Important Timestamps

• [01:15] Preparing for the Blue Note & jazz influences
• [05:50] Reflections on performing during 9/11 anniversary
• [07:00] Live performance – “Take the A Train”
• [09:39] Mother’s advice about the guitar
• [11:40] Wyclef’s AI consulting at Google DeepMind
• [14:38] “I am the master of AI. AI is not the master of I.”
• [15:23] Return to rapping with “Back from Abu Dhabi”
• [18:50] Meaning behind “Distance”
• [21:05] Lauryn Hill joins Wyclef on stage in the UK
• [23:13] Wyclef on Haitian impact in America
• [24:41] Quoting Martin Luther King on injustice

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a vibrant, humorous, and insightful tone, true to Wyclef’s effortless storytelling and Alison Stewart’s warm, curious interviewing style. Wyclef moves fluidly between lighthearted anecdotes, deeper reflections, and occasional live performances, all while infusing the conversation with an unmistakable sense of New York pride and cultural fusion.

Summary Useful For:

• Fans of Wyclef Jean and the Fugees
• Listeners interested in the interplay between jazz, hip hop, and Caribbean influences
• Anyone curious about the creative process, technology in music, and cultural identity
• Those seeking inspiration from stories of resilience, innovation, and artistic community