CANNES, France (CelebrityAccess) — Former Fugees rapper and Haitian hip-hop artist/producer Wyclef Jean has joined the Midem Artist Accelerator rising talent program as Ambassador and Mentor, and will also perform live during Midem.
The Midem Artist Accelerator (MAA) is the only international career booster for emerging musical talent and is part of the Midem music industry event that takes place in Cannes, France from 6-9 June 2017.
Jean’s performance is scheduled for Wednesday 7 June on the Midem By Night main stage. Jean has sold more than 100 million albums and 20 million singles over the course of his career and is the recipient of three Grammy Awards.
Jean is also well known for his charity work in Haiti. His foundation, Yele Haiti, made headlines when the New York Times and the Smoking Gun reported that there were questions over its fundraising activities and alleged misuse of funds. After the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, the organization raised millions for disaster relief but appears to have spent more than $9 million on improper payments by the charity to Jean, members of his family, as well as salaries and consultants’ fees, and expenses related to the charity's offices and warehouse.
The charity, which closed in 2012, is the subject of lawsuits in Haiti for unpaid debts and remains under investigation by the New York Attorney General's office. – Staff Writers
