Masquerade

06/27/2002 10:00 PM, LAUNCH
Dan Leroy

In his post-Fugees career, two impulses have kept Wyclef Jean from fully demonstrating his considerable talents. One is the need to prove he's far more than a mere rapper, which leads to forced-sounding dabblings in pop and classic rock, and the second is his quest to become Bob Marley's spiritual heir-apparent, a futile chase that often finds Jean running alongside old bandmate Lauryn Hill.

For parts of his third solo album, he keeps those distractions in check, offering hard-hitting and thoughtful examinations of hip-hop culture like "Peace God" and "You Say Keep It Gangsta," and even enlisting Brownsville shouters M.O.P. to add a gritty edge to the title track. But when the auteur's grandiose ambitions resurface, things get ugly in a hurry: "Pussycat" is a clumsy, dancehall-flavored cover of the Tom Jones staple, and Clef's twin banes collide on his version of "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," a roots-reggaefied mess that mentions Tupac, Biggie, and 9/11 in a vain attempt at topicality. On this Masquerade, Clef once again disguises his true skills by trying to play musical renaissance man.