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Wyclef to rock the mic tonight

Wyclef Jean(Photograph by Akil Simmons)

Wyclef Jean will play tonight for thousands at the America’s Cup Village — and there’s a possibility he may “bust a freestyle” with Jimmy Spithill, skipper of Oracle Team USA.

“We always say anything can happen,” Wyclef told The Royal Gazette.

The sold-out show will coincide with the race’s opening ceremony after it was postponed because of yesterday’s weather forecast.

The Haitian-American promised the Wyclef experience will bring the audience a taste of his music “from 1996 to 2017”.

Wyclef rose to fame as part of the celebrated hip-hop group the Fugees and has produced for Destiny’s Child, Shakira and Lionel Richie.

He said it will have a place in tonight’s show.

“I’m from my daddy’s church, so when you come to my show it’s like a two-hour revival,” he said.

“We’re going to start in the era of cassettes and vinyls and we’re gonna finish in the era of streaming.”

The musician has cultivated a style that spans not only generations, but cultural demographics, making him an ideal fit for the America’s Cup in Bermuda.

“We call it global gumbo,” he said.

“From children that like Lil Wayne to children that like Shakira to older folks that like Pink Floyd or Bob Dylan, it’s a very eclectic audience.

“The music that we do, somehow a 17-year-old could show up, a 60-year-old could show up and it doesn’t matter — they both want to have a good time.”

Wyclef booked the performance just two weeks ago, but said he’s no stranger to the America’s Cup.

A lover of all sports, the Grammy Award-winner attended the World Cup Series event in Chicago in June 2016 and sailed with Oracle.

“What I love most about this sport is the teamwork. It’s not easy. It takes an entire crew. One wrong mistake and the boat can go in another direction,” he added.

Read the full interview in Monday’s Lifestyle