Hendrix

Album: J'ouvert (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, Wyclef looks back at his childhood and reflects on a time when he and his friends had to choose a road to follow in life. Many of his friends joined gangs or turned to crime, but he pursued music. The song is titled "Hendrix" after the lyrics where he explains how he was listening to the rocker while his cousin was getting a Tec-9 gun:

    When my cousin got his first Tec
    I was playing Jimi Hendrix in the basement
  • Wyclef grew up in Newark, New Jersey, which was a rough area but close to the action, as it was near New York City. "This speaks to the neighborhood I grew up in and how it didn't look like much," he said of the song. "The devil, or the streets, offered drugs and cartel and I chose music. Some homies chose the NBA, or we would see people like Shaq who are from Newark and see how they made it out the danger zone."
  • Avicii made some contributions to the album, and coined the term "Clefication," which appears in the title. It refers to Wyclef's production touch and what he brings to a song. "It's the human application of music," Jean explains.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

David Paich of Toto

David Paich of TotoSongwriter Interviews

Toto's keyboard player explains the true meaning of "Africa" and talks about working on the Thriller album.

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

Bob Dylan Lyric Quiz

Bob Dylan Lyric QuizMusic Quiz

Think you know your Bob Dylan lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Cy Curnin of The Fixx

Cy Curnin of The FixxSongwriter Interviews

The man who brought us "Red Skies" and "Saved By Zero" is now an organic farmer in France.