Wyclef Jean should be highly praised for his work in the musical industry. He has kept his music positive since he first emerged on the scene with the Fugees in 1994, and has blended in old school rhythms, silky smooth soul, bangin hip hop and infectious reggae. After searving up two successful smash albums with The Carnival & Elecleftic, Wyclef steps out the most on this album openly attacking american society, racial profiling, low income housing scams and numerous other political topics.

While discussing these issues, Wyclef does it in a very peaceful manner, one that would even make Martin Luther King Jr. proud. The album's first single "The PJ's" is about his tough life growing up in the projects, and how to save others lives from going down the wrong paths. "Peace God" is basically about the same issues, but this also includes the point of view from a child rapper that opens the song. The album's second single "Two Wrongs" with Claudette Ortiz of City High, is a scorching smash ballad, which is very much like is 2000 single "911" with Mary J. Blige.

Clef blends in the old school on his Tom Jones collaboration "PussyCat", but keeps the new school alive, by collaborating with artists like M.O.P ("Masquerade"), Sharissa ("Keep it Gangsta") and Bumpy Knuckles ("Masquerade"). Wyclef also discusses the loss of his father, a depressing point in his life which brought forth some amazing material on "Knocking on Heaven's Door" & "Daddy". Clef also kicks back into his Fugee days serving up a blazing hip hop joint "80 Bars" where he address numerous issues and address controversial topics.

Overall Wyclef has come back strong. Though he has put his best effort into his material, he is just a mediocre rapper, but it doesn't always matter how much he rhymes, it matters about what he is saying. Wyclef is not afraid to address issues that people are concerned about, and let his fans know about political issues that they would not know about. His work is very inspirational and he is a highly talented musician. I give him all the credit in the world.

I was excited about this new release, having really loved the last 2 Wyclef solo efforts. While I really appreciate Wyclef's ecletic style, acoustic guitar and cultural influences - this release was a disappointment.

I've always liked Wyclef's musicianship and that he's different from most "commercial hip hop" (for lack of a better term). But this is all Thugs and Projects ("PJs" are projects, for the uninitiated) and I'm not impressed. I appreciate the origins, but not the unoriginal terminology and style. It sounds far more "mainstream" then his other releases. That said, Thug like Me is musically one of the better tracks, and more Wyclef as we know him.

I don't know what went awry on this one, but it's missing the flow, the unique style and the overall feeling of the other albums. It's like all the ingredients are there, but it just doesn't work as well.

If you love Wyclef, you'll buy this because it is better then lots of other stuff, just not his best. Keep your expectations in check. If you're new, buy The Carnival, then Efclectic before this one. They're much more indicative of his tremendous abilities.

Wyclef is back and he is redefining everything once again, this is by far wyclefs best work since the break up of The beloved Fugees. On this cd Wyclef not only shows his skills on the guitar, and singing, but shows us some of his old rap skill with tracks like, 4. 80 bars, where clef does nothing but flow, other tracks such as 2. Peace God, 3. Pj's, and 5. Masquerade also show clefs ability to emcee. However one of the great thing about Wyclef is that he can mix it up and dip into just about any musical style with ease, and without offending the ears, Wyclef bring us one of the best r&b songs put out in the last decade, with Two Wrongs, featuring Claudette of City High, he also brings us a greatlaid back reggae track with War No More, Everything on this cd works. Masquerade is definately a keeper, although you might not like it the first time through keep playing it, it will grow on you just like everything else wyclef has done in the past, the only possible reason you wouldn't love this cd is that you are stuck in the land of Fugeela.

Who else has succeeded in bringing Hatian styles to out attention? Who else has actively challenged Hip Hop musical sensibility? Who else has dropped such innovative albums?

Clef's only contemporaries are The Coup, Mos Def, Lauren and KRS. Yeah. I said it. Meant it too! But I can't leave out Angelique Kidjo, Femi Kuti, Buju and Carlinhos Brown. Check for them.

I remember back before The Carnival was released I was talking with some neighbors and I told them that I felt Clef was "one of the most talented musicians to emerge..." They were quite skeptical, but here Clef is. Again, proving me correct.

I truly appreciate the street level lyrics with the world level music. Clef stands out as a Pan-African musical explorer. I can always count on him to check the pulse of the Caribbean, the States, London, Africa, South America and deliver some of it the the rest of us. He started this trend with The Fugees "The Score" and he's never faltered.

I don't always appreciate or enjoy his public persona, but it's his creative product that resonates One Million times. THIS is his lasting legacy.

One last thing: Clef, I just wanna thank you for the song "Daddy." I feel you.

For those of you like me that first became intrigued by Clef in the refuggee days, then you'll understand where I'm coming from with this review. Don't get me wrong, Masquerade is a solid, wonderfully produced album but I have trouble giving this five stars. If Masquerade was Clef's first attempt, then this would be a five, but coming off two influencial and classic albums like the Carnival, and Ecleftic, Masquerade seems just a little sub-par. I am one who has had the pleasure of meeting the man himself, and let me say he is a class act.He signed my Carnival and Ecleftic cds. We snapped a couple pics with him and Seddeck (his brother) and asked some Q&A.
The best tracks on the album are for sure Peace God, Two Wrongs, Daddy and the créole remixes with Melkey (his sis) are slammin' too.
I wish I could give Masquerade that fifth star, but it might direspect some of his earlier work.
Overall this is a solid record from the Haitian Sensation and I recommend this Joint to all the young cats around the world-as Clef would say.