Hip-Hop Pioneer Wyclef Jean Unleashes Star Studded Music Video For “Back From Abu Dhabi”

hi-res images here

Tuesday, December 9 - Today, Grammy Award-winning artist, producer, and composer Wyclef Jean delivers the cinematic new music video for “Back From Abu Dhabi” - Directed by Tasha Smith and starring hip-hop titans French Montana and Rick Ross. The curtain opens on a TV with a record scratch and M.C. intro by Dave Chappelle, ushering Jean’s sonic homecoming back to the rap genre. Read more in VIBE.

As Jean steps out dripping in Rick Owens, flexing a rare motorcycle and rapping that he’s “back from Abu Dhabi,” the song’s narrative snaps into focus, bridging his past and present. We see a rock star, but the visuals pull you through Camden, New Jersey, the place where he first found his footing after immigrating from Haiti and the Coney Island Marlboro Projects. The contrast between Abu Dhabi and that early reality is stark. What once felt impossibly distant is now part of his orbit. He’s made it, and he’s finally looking back. This moment in time is Wyclef Jean’s Quantum Leap, both sonically and spiritually. A moment only possible because of the artist he’s been, is now, and is still becoming.

WATCH “BACK FROM ABU DHABI”

LISTEN TO “BACK FROM ABU DHABI”

Forever leading with unwavering dedication to his Haitian culture, Wyclef remains the global Carnival Man. From the release of his solo debut The Carnival, he cleared the path of what planned to create in the years to come, blending hip-hop, reggae, folk, disco, soul, Afro-Cuban and Haitian music. Today, he continues to bring Carnival culture to the world. As Wyclef continues to pioneer new paths for himself, his growth as a musician will always be rooted in jazz and the church. In September he made his debut at the Blue Note New York with special guests Buju Banton, Theo Croker, Peter Gunz and more. He’ll take this show to the new Blue Note Los Angeles from January 15-18 (tickets here).

This February will mark two milestone anniversaries for Wyclef, celebrating the Fugees’ The Score and “Hips Don’t Lie” with Shakira, just a year ahead of the 30th anniversary of his globally celebrated and 3x Grammy Nominated debut album The Carnival. Wyclef’s indelible impact on the music industry as a composer, writer and producer is easily tracked among his countless hits for legends like Whitney Houston, Santana, Destiny's Child, Mary J. Blige, Lil Wayne, T.I., The Fugees and many more. His ability to both transcend and blend global genres and masterful use of instrumentation make him a timeless creator even among his contemporaries. In 2025 alone he's been sampled by Ayra Starr, will.i.am, DJ Mustard, Stormzy, Central Cee and G Herbo. Herbo’s new single “Emergency” stars Wyclef while sampling his hit “911” from his second solo album The Ecleftic.

ABOUT WYCLEF JEAN

Wyclef Jean is a Grammy Award-winning artist, producer, and composer with over two decades of pioneering influence in the music industry and culture. As a founding member of the Fugees, their 1996 album "The Score" achieved monumental global and chart topping success, in addition to two Grammy Awards and a nomination for Album of the Year. He has released eight solo albums, including "The Carnival," which sold nearly nine million copies worldwide and was Grammy Nominated. As a producer and writer, he is responsible for hits like “Hips Don’t Lie” (Shakira), “Maria Maria” (Santana) and more. In 2020, Wyclef launched the podcast "RunThatBack".

As a leader in music tech he co-founded SodoMoodLab, composing music for Showtime’s "The Chi,” is Chief Creative Officer of OpenWav, and a consultant for Google DeepMind, where he focuses on AI technology. Now Global Culture Advisor of Circle, his goal is to help bring stablecoin innovation to the world stage and promote financial literacy across communities. As a philanthropist, he is deeply committed to honoring his home country of Haiti, recently sponsoring and mentoring Haitian students in a robotics program that achieved global accolades. He is a Global Ambassador for Global Citizen, is on the National Advisory Board for Music Will, and was honored with their 2025 Innovator Award. He remains a dynamic cultural force, seamlessly integrating music, education, and technology to drive meaningful social change.

For more information please contact Shore Fire Media 

WyclefJeanPR@shorefire.com 

Rebecca Shapiro, MC Miskell, Naomi Banks