THIS DAY IN HIP-HOP...WYCLEF JEAN - THE CARNIVAL

On this day in Hip-Hop history, Wyclef Jean released his debut solo album The Carnival.

On this day in 1997, Wyclef Jean released his debut solo album The Carnival on Columbia.  The album was mostly self-produced by Wyclef.  Guest artists featured on the set included the Neville Brothers, Celia Cruz, Pras, and Lauryn Hill.

The Carnival spawned the hits "We Trying to Stay Alive," which reached #45 on the Billboard Hot 100; "Anything Can Happen;" "Guantanamera," which is a cover of a Cuban classic; "Cheated (To All The Girls)," which reached #61 on the Billboard Hot 100; "Gunpowder," which peaked at #75 on the Hot 100; and "Gone Til November," which reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Rap chart and was nominated for a Grammy.  The album reached #16 on the Billboard 200.  It peaked at #4 on the R&B chart.  It was certified double-platinum by the RIAA.

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Also on this day...

1997 - The Beatnuts released their third album Stone Crazy on Relativity.

2003 - Gang Starr released their sixth and final album The Ownerz on Virgin/EMI.

2008 - Ice Cube released the hit single "Do Ya Thang" on his label Lench Mob via iTunes.