The Sam Sanders Show Did Whitney Houston Sing Out Of Tune? w/ Wyclef Jean
May 12, 2026
Wyclef Jean, Haitian-born rapper, musician, and producer who co-founded the Fugees and wrote hits for big pop stars. He tells stories from Haiti and church, how The Score’s sound was built, what it was like producing Whitney Houston, a tense studio moment about singing on pitch, creative partnerships, and why global hip-hop still thrives.
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Editing Created The Score's Commercial Shape
- Salaam Remi's cut of the Nappy Heads remix taught Wyclef to condense long performances into focused, radio-ready tracks.
- A 20-minute studio rap was edited to 3:30 and that edit revealed the commercial shape the group needed for The Score.
Basement Studio Gave The Score Its Warmth
- The Fugees built The Score in a DIY basement using a bought-up tape machine and MCI board to create a warm, distinctive sound.
- Their garage-sale gear plus patched-together setup was central to the album's character.
Pink Floyd Inspired The Score's Spacious Tracks
- An early Score track called The Mask showed Wyclef's Pink Floyd influence and need for space in production.
- He cites Pink Floyd's The Wall as inspiration for atmospheric, spacious arrangements on early cuts.