Masquerade

Masquerade

Wyclef Jean's third solo offering finds him still trying his darndest to prove to hip-hoppers and pop audiences alike just how eclectic he can be. And no one knows exactly why. After all, eclecticism does not necessarily translate to quality; Jean's disturbingly mediocre collaboration with Tom Jones on an updated version of "What's New, Pussycat?" is a prime example of how an intriguing idea can go awry. Likewise, his reinterpretations of Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" and the Four Seasons hit "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" demonstrate just how spiritless this truly gifted emcee/producer can sound. Sure, Masquerade boasts Wyclef's broad coverage of black music, flipping styles from reggae to R&B in a heartbeat. The R&B flavored "Two Wrongs," featuring Claudette Ortiz of City High, and the touching ode to his recently deceased father, "Daddy," sound grand. But in the end, Jean's attempt to masquerade as a hardcore rap artist on the "PJs"--a tired ode to low-income housing dwellers--reveals that he's been on cruise control since The Score. And it's a real shame. --Dalton Higgins