Masquerade

Reviewed by:
Victor Blair

After the Fugees rewrote rap, Wyclef was poised to be the group’s most promising member. An impressive solo debut seemed to confirm this, but a mediocre follow-up clouded the outlook. Now this. Masquerade’s first half teems with ’Clef’s lame shout-outs to the “street” (“PJ’s,” “80 Bars”), but that shit is gold compared with the Puff Daddy–esque reworking of the prom-night perennial “Oh What a Night” or his take on Tom Jones’ warbler “What’s New Pussycat?” By the time he drags out the reggae cover of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” you won’t know whether to laugh or weep.

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