Wyclef Jean talks on the power of Will.i.am.

Question: Why did you write the song “If I Was President”?

Wyclef Jean:  The song “If I Was President” -- I get elected on Friday assassinated on Saturday, buried on Sunday, then they go back to work on Monday as if nothing happened.  It was this song that was inspired by a conspiracy theory -- you know, sitting back, looking at what’s going on in the war, the billions of dollars that’s being spent.  And the fact of whenever someone is coming in to actually present truth, they shoot them down.  So then I put myself in the position of, you know, if I was President they probably take me out the way they took Martin Luther out or the way they took Kennedy out.  But at the same time, we should strive to be the President, meaning that the best that we can be.  Tell the children the truth.

Question: What do you think of will.i.am’s video?

Wyclef Jean:  I mean, will.i.am’s a great producer, you know, I call him the Little Clef.  And I have respect for him as a producer, you know, and when he did the “Yes We Can,” my respect for him, though, went to level 300 because this is what it’s about.  When you have kids like that that see Obama and then they just get inspired.  So, yes, there is room for music.  And people say, “Is there room for music and politics”?  I said, “Oh, you mean [politricks]?”  So there’s room for music and social issues; but whenever we decide to talk about social issues, you call them politics.  We call them politricks.  We say, “Leave the politics for the politicians and let’s deal with these social issues.”

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.