The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book is the second studio album released by Haitian hip hop musician Wyclef Jean. The album was supported by its singles "It Doesn't Matter", "911" and "Perfect Gentleman". At the 43rd Grammy Awards his duet with Mary J. Blige, "911" earned him a nomination for Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 2001. The album debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 22 August 2000 | |||
Recorded | 1999–2000 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 73:51 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer |
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Wyclef Jean chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 67/100[5] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [6] |
Robert Christgau | A−[7] |
RapReviews.com | (7/10)[8] |
Rolling Stone | [9] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [10] |
The A.V. Club | (favourable)[11] |
"Kenny Rogers & Pharoahe Monch Dub Plate" features a guest appearance from Kenny Rogers, contributing a variation of the chorus from his 1978 number-one hit "The Gambler." Track 14 "However You Want It" is a response to Canibus for the remarks he made about him on his album 2000 B.C. (Before Can-I-Bus). Track 18, "Bus Search", is a spoken-word mini drama, in which Jean's tour bus is stopped by two Police officers, one of whom threatens to make them empty the bus' contents unless they play him something by Pink Floyd. The following track is a cover of the latter's "Wish You Were Here", overlaid with Jean rapping about the band.
The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 selling 95,400 copies in its first week.[12] The album also peaked at number three on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. On August 31, 2001, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over a million copies in the United States.
In the UK, the album peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart and was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for denoting sales of 60,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[13]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Columbia Records" (featuring James Bean, Hiro Tahara, and Varshini Soobiah) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 1:54 |
2. | "Where Fugees At?" |
| Salaam Remi | 3:48 |
3. | "Kenny Rogers & Pharoahe Monch Dub Plate" (featuring Kenny Rogers and Pharoahe Monch) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 3:04 |
4. | "Thug Angels" (featuring Small World) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 6:35 |
5. | "It Doesn't Matter" (featuring The Rock and Melky Sedeck) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 3:57 |
6. | "911" (featuring Mary J. Blige) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 4:19 |
7. | "Pullin' Me In" |
| Sedeck | 4:38 |
8. | "Da Cypha" (featuring Marie Antoinette, Supreme C, and Hope) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 4:26 |
9. | "Runaway" (featuring Earth, Wind & Fire and The Product G&B) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 4:56 |
10. | "Red Light District" (featuring Andy Grassi and Varshini Soobiah) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 0:40 |
11. | "Perfect Gentleman" (featuring Hope) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 4:09 |
12. | "Low Income" (featuring Beast & 718-Crew) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 4:20 |
13. | "Whitney Houston Dub Plate" (featuring Whitney Houston) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 1:42 |
14. | "However You Want It" |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 3:03 |
15. | "Hollyhood to Hollywood" (featuring Small World) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 4:45 |
16. | "Diallo" (featuring Youssou N'Dour and MB²) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 7:22 |
17. | "Something About Mary" |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 5:20 |
18. | "Bus Search" (featuring Andy Grassi) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 0:47 |
19. | "Wish You Were Here" |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 4:06 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
20. | "It Doesn't Matter (Ça Ne Me Fait Rien) (French version)" (featuring Ben-J and Jacky) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 3:57 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Younger Days" |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 5:01 |
2. | "Thug Angels" (Live) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 4:19 |
3. | "It Doesn't Matter (Live)" (featuring The Rock and Melky Sedeck) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 8:26 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Gone Till November" |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 3:28 |
2. | "Gone Till November (The Makin' Runs Remix)" (featuring Canibus) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 4:05 |
3. | "We Trying to Stay Alive" (featuring Pras and John Forté) | Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 3:11 | |
4. | "Guantanamera" (featuring Celia Cruz, Jeni Fujita, and Lauryn Hill) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 4:30 |
5. | "Perfect Gentleman (Remix Radio Edit)" (featuring Xzibit and King Yellowman) |
| Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis | 3:58 |
Weekly charts edit
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Year-end charts edit
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada)[34] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Germany (BVMI)[35] | Gold | 150,000^ |
Norway (IFPI Norway)[36] | Gold | 25,000* |
Sweden (GLF)[37] | Gold | 40,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[39] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |