Last year, a week before terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center, Wyclef Jean was sent reeling by the death of his father. Both incidents fuelled The Masquerade, the ever-prolific Fugees leader's sharpest solo album to date. Clef is still as much Bob Hope as Bob Marley, rewriting Frankie Valli's "Oh What a Night" as a resume of his multi-platinum career, and sampling Tom Jones' "What's New Pussycat" on the raunchy "Pussycat." But the title track is one of his hardest and angriest, and on the pulsing "MVP Kompa" he's begun to tap into the musical idioms of his native Haiti. And who else would dare be so honest as to sing the line, "I wish there was a sequel to The Sixth Sense so I could see dead people?" VH1 recently chatted it up with Clef. We learn that collaborations with Santana and Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas are in the works, there are certain songs even he would never think of reworking, and his thoughts on the Michael Jackson debacle.

VH1: You've described The Masquerade as an autobiography. But you're only 30. Isn't it a little early to be taking stock of your life?

Wyclef Jean: It's the story of how I first started and how I got this far. The Masquerade is dedicated to my father who passed away last year. Had it not been for my strong parents back in New York, it would never have really happened. That's what I meant by autobiography.

VH1: The reggae song "War No More" is about your post-9-11 experiences. What kind of effect did the terrorist attacks have on you?

Wyclef: It's just a little more hectic when you go through the airport. You get a little jittery when you get on the plane. You have to try and promote love a little more.

VH1: When you spoke to VH1 this time last year you said you were planning to make a sensual record. How did 9-11 and your father's death change the focus?

Wyclef: I do what's called reality music. Reality music is always going to change with the mood of the time. The sensual stuff is still there. When the world is a little more sensual, I'll drop the sensual album.

VH1: Has the past year made you a more mature artist?

Wyclef: I don't know. My little sister is 16 years old. She keeps me geeky and acting stupid. Once she matures, I'll mature!

VH1: You've said your sister is your worst critic. What does she think about The Masquerade?

Wyclef: This is her favorite [album}. We got the song "Daddy" on it, so it's more of a personal record to her.

VH1: On the single "Two Wrongs Don't Make It Right" you try to talk your girlfriend into coming back. What's the deepest trouble you've ever talked yourself out of?

Wyclef: One time I stole a box of chocolates. When you're in Catholic school they make you sell chocolates and stuff to raise money for the school. I wasn't into going door-to-door and selling people chocolate. I found that to be absurd. So I would eat the boxes of chocolates. The nun came and was like, "Where's the chocolates?" I was like, "Well, we get hungry sometimes, you know what I'm saying?" She actually felt so sorry for me, she gave me another box of chocolates!

VH1: Why on earth did you sample Tom Jones on "Pussycat?"

Wyclef: Tom Jones is just one of my favorites. I'm doing his new album. I've been working with him in my studio. I think he's dope, man.

VH1: Have you ever heard a sample on somebody's record where you thought, "That's absolutely ridiculous?"

Wyclef: Sometimes I hear some off-the-wall samples and I'll be like, "Yo, I wouldn't do that." I heard one record where somebody sampled Frank Sinatra. [Singing] "Start spreading the news …" I don't know who it was but it was whack! I was like, "Yo! Don't do that, G."

VH1: Would you ever sample Sinatra yourself? Or is he one of those guys you just can't touch?

Wyclef: Clef touches everybody. It just depends on the bud I'm smoking.

VH1: "PJ's" and "You Say Keep It Gangsta" both seem to refer to P. Diddy's weapons possession trial. Was that an example of gangster posing that got out of hand?

Wyclef: Sometimes it gets out of hand. We need to put it back in perspective. My thing is, don't be trying to pose as something that you're not. You might get into a confrontation with real gangsters, and then you'll see what they do. It's me telling you to watch yourself before you get watched - into a pine box.

VH1: You have songs where you say, "stop the violence" and then songs like "80 Bars," where you talk about stabbing people. Don't you get worried that people won't see the distinction between the different characters you might be taking on?

Wyclef: Not at all. People who read books are very smart, and people who listen to music are very smart. You can see when I'm playing Clef and when I'm playing a personality saying, "shank you/ Yank you." That's what the real gangsters would do if they came across you. Then I go back into myself. Every author likes a book like that, that goes in and out.

VH1: Several times on The Masquerade you say that when living in the projects, you had to make a choice between making music and selling drugs. Weren't there any other career paths open?

Wyclef: Not at the time. My father was telling me I should be a lawyer like my brother, but I wasn't buying that. I didn't want to be a lawyer.

VH1: What's the worst job that you ever had?

Wyclef: Being a busboy at the Ramada Inn in Fairfield, New Jersey, when I was 17. The waiters used to make all the money, but I felt like the busboys did all the work. I felt like we should be getting all the money.

VH1: The Masquerade is packed with reggae and hip-hop beats. But "MVP Kompa" uses the Haitian compas style. What is that?

Wyclef: That's the traditional rhythm of the country. That's one of the beats I want to introduce to America within the next four or five years. In November, I'm gonna drop a traditional, real multicultural Creole record. It'll sound like Carnival II. The vibe of the record is like Buena Vista Social Club, but on another level. When you put it on, you're going to feel like you're on a Caribbean island.

VH1: Who are the heavy hitters of compas?

Wyclef: The older guys. I was really amazed by [New York-based, Haitian band] Tabou Combo. They combined a lot of funk with compas. My uncle used to play them a lot in the house. I thought that was hot. The king of compas for me right now is Sweet Micky. He's like the king for my generation.

VH1: Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas says you were working on some material together. Is this true?

Wyclef: Yeah. He's dope. We've been writing some stuff off and on. We were doing some writing for Santana. We've talked about getting together: Me doing a Matchbox joint, him doing a Clef joint. We're supposed to be doing something, definitely.

VH1: Are you working on the new Santana record?

Wyclef: Yeah. I'm writing and producing for him. I've got a song but I ain't titled it yet. It's like hip-hop mixed with the Middle East mixed with Carlos Santana.

VH1: What would you say is your favorite rap album?

Wyclef: Probably the Wu-Tang Clan's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). It's just raw. The way RZA combined the samples, it reminded me of some Thelonious Monk shit.

VH1: Last year there was talk that you were going to be in this Shottas movie. What happened to it?

Wyclef: I'm finishing that up this year. It will probably be released early next year. I'm playing a character by the name of Richie Effs. He's a comedic schizophrenic. Like, I could be talking to you like this and then I'll kill you, boy. I'm also writing the soundtrack. There will be a Shottas album in 2003.

VH1: You've worked with Michael Jackson, you and thank Sony label boss Tommy Mottola on The Masquerade. What do you think of Jackson's allegations that Mottola is racist?

Wyclef: All I can tell you is what I do know about Tommy. He helped the Fugees make it. Whenever we need him on the phone, he gets right on the phone. He pops into the studio and shows us nothing but love.

VH1: If you were in Tommy's shoes and getting all this heat from Michael, what would you do?

Wyclef: I'd call him and say, "Come in and let's have a conversation. Because you're probably upset." They should sit down and talk out their differences, because there's nothing two men can't work out.

VH1: So will the Fugees ever get back together?

Wyclef: Is this where I hang up the phone? [Laughs.] I really want to do a Fugees record. I'm waiting. Hopefully it will happen soon.