Son of a pastor and grandson of a Vodou priest, Wyclef Jean was nine years old when his family left the Haiti slums for New York. He lived first in Brooklyn's projects and then Newark, where his father converted a burnt-out funeral home into a house for his family and a church for his congregation. Struggling to fit in, Wyclef made his way by competing in "freestyle" rap battles at school, while singing in his father's choir and learning multiple instruments.

Within a few years, Wyclef catapulted to international renown with the Fugees. Here he details for the first time the inside story of the group's rise and fall and his tumultuous relationships with Pras and Lauryn Hill. Wyclef also looks back at his efforts to help rebuild his homeland after the catastrophic earthquake in 2010, and his exploratory bid for president of Haiti. Full of drama and humor, Purpose is the inspiring, incredible story of a revered musical icon.