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US rapper Wyclef Jean: 'I want to move to Sweden'

The Local Sweden
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US rapper Wyclef Jean: 'I want to move to Sweden'
US-Haitian rap artist Wyclef Jean. Photo: AP Photo/Keystone, Laurent Gillieron

A small Swedish town two hours north of Stockholm could get an unexpected celebrity resident. Rap star Wyclef Jean fell in love with Sandviken after a gig there two years ago and has now told a Swedish tabloid that he is planning a move to the town in the next couple of years.

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US-Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean is in Sweden to perform at one of Gothenburg's most iconic theme parks, Liseberg. But ahead of Thursday's gig, the world famous artist let slip that it is not the last the Nordic country will see of him.

The 45-year-old rapper of Fugees fame told Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet that he is eyeing a move to Sandviken in east-central Sweden, which captured his heart after he performed at a concert there in 2013.

“In two years I'm going to start looking for a house there. I move around a lot and at that point my daughter will be at the right age. I automatically know that Sandviken is one of the places where I'm going to stay,” he said in an interview.

Sandviken is a fairly ordinary Swedish town, with some 22,000 residents, situated 25 kilometres west of Gävle and around 190 kilometres north of Stockholm. It is mostly known for being the home of Swedish engineering group Sandvik, although the company moved its headquarters to Stockholm in 2012.

We are sure that it is very lovely indeed, but let's just say it is not exactly the kind of place where you would expect a rapper celebrity to settle down (coincidentally, however, its other claim to fame is that Hollywood actress Geena Davis stayed there as an exchange student in her youth).

IN PICTURES: The six cutest Swedish towns you've never heard of

The town is not Wyclef Jean's only connection to Sweden. In November he released hit single 'Divine Sorrow' featuring Swedish DJ star Avicii, written by fellow Swedes Magnus Lidehäll, Salem Al Fakir and Vincent Pontare.

And he has previously said that he loves Stockholm so much he could imagine sleeping on the dance floor of the clubs around the posh Stureplan square.

However, it is Sandviken he is contemplating a move to (perhaps even rappers are struggling with Stockholm's notoriously tough property market).

“We've got 365 days a year, and I already know now that at least 50 of them I want to spend in Sandviken,” he told Aftonbladet.

“I get such energy there. The nature is wonderful. It's strange, I don't know…sometimes you get to a place and just…I don't know, perhaps my spirit has been there before? It just feels like Sandviken is home.”

READ ALSO: Five questions before buying a home in Sweden

Wyclef Jean, who was ruled ineligible to stand in the 2010 Haiti presidential election, is known for his strong political opinions, and in the interview with Aftonbladet he also took the opportunity to offer his views on Sweden's rising number of beggars.

“These people won't go away. If you want to solve the problems you create jobs for them. Let the politicians work out a job-creating policy. It's the same on Haiti, the country's greatest asset is the people,” he said.

"They want to work, so create jobs and let them. That's what I wanted to do had I become president of Haiti."

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