Wyclef Jean to Run for President of Haiti, TIME ReportsMusician Wyclef Jean is set to announce his candidacy for president of Haiti this Thursday on CNN's 'Larry King Live,' a source close to the singer told CNN Tuesday. And the former head of Haiti's Chamber of Deputies confirmed the move, telling the Associated Press that Jean will soon announce his run for president.

But past the rumors, the most telling piece of info comes from Wyclef himself, to TIME: "If not for the earthquake, I probably would have waited another 10 years before doing this. The quake drove home to me that Haiti can't wait another 10 years for us to bring it into the 21st century. If I can't take five years out to serve my country as president, then everything I've been singing about, like equal rights, doesn't mean anything."

Jean's rep wouldn't confirm the reports but did acknowledge the singer will be making an announcement Thursday. She wouldn't comment on what Jean will discuss at that time.

Jean, 37, was born in Haiti but left soon after and was raised in Brooklyn and New Jersey. The former Fugees rapper is a popular figure in Haiti nonetheless; his music and charity work after the devastating January 12 earthquake has made him a favorite among many locals, not to mention his long-standing Yele Haiti foundation.