( CNN ) -- Six years ago , hip hop icon Wyclef Jean released a soulful tune called `` President , '' in which he fantasized about what it would be like to lead a country . That fantasy may come closer to reality when the Haitian-American recording artist announces exclusively on CNN 's `` Larry King Live '' that he intends to run for president of Haiti . Jean , who had been an outspoken proponent for Haiti through his Yele Foundation , told CNN Tuesday that plans to make the major announcement on King 's show Thursday night . Born in Haiti , Jean shot to fame in the mid-1990s as a member of The Fugees , a U.S.-based hip-hop and reggae group . He performs now as a solo artist . He was one of the first celebrities to offer aid after the devastating earthquake there in January . He told CNN late last month that he has filled out the necessary paperwork to make a run at the country 's highest office . In February , Jean said he has tried to promote Haitian issues in his work . `` I 've always promoted Haiti in my music , since my first album with the Fugees where we talked about what Haitians are going through and about human rights for people around the world , '' Jean said . `` This is how we came in the game , we never thought we were going to be music stars because the topics we talked about were not very popular in mainstream music . '' Jean said he was born in `` a small village in Port-au-Prince . '' He moved to Brooklyn , New York , when he was nine , he said . `` I had never been inside an airplane before -- me and my brother looked out the window and saw nothing but a bunch of lights , '' said Jean . `` I told my brother , 'Look , we 've arrived , it 's the city of diamonds , ' because it was shining so much . '' Jean said he grew up in housing projects in Brooklyn , `` one of the roughest areas at the time . '' He was able to grow from those humble beginnings to be a top recording star and now he says he will try to help rebuild his birthplace . iReporter : 'The dangers of a Wyclef presidency ' The January 12 earthquake in Haiti killed more than 220,000 people , destroyed 60 percent of government infrastructure and left more than 180,000 homes uninhabitable . While little is known about Jean 's political agenda , some of the lyrics from his song `` President '' may provide a sneak peek : . `` Instead of spending billions on the war . I can use that money , to feed the poor . ''
Jean was one of the first people to offer aid after the crash . He says he has filled out all the necessary paperwork . Jean shot to fame in the 1980s as a member of The Fugees .