Grammy-winning hip-hop legend Wyclef Jean visited Drexel’s new music studio inside One Drexel Plaza during the fall to talk with music industry students in the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design about his career and their futures.

Wyclef told the standing-room-only crowd that trusting their own judgment is the key to making something special.

“The complete knowledge of self has to be embedded in your brain,” he said. “You have to know that you can do it.”

Then Wyclef picked up a guitar to kick off an impromptu jam session, giving a few lucky Dragons the chance to sing and rap with the former Fugee.

“Getting up and performing in front of all those people, speaking from the heart, especially with someone I really admire, I can’t imagine too much better than that,” sophomore Chris Hechler recalls.

Wyclef had plenty of advice to share, but more than anything he reminded the students to follow their own interests and not be dissuaded by anyone pushing back against their vision.

“Y’all are the pulse,” Wyclef said. “Always move with your gut naturally.”