Even though the music and entertainment industry is, unfortunately, not known for squeaky-clean business practices, the recent discoveries by various media sources regarding the 37-year-old Grammy-winning rapper Wycleaf Jean’s charity foundation brings some shocking (for me, a least) numbers.

Looking at the numbers from an IRS tax return from 2006 we’ve learnt that the foundation paid $250,000 to a Haiti TV station owned by Jean and his business partner. In 2007, for example, the foundation’s spent $411,000 more than it brought in. Actually, it brought in only $79,000 that year.

But the highlight, as mentioned in the CBS’ article is that “another $160,000 that year was spent on a concert in Monte Carlo that Jean participated in, of which $75,000 paid for backup singers and $25,000 went to Jean through a company he owns with Duplessis, Platinum Sound Recording Studios Inc.”

I would love to hear those backup singers worth $75,000… Unless a miracle happened, and musicians joined the ranks of investement bankers in terms of compensation, something here is waaaaaay out. How much would this be per note that the singers performed? Fifty bucks, or maybe even a hundred per note sung, perhaps?

Whatever the number is, if Wycleaf Jean plans to continue with this practice, I’m signing up for singing lessons right away.