MONTREAL - Hip hop star-turned-politician Wyclef Jean is quickly discovering the downside of being the frontrunner in a political battle royal: the rest of the pack jumps all over you.

The pile-on in this case includes his own cousin and former bandmate.

Pras Michel told a Montreal news conference on Friday that Jean -- his partner in the renowned '90s music trio the Fugees -- is simply unfit to be president of Haiti.

Michel didn't mince words. He suggested Jean's ego could wind up worsening the situation in an already suffering country.

He said he "disapproved" of Jean's presidential bid.

"If Wyclef Jean wants to run around and act as though he is the messiah, then he's going to continue to perpetuate the destruction of Haiti," Michel said.

He tried tempering those comments by saying he'd still support Jean if he won -- even if he won't be backing him in the presidential race.

"If for whatever reason Wyclef Jean was to continue and become the next president, we stand behind him to help in the effort to rebuild Haiti because that's what we need," Michel said.

Michel was in Montreal in support of another musician and singer vying for the Haitian presidency, Michel Martelly.

Martelly, known in Haiti by his nickname "Sweet Micky", is an extremely popular recording artist and political activist who has actually collaborated with Jean on recordings.

Jean formally entered the political fray last week, filing the paperwork in Port-au-Prince as supporters danced and cheered.

The internationally renowned singer and producer has said in interviews that Pras is entitled to his opinion, but that the two haven't spoken in nearly a decade.

At least 58 parties are registered for the Nov. 28 first-round vote to choose a successor to Rene Preval, who is barred from seeking re-election. Voters will also select legislators and local officials.

Unlike Jean, who lives in New Jersey, Martelly actually lives in Port-au-Prince. He says he better understands what Haiti needs to move forward from the Jan. 12 earthquake that left an estimated 300,000 people dead and much of the country in shambles.

In town to speak to members of Montreal's large and influential Haitian community, Martelly spoke of an ambitious plan that focuses on social services such as schools and hospitals.

Haiti's next president will oversee the spending of nearly $10 billion in reconstruction aid promised at a March U.N. donors' conference -- though less than 10 per cent has actually been delivered so far.

And while Martelly acknowledges the need for Haiti to have international friends, he says that Haiti's reconstruction and its rise from rubble should be managed by Haitians themselves.

"There's billions of dollars ready to be given to Haiti," Martelly said.

"But if you don't ensure that the structure of the state changes in Haiti, I guarantee you this money won't serve anyone; be ready to give more."

That's why Wyclef's former bandmate says he's thrown his support behind Martelly.

"We need a leader in Haiti that's not going to have one constituent group that's going to follow him, or be divisive," Michel said.

Michel, who is U.S.-born, cited American presidents who in his opinion have offered the type of transformative leadership needed in Haiti: Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan and current U.S. President Barack Obama.

The hip-hop star compared Haiti to a fledgling civilization, one that needs an aggressive approach to catching up to the rest of the world by eradicating corruption and focusing on social programs, education and health care.

"We need a leader that knows that he needs -- or she needs -- to make a radical change but at the same time inspire and unify every single Haitian and friends of Haiti to make a new Haiti in the 21st century," Michel said.

And that's why he thinks Martelly is better placed than his former musical partner Jean.

He did acknowledge Jean's tireless activism on behalf of Haiti.

"I think Wyclef has done a lot for Haiti, I think his ability to bring national attention to Haiti, I (applaud) him for that, I think his ability to be a foot soldier for Haiti, I (applaud) him for that," Michel said.

"But his candidacy to be the next commander-in-chief, I disapprove of that."

The Haitian elections are set for Nov. 28.