Fugees
The Fugees ( FOO-jeez) are an American hip-hop group formed in South Orange, New Jersey, in 1990. The trio of Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel became known for their fusion of hip-hop and R&B with elements of reggae, soul and other musical styles across the African diaspora. Derived from "refugees", their name references Jean's immigrant background, his and Michel's Haitian heritage, and recurring themes of resilience. The group's socially conscious lyrics, eclectic sound, and use of live instrumentation stood apart during the gangsta rap-dominated era, establishing them as one of the most significant acts in alternative hip-hop.
In 1990, members of the group appeared alongside MC Lyte in the Off-Broadway production Club XII, a hip-hop reimagining of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Under the guidance of Kool & the Gang's Ronald "Khalis" Bell, they adopted the name Fugees and signed with Ruffhouse Records, an imprint of Columbia. Their debut album Blunted on Reality (1994) gained traction through touring and remixes of "Nappy Heads" and "Vocab", with the former reaching the Billboard Hot 100. Their second album, The Score (1996), topped the Billboard 200 and was later certified 7× Platinum by the RIAA. Featuring the singles "Fu-Gee-La", "Ready or Not", and "Killing Me Softly", The Score became the second rap album to earn a Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year, and for a time held the title of the best-selling hip-hop album of all time. Its success placed the Fugees "at the forefront of pop music", according to The New York Times.
The group collaborated with Bounty Killer and Cypress Hill, as well as with Simply Red on "Angel" and Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest, and John Forté on "Rumble in the Jungle", both of which reached the top five on the UK Singles Chart. They also formed the Refugee Camp All-Stars collective and subsequently staged the largest concert in Haitian history. Jean released his debut album The Carnival (1997), which featured extensive contributions from Hill and Michel. Internal tensions followed, and the trio separated to pursue solo careers, later reuniting for tours and live performances, including Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2005).
Fugees have received the Medal of Honor from Haitian President René Préval, and are the recipients of two Grammy Awards and the Brit Award for International Group. Frequently named among the greatest rap groups, VH1 ranked them 17th on its 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Artists list. The Score appears on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums, while "Ready or Not" has been recognized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.
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