Fugees

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Fugees
progressive hip hop[2]
DiscographyFugees discography
Years active
  • 1990–1997
  • 2004–2006
  • 2021–present
Labels
SpinoffsRefugee Camp All-Stars
Members
Websitethefugees.com

Fugees (/ˈfuːdʒiːz/; sometimes The Fugees) are an American hip hop trio formed in 1990 in South Orange, New Jersey. Deriving its name from a shortening of the word "refugees", the group consists of Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel, and Lauryn Hill. The group rose to prominence in the mid-1990s for their pioneering blend of reggae, R&B, funk and hip hop, which eschewed gangsta rap and made them one of the most significant alternative hip hop acts.[3][4] They occasionally rapped in Haitian Creole, and were one of the first hip hop bands to incorporate live instrumentation during their performances, along with The Roots.[5][6]

In 1993, the trio signed to

The Score (1996) placed them "at the forefront of pop music".[4] The album peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200, and was certified 7× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It spawned the singles "Ready or Not", "Fu-Gee-La", and "Killing Me Softly". The latter single reached number one in over twenty countries worldwide. The Score was nominated at the Grammy Awards for Album of the Year. This marked the second time a rap album received a nomination for the award.[7]

Afterwards, The Fugees made an uncredited guest appearance on

UK Singles Chart. Their 1997 performance in Haiti, marked the largest staged concert ever held in the country.[9] They also collaborated with Bounty Killer on the single "Hip-Hopera", which spent several weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The Fugees later disbanded due to internal conflict, leading each of the members to pursue solo careers. Since then, they have briefly reunited for live performances and reunion tours; most recently in 2023.[10]

Together they have won two

Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll
.

History

Formation and beginnings

Ruffhouse, distributed through Columbia Records.[22] The members then changed the group's name to Fugees, which was purposely taken from a word often used derogatorily to refer to Haitian-Americans (refugee).[23]
Refugee Camp, while a name sometimes credited to the trio, also refers to a number of artists affiliated with the members, and particularly Jean.

Blunted on Reality

The trio soon changed musical direction, and released its first hip-hop LP,

The Score, there were still political intentions.[21] Though Blunted on Reality spawned the three singles "Boof Baf", "Vocab", and "Nappy Heads", they struggled to gain mainstream attention despite earning plaudits for its artistic quality and innovative use of samples.[25] The album's most successful single was a remixed version of the song "Nappy Heads" produced by Salaam Remi. The remix peaked at number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100
.

The Score

The musical qualities of the first Fugees record were revisited with their sophomore effort

The Score
, which was released in February 1996. The Score was Fugees' final record before their disbandment the following year.

The Score became one of the biggest hits of 1996 and one of the best-selling hip-hop albums of all time. The Fugees first gained attention for its

Bob Marley & the Wailers and "Killing Me Softly with His Song" (first recorded by Lori Lieberman in 1971, remade by Roberta Flack in 1973), the latter being their biggest hit.[26]

The album also included a re-interpretation of

Boadicea" without the singer's permission. This prompted a lawsuit resulting in a settlement where Enya was given credit and royalties for her sample.[28] The group members have continuously thanked and praised Enya for her deep understanding of the situation, for example in the liner notes
of The Score.

The Fugees won two

1997 Grammy Awards with The Score (Best Rap Album) and "Killing Me Softly" (Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group
).

They produced remixes of Michael Jackson's "Blood on the Dance Floor" and "2 Bad".[29]

Later career

In 1997, the Fugees were featured on the song "Hip-Hopera" by Bounty Killer, which spent five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while peaking at number 81.[30] The group also recorded the song "Rumble in the Jungle" featuring Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest & John Forté, for the 1996 documentary When We Were Kings.[31]

Later that year, the Fugees all began solo projects: Hill began writing and producing for a number of artists (including

Mýa and Ol' Dirty Bastard, recorded the single "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" for the soundtrack to the film Bulworth. In 1998, they reunited to shoot a music video for the song "Just Happy to Be Me" which appeared in the Sesame Street special Elmopalooza, and also on the Grammy Award-winning soundtrack album.[32]

The three Fugees reunited and performed on September 18, 2004, at the concert in

Cody ChesnuTT and John Legend. Their performance received several positive reviews, many of which praised Hill's near a cappella rendition of "Killing Me Softly".[33]

The Fugees made their first televised appearance in almost ten years at

R&B Chart.[36]

In November 2005, Fugees embarked on a European tour – the members' first together since 1997 – from 30 November to 20 December, playing in Finland, Austria, Norway, Germany, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and Slovakia. The group had been scheduled to play at the Hammersmith Apollo on November 25, 2005; however, it was forced to move the gig to December due to production issues.[37] The tour received mixed reviews. On February 6, 2006, the group reunited for a free show in Hollywood, with tickets given away to about 8,000 fans by local radio stations. Later that month, a new track called "Foxy" was leaked, a song dubbed the "real return of the Fugees" by several online music blogs.

However, following the reunion tour, the album that was said to be in the works did not materialize and was postponed indefinitely, as relationships between band members apparently deteriorated. During the recording of the album, the group was plagued with creative differences.[38] They recorded a song titled "Lips Don't Lie", but Hill did not like the song and, after some disagreements over it, the group disbanded again. The song was ultimately given to singer Shakira with featured vocals by Jean and after the title was changed to "Hips Don't Lie", the song was released a single and became a global hit.[39] In August 2007, a year after the group's second disbandment, Pras stated, "Before I work with Lauryn Hill again, you will have a better chance of seeing Osama bin Laden and [George W.] Bush in Starbucks having a latte, discussing foreign policies, before there will be a Fugees reunion".[40] Meanwhile, in September 2007, an equally outspoken Wyclef told Blues & Soul: "I feel the first issue that needs to be addressed is that Lauryn needs help... In my personal opinion, those Fugees reunion shows shouldn't have been done, because we wasn't ready. I really felt we shoulda first all gone into a room with Lauryn and a psychiatrist... But, you know, I do believe Lauryn can get help. And, once she does work things out, hopefully a proper and enduring Fugees reunion will happen."[41] On July 15, 2017, an old song by the Fugees was leaked on Hot 97 radio; this led to reports that the group was reforming, which were later denied by group members on Twitter.

After the group split,

Pras Michel starred in a documentary about homelessness in Los Angeles and remained outspoken about Haitian politics.[43][44][45] Lauryn Hill continued recording and performing socially conscious music and went on to advocate for female empowerment especially within the music industry.[46][47] Fugees also turned their recording studio, The Booga Basement, into a transitional house for young Haitian refugees immigrating to the United States.[23]

In September 2021, Fugees announced a reunion tour to celebrate 25 years of their album, The Score.[48] On Friday, October 29, 2021, Fugees announced that their reunion tour dates were postponed to early 2022.[49] However, on January 21, 2022, Fugees released a statement saying they would not be going on tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[50]

Legacy

Fugees has often been referred to as one of the most influential and significant groups of the 1990s,[51][52] with Billboard stating "their influence on modern hip-hop and R&B music is undeniable".[53] They are often considered to be one of the definitive alternative hip hop acts, being one of the first alternative hip hop acts to break into the mainstream.[1][54][2] According to Forbes, their success helped establish Ruffhouse Records as a major record label.[55] Consequence noted Fugees for putting Haiti on the hip hop map.[56] Alternative Press argued that the group paved the way for modern alternative music and stated "If you listen to modern hip-hop today, so many of the new faces went to the Fugees' School of Songwriting."[57]

While Matthew Ismael Ruiz of

Caribbean music, making it more palpable for a wider audience without making the message dense, stating "Fugees disguised resistance as art, the same way that enslaved Africans once hid martial arts from their colonial masters by pretending that they were a dance."[60]

Writing for The Recording Academy, music journalist Kathy Iandoli wrote about the impact of the group on the hip hop genre stating:

"As hip-hop's East and West Coasts continued their tussle, their lighter-hearted approach to socially conscious rap curtailed any overarching assumptions that hip-hop was going down a "bad road". Plus, they had Lauryn Hill, who doubled as a songbird and lyrical spitfire. Together, by juxtaposing live instrumentation, soulful melodies and abstract bars, The Fugees gave hip-hop a renewed spirit and propelled it to a different kind of mainstream".[61]

The group has sold over twenty-two million records worldwide,[62] and are one of the biggest-selling hip hop groups of all time.[63][64] Multiple recording artists have cited The Fugees as an influence, including Bono,[65] Drake,[66] Kanye West,[67] Akon,[68] Black Eyed Peas,[69] Young Thug,[70] Bridgit Mendler,[71] Sean Kingston,[72] Ava Max,[73] Doja Cat,[74] Bastille,[75] The Kid Laroi,[76] Post Malone,[77] DJ Khaled,[78] and Diplo.[79]

The impact of the Fugees has been compared to that of

Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll (2018) by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[84] The following year, they were inducted into the N.J. Pop & Rock Hall.[85]

A photograph of the group taken in 1994, has been stored and collected by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.[86] In 2020, The Score ranked 134th on the revised version of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[87] The following year, their version of "Killing Me Softly" was placed on the revised version of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[88] MTV ranked it the ninth-greatest hip-hop group of all time (2007). BET placed the group on its list of 'Hip Hop's Greatest Trios' (2012).

Discography

Main article: Fugees discography

References

  1. ^ a b "Alternative Rap Music Genre Overview | AllMusic". AllMusic. March 13, 2020. Archived from the original on March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Coker, Cheo Hodari (March 31, 1996). "Lots of non-hip-hop fans groove to their complex beat, but they'll tell you their roots are firmly in the 'hood". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "The Fugees: Leaders of the New Cool". Rolling Stone. September 5, 1996. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  4. ^
    ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  5. ISSN 0190-8286
    . Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  6. ^ VIBE (December 7, 2010). "What Wyclef's Learned From… Carlos Santana, The Roots, Rakim & More". VIBE.com. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  7. ^ Grein, Paul (March 24, 2020). "3 Reasons Lil Uzi Vert Could be Headed for Album of the Year Grammy Nomination". Billboard. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  8. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. October 26, 1996.
  9. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  10. ^ "The Fugees Reunite During Lauryn Hill's Set, Likely Last Time for a While". TMZ. June 4, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  11. ^ "Fugees". GRAMMY.com. November 23, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  12. ^ "History". BRIT Awards. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  13. ISBN 978-1-4381-4101-5
    .
  14. ^ "Fugees / Radio Haiti Archive / Duke Digital Repository". Duke Digital Collections. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  15. ^ Gilang, Rafly (August 13, 2022). "The Most Successful Rap Groups Of All Time". TheThings. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  16. ^ Campbell, Tina (June 7, 2014). "Fugees singer Lauryn Hill announces new UK tour dates for 2014". Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  17. ^ "MTV News: The Greatest Hip-Hop Groups Of All Time". MTV. January 28, 2010. Archived from the original on January 28, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  18. ^ Unterberger, Nefertiti; Austin, Kyle; Denis, Raquelle; Harris, Carl; Lamarre, Jason; Lipshutz, Joe; Lynch, Heran; Mamo, Gail; Mitchell, Neena; Rouhani, Dan; Rys, Andrew (June 28, 2023). "50 Greatest Rap Groups of All Time". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  19. ^ "Rock On The Net: VH1: 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Artists". www.rockonthenet.com. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  20. ^ "How Life Changed". XXL. March 2011.
  21. ^ a b "The Fugees". Lorna's Corner. 1990. Hartford Public Access TV.
  22. ISBN 9780446511629
    . Retrieved August 7, 2018 – via Google Books.
  23. ^ a b Foege, Alec. "Fugees (cover story)", Rolling Stone, September 5, 1996, p. 40-47
  24. ^ Ebony. November 1996. p. 72. Accessed from May 31, 2013.
  25. ^ Weheliye, Alexander G. Phonographies:Grooves in Sonic Afro-Modernity, Duke University Press, 2005.
  26. ^ "5 Best Songs From Fugees' 'The Score' Album". The Boombox. February 15, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  27. ^ "First Listen: The Delfonics, 'Adrian Younge Presents The Delfonics'". NPR.org. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  28. ^ Battles, Jan (March 28, 2004). "Rap takes Enya's 12 notes up chart". The Sunday Times. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  29. ^ MTV News Staff. "The Fugees Talk About Remixing Michael Jackson". MTV News. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  30. ^ "Bounty Killer". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  31. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. January 18, 1997.
  32. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 12, 2003.
  33. ^ Schwartz, Danny (March 4, 2021). "The Making of Dave Chappelle's Iconic 'Block Party'". The Ringer. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  34. ^ Baltin, Steve (June 29, 2005). "Fugees Surprise at BET Awards". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  35. ^ The Fugees Take It Easy – IGN, September 29, 2005, retrieved April 11, 2021
  36. ^ "Fugees". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  37. ^ "The Fugees Forced To Reschedule Tour Date". Gigwise.com. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  38. ^ "If You're Waiting for The Fugees Reunion, Don't Hold Your Breath". EBONY. July 19, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  39. ^ "10 years of Shakira's Hips Don't Lie: 7 facts about the song the world is obsessed with". India Today. February 26, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  40. ^ Hamilton, Tiffany (2007). "Pras: It Will Take An Act of God To Change Lauryn". AllHipHop.com. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  41. ^ Clark, Stephen. "WYCLEF JEAN: Perfect Gentleman". Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  42. ^ "Who We Are." YeleHaiti. Web. October 11, 2011. <"About Us". Archived from the original on October 17, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.>
  43. ^ Pras (cast), Ross Clarke, Niva Dorell, and Marshall Tyler (directors) (2007). Skid Row (DVD).
  44. ^ "Ex-Fugee Pras Michel: Haiti earthquake aid not arriving fast enough – NY Daily News". Daily News. New York. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  45. ^ "Fugees' Pras Defends Endorsing Wyclef Jean's Haiti Presidential Rival, "We Need A Real Leader" [Video]". Sohh.com. August 7, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  46. ^ Lewis, Andrea (1999). "The Missed Message of Lauryn Hill – artist ushers hip-hop into the mainstream". The Progressive. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  47. ^ Brubaker, Ben. "Lauryn Hill: Post-modern Prophetic Hip-Hop Queen." Archived October 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine nolahope. May 11, 2007. Web. October 11, 2011.
  48. ^ "Fugees Announce Reunion Tour". Pitchfork. September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  49. ^ Kaufman, Gil (October 29, 2021). "Fugees Postpone Reunion Tour to Celebrate 25th Anniversary of 'The Score' – UPDATE". Billboard. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
  50. ^ Lavin, Will (January 21, 2022). "Fugees completely cancel 'The Score' 25th anniversary reunion tour". NME. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  51. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  52. ^ "Former Fugees member Pras charged with "conspiracy to defraud the United States government"". The FADER. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  53. ^ "13 Influential Artists Snubbed By The Rock Hall in Their First Year of Eligibility". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  54. ^ Foege, Alec (September 5, 1996). "The Fugees: Leaders of the New Cool". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  55. ^ Chiu, David. "Ruffhouse Records CEO Chris Schwartz On The Fugees, Lauryn Hill And His New Memoir". Forbes. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  56. ^ "Fugees Put Haiti on the Hip-Hop Map". Consequence. March 25, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  57. ^ Coffman, Tim (February 11, 2022). "20 albums that paved the way for alternative as we know it". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  58. ISBN 978-0-313-35759-6
    .
  59. ^ "Fugees: The Score". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  60. ^ Okwonga, Musa (February 12, 2021). "In 'The Score,' the Fugees Made Refugees the Heroes of an Epic Tale". The Ringer. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  61. ^ "For The Record: The Fugees 'The Score' At 25". GRAMMY.com. April 6, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  62. ^ MTV News Staff. "Fugees Producer Predicts Group Reunion". MTV News. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  63. ^ "CNN Programs – Showbiz Today". www.cnn.com. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  64. ^ "Wyclef Jean". Hollywood Bowl. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  65. ^ Bono (May 15, 2020). "Bono: 60 Songs That Saved My Life". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  66. ^ "8-Year-Old Drake Reciting "Ready Or Not" Is All Kinds Of Awesome". VIBE.com. January 29, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  67. ^ "Kanye West Influences". www.shmoop.com. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  68. ^ Scaggs, Austin (April 19, 2007). "Q&A: Akon". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  69. ISBN 978-0-85712-795-2
    .
  70. ^ "Young Thug's "Wyclef Jean" Video Is Weird & Awesome As F*ck". VIBE.com. January 17, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  71. ^ C, Jeff (January 15, 2013). "Bridgit Mendler Talks Fugees Influence On 'Ready Or Not' | popdirt.com". popdirt.com. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  72. ^ Watkins, Grouchy Greg (May 4, 2007). "Sean Kingston: Trenchtown Rap". AllHipHop. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  73. ^ "Ava Max Creates the Playlist of Her Life". Teen Vogue. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  74. ^ "Who Is Doja Cat's Mom? All About Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer". Gossip Cop. December 31, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  75. ^ "Bastille's Dan Smith Admits He's 'Surgically Attached' To His Phone". iHeartRadio. January 13, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  76. ^ Woods, Aleia (October 23, 2020). "The Kid LAROI Is on the Rise, Spotify's Third U.S. RADAR Artist". XXL Mag. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  77. ^ "Post Malone's Playlist: Kendrick Lamar, Dwight Yoakam, Nirvana & More". iHeart. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  78. ^ "DJ Khaled Details Upcoming Nas Collaboration In A Thank You Letter To The Fugees". The FADER. July 27, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  79. ^ "Diplo Lists The Twelve Albums That Inspired Him". www.okayplayer.com. January 19, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  80. ^ a b "The Fugees' Wyclef Reflects on 20th Anniversary of "The Score" – Music News – ABC News Radio". abcnewsradioonline.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  81. ^ "The Loves of His Life: Albumism's Daryl McIntosh Selects the 20 Albums He Can't Live Without". Albumism. September 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  82. ^ "Music Picks From Obama, McCain". NPR.org. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  83. ^ "The 200 Definitive Albums Of All Time Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 2007 at EIL.COM, home of Esprit International Limited". eil.com. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  84. ^ "Rocklist.net...Steve Parker...Rock and Roll Hall of Fame." www.rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  85. ^ McCall, Tris (March 16, 2012). "N.J. Rock & Pop Hall: The Fugees". nj. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  86. ^ "The Fugees, NYC, 1994". National Museum of African American History and Culture. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  87. ^ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 22, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  88. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.

External links