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Fugees

Fugees
Left to right: Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel
Left to right: Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel
Background information
Also known as
  • Tranzlator Crew
  • Refugee Camp
OriginSouth Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
DiscographyFugees discography
Years active
  • 1990–1998
  • 2004–2006
  • 2021–present
Labels
SpinoffsRefugee Camp All-Stars
Members
Websitethefugees.com

The Fugees (/ˈfuːdʒiːz/) were an American hip hop group formed in South Orange, New Jersey in 1990. The trio of Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel, and Lauryn Hill was known for their fusion of hip hop, reggae, R&B, and funk, their socially conscious lyrics, and use of live instrumentation during their performances.[3][4] Their sound stood apart during the gangsta rap-dominated era, as they became one of the most significant alternative hip hop acts.[5][6] Their name, derived from "refugees", referenced Jean's immigrant background, Michel's Haitian heritage, and themes of resilience in their music, which occasionally incorporated Haitian Creole.

After signing with Ruffhouse Records, an imprint of Columbia Records, in 1993, the Fugees released their debut album Blunted on Reality (1994). Initially met with modest sales, it gained traction as they built a reputation in local clubs and talent shows. Producer Salaam Remi remixed their songs "Nappy Heads" and "Vocab", with the former charting on the Billboard Hot 100, helping them gain underground recognition. Their second album, The Score (1996), was a massive commercial success, spawning the hit singles "Fu-Gee-La", "Ready or Not", and their reimagined version of "Killing Me Softly", which topped the charts in over 20 countries worldwide. The album peaked at number one on the Billboard 200, was certified 7× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards, making it only the second rap album to receive the honor.[7] According to The New York Times, its success placed the Fugees "at the forefront of pop music".[6]

At their peak, the Fugees collaborated with various artists, appearing on Simply Red's "Angel",[8] and releasing "Rumble in the Jungle", which featured Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest and John Forté, both of which reached the top five on the UK Singles Chart. They also collaborated with Bounty Killer on the rap opera single "Hip-Hopera". In 1997, they performed what was the largest staged concert in Haitian history, becoming one of the country's most significant musical events.[9] However, internal conflicts led to their disbandment later that year, with each member pursuing solo careers. They have reunited periodically,[10] including for tours and live performances, such as their appearance in Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2005).

The Fugees have won two Grammy Awards,[11] a Brit Award for International Group,[12] and the Medal of Honor from Haitian President René Préval.[13][14] They are frequently ranked among the greatest rap groups,[15] with Billboard stating that they "contributed to the diversification of Black identity in popular culture through potent rhymes that were equal parts conscious and commercially relevant".[16] VH1 named them among the 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Artists (2003).[17] The Score was included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums, while "Ready or Not" was recognized as one of the Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference allmusic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference coker was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Iverem, Esther (April 14, 1996). "THE FUGEES' ALIEN IDEAS". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  4. ^ VIBE (December 7, 2010). "What Wyclef's Learned From… Carlos Santana, The Roots, Rakim & More". VIBE.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  5. ^ "The Fugees: Leaders of the New Cool". Rolling Stone. September 5, 1996. Archived from the original on May 27, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Linden, Amy (May 26, 1996). "POP MUSIC;With Help From Roberta Flack, The Fugees Are Redefining Rap". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. 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. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  8. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. October 26, 1996.
  9. ^ Strauss, Neil (April 15, 1997). "For a Rap Leader, a Concert Grows Into a State Visit". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  10. ^ "The Fugees Reunite During Lauryn Hill's Set, Likely Last Time for a While". TMZ. June 4, 2023. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  11. ^ "Fugees". GRAMMY.com. November 23, 2020. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  12. ^ "History". BRIT Awards. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  13. ^ Greene, Meg (2000). Lauryn Hill. Infobase Learning. ISBN 978-1-4381-4101-5. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  14. ^ "Fugees / Radio Haiti Archive / Duke Digital Repository". Duke Digital Collections. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ 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. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  17. ^ "Rock On The Net: VH1: 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Artists". www.rockonthenet.com. Archived from the original on June 9, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
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