Reviews (page 11 of 14)
Mellow, it was ok.
It is good, just too much of the same thing IMO
Honestly I think the beats kinda blend together and the lyricism is a bit dull. Killing Me Softly is an all-timer though and I do appreciate Lauryn Hill. I’m a big fan of her Unplugged album.
Pretty good. Favourite song: The Beast Ready or Not, Zealots, and Killing Me Softly are great, too. I'm not a crazy fan of the super long sections where the band is talking normally. It makes it hard to listen to the music casually.
It was pretty good! I knew a few of the songs already which helped. I doubt I’d listen again, however Overall: 3/5
Killing me softly ♥️
COME BACK AND REVIEW THIS!!!
Enjoyed the big hits and Lauryn Hill’s vocals. Apart from The Mask, the rest I didn’t really care for.
I am slightly in two minds about this one. Overall I found it reasonably enjoyable and Lauryn Hill’s charisma makes for some solid tracks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag - interestingly I found some of their biggest hits didn’t necessarily gel with the general thrust of the album. But I think it’s worthy of a 3 rather than a 2.
This is where multiple artists seems to work for the most part and lots of styles complementing each other again mostly. More than just another rap album I would say on that basis as quite diverse. They have some strong songs in the mix in this album. "How many Mics" seemed very poor and in contrast to the rest of the album for me. Maybe I missed the joke or something. A very generous 3. I just feel typical for this genre is a checklist of how they must be. Just an echo of what came before. Least this has more artistic variation though.
thought id like it more but its just good
Chill hip hop for the most part. Killing Me Softly almost doesn't fit on the album.
Not as tight as "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" which I think managed to weave it's songs more consistently compared to this one here where they have many different sounds and moods, which are good and I like them but it just doesn't end up making music that stands out a whole lot to me. I mean it's best songs are basically the classics and the parts where Lauryn Hill just brings in a catchy hook or great bars, she's just more interesting than Wyclef or Pras which no wonder she made the groundbreaking album after this one. It's good but it could have been paired down into something much more consistent frankly
As an alternate to gangster rap I love it. Clear Haitian and reggae influences while still being clearly American cultural experiences. Seems stylistically an inspiration for Eminem, but that's just me. B side kinda bad.
Definitely deserves to be here. Wasn’t instantly impressive to me though - more of a grower to me
Not my thing. The songs I found compelling were just rearrangements and changes to the lyrics of great hit songs of the past. I enjoyed those songs, but the rest of the album seemed like filler to me. I suppose if you don’t know the original versions of these songs, you might think the Fugees are brilliant.
Ready or not and Killing me softly with his song were everywhere when this came out. They are still both great. I haven't heard the other songs before and while it is a mixed bad there are more songs than just those two that I like.
Un álbum que habla sin tapujos del racismo, del clasismo, del rechazo a la gente de los barrios y particularmente a los negros. Lo demuestra no solo en las letras crudas de “The Mask”, sino también en la poca producción de los temas. Producción muy natural y cruda enfocándose en las voces (destacando la de Lauryn Hill) y en el mensaje de las canciones. Las versiones de temas como la exitosa “Killing Me Softly With His Song” que aporta la balada R&B imprescindible de finales de los 90s y “No Woman, No Cry” completan un álbum que es imprescindible y pionero en el hip hop.
Interesting album. Lauryn Hill has such a great voice. “Fuck the sheriff, I shot John Wayne.” Classic. Love it.
This album was huge in 1996. Stylistic & rhythmic personification of cool. Their rendition/cover of "Killing Me Softly" received a ton of attention and was played...everywhere. "Ready or Not" is the best song on the album though.
The one hit that people know isn't representative of their sound. Enjoyed the album
A little bit mixed, when it was good it was really good, but also had some pretty bad wtf moments.
Meh
Decent
I liked No Woman, No Cry and Killing Me Softly.
I was hoping this would be better given the people involved and the reputation of the album but seemed a bit uninteresting for most of the album. Gets better towards the end.
Not really my thing, but probably more interesting to me now than if I had heard it when it came out. Now that this is "vintage" hip hop it has a bit more cachet.
3 stars The first few songs are great but the rest of the album didn’t impress me much. I may listen to again.
A classic. It's fine. 3/5
Liked the girl
Nice bit of hip hop 7/10
A nice departure from the rapid-fire style that my limited exposure tells me dominated at the time. Groovy, R&B style, comfortably sing-along while still hitting the same themes and realities. The interplay between the voices is fine-tuned.
I was never really a fan of the Fugees. I didn’t really appreciate the covers, for which they seemed to be lauded. I could’ve done without those. Although today, the album hit me in a better way. The lyrics were potent. And I couldn’t get enough of Fugee la-la. That was what made it for me. Still, I’m really not sure I’m ever gonna listen to this again by choice. It’s a solid 3.5.
This version of killing me softly is fantastic.
This one didn't really land with me. The similarity of the beats and tempos didn't really change from track to track — it got terribly repetitive. The dynamic between the three MCs also bore a similar flavor throughout, so while it presented a cool vibe and there were sections where I appreciated the unsyncopated delivery of the rap, I was tired of the record long before it finished.
Som wu- tang, fast snällare/mesigare. Lauren Hill räddar skivan. Bästa spår: Redy or not. Fu-Gee--La. Att samåka Enya och få det att låta bra är genialiskt. Trista val av covers; Killing me softly och No woman no cry.
Цей альбом справді культовий. У час коли він вийшов, він звучав дуже автентично. Це було вміло поєднання брейк-бітових бітів та семплів класичного R&B та соулу, що для знавців хіп-хопу вже давно асоціюється з фірмовим звучанням східного узбережжя. Проте попри культовість, зараз він місцями звучить нуднувато, бо на мою думку йому трохи бракує технічності у виконанні. Цей альбом в першу чергу був розрахований на комерційний успіх, тому пішов у бік спрощення на відміну від дебютника Blunted on Reality (1994). І будьмо чесними, зараз цей альбом слухається поціновувачами здебільшого як інтерлюдія до геніального альбому Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). Саме Lauryn була серцем Fugees та здебільшого завдяки їй The Score має усі ці лаври. Голос та подача Lauryn тут просто шикарні, слухаючи цей альбом вперше я спіймав себе на думці, що увесь час прослуховування я чекав на її партії й радів коли вони починались. З приводу текстів - він доволі різнобарвний, але як і личить хіп-хопу східного узбережжя тих часів - має свою «фірмову агресію» що вміло переплітається з іронією та сильними соціальними висловлюваннями. Цей альбом дійсно варто послухати для більш цільної картини тогочасної реп музики, але якщо ви хочете одразу перейти до охуєнного, вище вже написаний альбом Lauryn Hill.
I always feel like I don't have the right language to review hip hop but I'll try! Some cool beats, but, with hip hop, because I often struggle to relate to/engage with the words, I need some exciting things to be happening musically before I start to respond. First half of The Beast was a good example - loved the repeating musical motif. I didn't get the sweary last minute though, so it's not going on my playlist 😆 Fu-gee-la was probably my favourite, musically. Overall - a quality album; I understand the appeal, but too much rap for me personally. (I did go down an enjoyable rabbit hole investigating the sampled tracks on The Beast, which, I now know, include the Headhunters c.1975, as well as Millie Jackson c.1977. Fabulous! And a further rabbit hole has taken me to Millie Jackson's apparently infamously bad album cover designs. Recommend 🤣).
J'ai pas tout écouté mais j'ai pas détesté
j'aime pas trop le rnb (je déteste carrément même) mais il faut avouer que là c'est particulièrement bien fait
I knew I wasn't going to love 90s east coast jazzy instrumentals. However, they were more interesting than I thought and the flow / delivery on some tracks is great. I can see why it's viewed as a classic but I don't see myself returning to many of the tracks.
Way too much sampling in this one for me.
Good vibes, I think some songs are just a little bit long.
Interesting that they used samples of songs from this album on this album. Otherwise…
A few good songs, a lot of crap.
Pretty hit or miss for me, some standout tracks but a lot of the raps started to sound pretty samey. The themes and commentary were good but also not anything I haven't heard before
Liked it more than I thought I would. Lauryn Hill is really talented
I have listened to this album a handful of times for cred hoping I would eventually become hip with it best songs to me are their covers :P
3.0 - Ok
good album, definitely some good songs
Need to re-listen… Initial reaction is that it isn’t as good as Miseducation
I totally understand the historical importance of this album, but I found its listening experience a bit dull. Lots of highs and lows on this one.
This is pretty cool. Lauryn's voice just adds to this and puts it above others artists. The beats are good and very groovy. High 3
I'm not much into hip-hop, but I love how Lauryn Hill sings.
Love how the record flows between hard bars & a chill tone
I'm not much of hip hop person, but this was pretty good. 3*
There's certainly some fun samples going on in this r&b record, Killing Me Softly was really pretty good, I didn't realize that this was Lauren Hill singing. It's not for me but a pretty good 3 album with the samples and Lauren's voice was really good, and a nice cover of No Woman No Cry.
Mostly all enjoyable music. Did not enjoy the lyrical delivery though. Some choruses were catchy.
I would not ordinarily listen to hip hop but I really liked this album. It is very accessible for someone like me who does not listen to it normally. The covers were faithful but definitely still within the style of the rest of the album. Would listen again.
The Fugees put out a pretty good one with this album. A little reggae mixed in with hip-hop and r&b that bumps along quite chill-fully. I'm a fan of the trio but without Ms. Hill, they would be just mediocre. LH is by far the best lyricist and with her skills as a rapper and singer... she's a double hitter that carries the squad. Didn't like the guest emcee appearances and the skits were lame but record as a whole is solid and was a hit. "The Score" scores a 3.33.
I really like the "beats" or the instrumentation/ competition over witch the artists are singing. I also think the female vocals are very pleasant. I think this style of R&B/ Hip Hop is very relaxing to listen to.
Letting things go is easier than grasping onto something new. Cramping hands and aching neck. Prove that you can do it anyways. The only way out is through. One foot in front of the other. Look nowhere but ahead, focused and driven with head held high. Prove it to them, observers observed or not. Maybe stronger together can be something attainable. Prove it to yourself.
I know I’m probably gonna be in the minority here but I’m just not a huge fan of this album. I’ve always heard how good it is and maybe that played into some of my disappointment. Lauren Hill obviously has an amazing voice, killing me softly is a banger and I loved the no woman no cry cover but there were just a few too many songs that I was tuned out for. I know. Don’t @ me.
3+ Stars (9/15)
great voice
očekivo sam neka tipična rep niga sranja, no ovo je kvalitetno, raznovrsno, jako ugodno iznenađenje! iako nije moj đir uopće, neki su mi se dijelovi jako svidjeli
I've never listened to this whole album before, and I was hoping to really like it. I felt a little let down. It's just fine. The 2 best songs are covers.
Muy largo, pero tiene buenos hits.
It was fine, im glad i listened to it i might come back at some point, many songs i recognised which i didnr expect aa this is not my usual taste of music. All in all a good album
Fav: Killing Me Softly With His Song Least Fav: How Many Mics
3/5 Some very good songs but everything is too long. Not something I would keep on repeat. The filler is this album's biggest issue
Fun listen, but I didn't connect on a deeper level.
i got over them 10 years ago
Entertaining, with some fun takes on a couple of classic songs from the seventies. Parts feel overindulgent in the way a lot of rap from the nineties can feel today.
I knew this album made waves when it came out but I never listened for some reason. Not a perfect album, but it’s pretty great.
Have not listened to this in years and had forgotten how much I enjoyed it. Great beats and great lyrics delivered well without any b/s (apart from the skits).
Some pleasant songs
It was not my favorite style but it was well done and I can appreciate their skills.
Good 90s rap album, great time for the genre.
It was like more poetry singing type rap , not bad but I wouldn’t really re listen. I get it’s a classic album but I would really only re listen to 3 songs. Also there are like 30 NJ references and they are actually from south orange lol
3 maybe 4
A high point of the 90s r&b/hip-hop world. Laid back, chill beats. Showcase of Lauryn Hill’s versatility and good raps by the others. Solid listen
Ready or Not and Killing Me Softly are great. Some of the other songs are pretty good. But the interludes/skits kills it for me every time. All in all though it was fairly enjoyable.
So so
In spite of having Lauryn Hill, a great choice of beats and some particular ways of rapping and singing, I didn't really connect with this album, which is a shame for me
I was six when this album came out, and when Fugees dominated the Top 40 countdown I’d pretty much live by between the ages of six and twelve. Six was a difficult age, I think. I have this memory of being quite uncomfortable in an indoor playground, maybe 20 ft high at the time, holding a bottle of Panda Pop blue flavour – tired, grumpy. The Fugees is on, “Killing me softly”. Even then, under those most testing of conditions, I liked it. I liked “Ready or not” too, even memorised some of the rap. Later I’d like Lauryn Hill, and, against all odds, I’d like Wyclef’s early solo chart hits too. (Thankfully, this record is much, much better than Mr Jean’s solo work.) Of course, that memory isn’t of the tiredness or grumpiness, or even necessarily of Panda Pop, it’s of that solo vocal that opens the track. A generational voice, which feels fitting since it’s one of my earliest musical memories (Spice Girls’ “Wannabe”, released the same year, is another early memory; another strong emotional response that will, now I’m thinking about it, form the template of all excited future reactions to new music). 29 years later, the effect isn’t any less. Fugees may have been my first ever melancholy, which is to say that I heard them at exactly the moment I needed to. Six was a difficult age, but it was made easier by moments like that.
Hyped hip hop album with some chart topping hits.
Listen, if you’re going to make an album over an hour long, you need a reason. I don’t want to listen to the same style/beat over and over and over again, no matter how good it is. They’re a talented bunch for sure but I’m not really digging their rapping beats, even when the lyrics are excellent. Idk man, I feel like I should like this more than I do. Obviously I’m not their target audience, old white lady that I am, but that doesn’t stop me from loving on some other rap/hip hop albums. I think the whole rap/reggae vibe isn’t for me. I like reggae. I like SOME hardcore rap. But the overlying rap is kinda ruining the musical reggae vibe for me. This is a 2.5 for me. I’ll probably round up because I think it’s more a me problem than a them problem.
Enjoyable
the parts with her were awesome. needed more of that and less of the rest
This was so much better than expected. Always assumed Fugees would be like that soft, irritating RnB type sound, but this is so much better. A lot more rap and serious than I expected. Easily better than a lot of similar artists on this list. Feels daft giving it a 3 but it’s mainly as it’s not entirely my cuppa tea and I cant imagine rushing back. Very strong 3.5
Lots of good stuff on here, Fugees have a really good mix of talents and when it comes together it makes some good songs. The album suffers from a lot of the same issues as previous hip hop/R&B albums, too long, lots of pointless filler, repetitive use of samples and lines. Not sure no woman no cry is different enough to the original to warrant inclusion. That all said it was decent, none of the lines made me roll my eyes and it doesnt touch on any of the gangsta themes that plague other hip hop.
Nice album overall. Smooth rapping/singing, nice beats. I found it quite relaxing, which I don't think was the aim. Would have given it a 4, but I didn't know Killing Me Softly was a cover, so I'll knock it down. The rest of the tracks, even Ready or Not, don't hold a candle to it.
Visai fainai, siaip nera tokia muzika, kurios klausyciau, bet smagu isgirst classics
I know this album. Not my favorite, but I know it was very well received.
I recognize that this is interesting, competent music, but I can't enjoy listening to it while working. Too much to pay attention too. Would probably be great in a club or while driving.
Yllättävän hyvä! Kokonaisuus pysyi näpeissä koko ajan. Hittejäkin oli jopa kaksi, enpä tiennyt että ne oli tällasen bändin molemmat! Väkivaltaisen skitin olisi kyllä voinut jättää pois, mutta aikansa kuvaa se on (oikeesti mikä juttu toi oli). Tokalla kuuntelulla ehkä jopa 4.
Saumaton kokonaisuus, sopivan melodista samplausta ja - voiko tämän sanoa ääneen - "rento" ote. Ei ilmiselvää hittiä minun tietämättömään korvaani (I know), mutta luultavasti kuuntelisin levyn toistekin.
90s hip hop is a blind spot for me. It turns out I knew three songs off the album. This album could come out today and be a huge hit.
average
Strangely bearable, considering that it's not my thing
Album vraiment sympa à écouter, mais oh la la combien de reprises de fu gee la, et à la fin j’en suis un peu las… et il ma doucement tué 😉l’envie de mettre une quatrième étoile
Fint underholdt. Jeg er mere til sangene end til rap sektionerne. Det er ret langt.
Though it's not my usual genre, this was a fun album. It had a groove that kept me bopping. Some of the vocals were a bit.. silly? But I enjoyed it
Not bad, just made me wish I was listening to "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" instead though. Killing me Softly is a BOP though 7/10
Но вуман но край, а в остальном наверное тоже ничего
Pretty solid album overall.
This album has some good stuff and some stuff I don’t really care for. There are some solid tracks but a lot of stuff I can easily skip. Well produced, and Lauryn Hill has a great voice. Wyclef kinda gets on my nerves, and I can’t hear “killing me softly” without thinking of this perverted guy at summer Y camp insisting it was a song about pleasuring a woman, so…yeah.
It was okay..
im not really a lyrics-first music-second person usually, though like burger king, have it your way indeed it comes with some cool vibes and a likeable charm
What even was that chinese restaurant thing
Even though I don't use to listen to Reggae Rap, I loved the fusions they made in many of their songs. Is really chill and it just takes you there. However, I feel like after a while, feels kind of repetitive, but is kind of the thing with rap I guess, and is more abut the lyrics. It is good, but also not my style
⭐⭐⭐ 6/10 The album starts strong but then becomes dreary. After the weird intro the song 'How Many Mics' start with a great beat and nice flow making you think, I'm up for something good'. This feeling continues till the song Family Business. After this the soulful song 'Killing me softly' stalls this flow. The funk doesn't return afterwards and the album becomes hard to listen to with 'Cowboys' being the only nice song on the second half of the album. Would've given it 4 stars if the album weren't this long.
This is a good one for me to listen to, because my priors were: I don't like Lauryn Hill (based almost entirely on one song that was popular), I don't really like 'Killing Me Softly', and therefore, I don't like the* Fugees. Even though I know they're highly acclaimed! I know! But I do like Wyclef Jean! Am I a huge sexist? I mean, the data speaks for itself. Anyway, so I had the impression they were mostly slow jams, and they are not: they are mostly raps. For me, this is an upgrade. Also they make so many media references, and since this is 1995, I know them! The slur count is nonzero though, which is a (near-inevitable given the genre) downgrade. Highlights: 'Ready or Not', 'Fu-Gee-La' (hearing the 8000 remixes actually made me like it more and not less, especially the ~global~ one), the line "lyrics fast like Ramadan", 'The Mask', 'No Woman, No Cry', the fact that 'Outro' is basically spoken credits Retroactively obvious realisations: omg, 'Fugees' is short for 'refugees'! *OK apparently there is no "the" in their name, which is something I always find grammatically difficult (I think we had another band like this, although I forget who it is -- (the) Talking Heads, maybe?). Anyway, if I had said "I don't like Fugees", now that I know "Fugees" is short for "Refugees", that seems open to problematic interpretation, so I put the "the" even though it's wrong. l a n g u a g e
before this I only knew Wyclef Jean from Shakira's music. Pretty cool. First album from the year I was born!
Some really good tracks (that are ultimately cover songs) surrounded by some decent songs, but ultimately compared to hip hop records that came before and after this (including Lauryn Hill's solo) I don't undertstand the significance.
Not much to say. Pretty good 90's hip hop. Had heard a lot of the album before but never sat down to listen to the whole thing through. (5 known / 10 new)
Iconic- more rap, very concept driven and a commentary on society and how black culture is perceived
Okay.
7/10 Highlights: Ready or Not Family Business How Many Mics The Mask Zealots
Influential but not my fav
Already listened to it, I like it but I'm not a huge fan of Rnb. I recognize the greatness, it's just not for me.
The background beats are super catchy and definitely make you want to bop your head. I can totally see why these tracks have been sampled by many. It was cool to hear the "I Only Have Eyes For You" sample in "Zealots." I love the contrast between conversation and singing. All of the songs flow into one another too. The ending of "Family Business" which includes a more stripped down version of "Killing me Softly With His Song" leads into "Killing Me Softly With His Song", resulting in a more dramatic effect. It was also nice to hear a different twist on the songs that were remixed, one of my favorites was "Fu-Gee-La (Sly & Robbie Mix)." Overall the album is really groovy and great to listen to. Some parts were not much different and kind of sounded repeated but I loved it more than I thought.
1. red - 0 2. micz - 1.5 3. ready - 2.5 4. zealotz - 2 5. beazt - 0 6. fugeela - 2.5 7. family - 1.5 8. killing - 4 9. zcore - 3 10. mazk - 1 11. couuboyz - 0 12. cry - 1 13. manifezt - 1.5 14. camp - 1 15. robbiez - 1 16. mizta - 17. refugee -
Great hip hop album. Lauren Hill has a beautiful voice. Some outstanding lines in the album. Will listen to again. Hip hop isn’t my normal listen.
Very talented vocal artist. Still, I never could get into this álbum. Reminds me of friends hanging put and singing in the livingroom. 99% explicit.
I remember this being better in middle school.
classic 90's rap. golden
Jams
Det var ikke helt min kop te, dog var det et stykke musik som man ville kunne dykke ind i hvis man havde mere styr på musik komposition. Det har jeg ikke endu.
I liked 'How Many Mics' and its lyrics, and then I recognized the intro to Ready or Not and Killing Me Softly With His Song! I didn't realize Fugees was the creator behind these iconic songs.
Another good old school hip hop album with a lot songs that turned into samples for current day songs. Not too shabby
It's got a few good tracks bit it's dated a little
A pretty good album. Some classic hip-hop. yeah not bad but not much to say
Love when Lauren Hill is singing
I liked the singles and the 90s beats. It was too long though and the skits are always annoying
That was ok. Just a three though. Would not complain if someone put this on, but I would be thinking of someone else.
The songs were nice and sometimes very good. But man, the static crackling and talking/skits really drag down the quality.
The Good: The Score had an interesting cast of Bobby DeNiro, Ed Norton, Angela Basset and the great Marlon Brando! The Bad: Even with such a stellar cast, the movie didn’t meet expectations. The Ugly: This album is the same… I am no fan of hip-hop, and I try to do my best to keep an open mind when listening to any hip-hop album that appears on the list. So, The Score shows and my thoughts are “NOOOOOOOOOOO……” When this album originally came out, the mid-90s were going through some serious identity crisis. We had the OJ trial which divided society in half, and just like you have today, it seems that if you weren’t on the “OJ is innocent” side, well then you must be a racist pig. If you couldn’t appreciate the effort The Fugees put into the album, and how great they are, then dito, you must be a racist pig. And that is my problem with this album. It is too political, too polarizing, too much trying to be something instead of being something. But the album was successful across the board, even if 2 of the 3 hits were pretty much cover songs, and that is something that was impressive enough. So, 3* as this little pig doesn’t like to squeal!
Like the music, but almost are E
Couple really good songs. The rest is generic. Overrated album like Miseducation.
Growing up in the 90s, I was of course very familiar with the Fugees' hits. I can't say I had ever listened to the whole album before, though. The Score suffers from abundance. It's long, probably too long, and not just because of the skits. The skits should be the first to go. Not only do they interrupt the flow of what would otherwise be a pretty solid album, many of them did not age well. But, let's pretend the skits were removed, would this album be an "all timer?" I don't think so. To me, The Score is feast or famine. Either the track will blow you away or it will sound like most other tracks on the album and bore you a bit. Obviously the radio hits are classics deserving praise (though I don't find their cover of "No Woman, No Cry" particularly compelling), and there are a few other stand-out tracks, mostly in the first half. Though admittedly it could have been fatigue that made the second half lack for me. Finally, no disrespect to Wyclef Jean and...the other guy, but Lauryn Hill steals the show here. It's no wonder she went on to release a solo album that's probably on this list as well. The tracks that prominently feature her characteristic singing and rapping are usually the ones that stand out. At the end of the day, it's a 3-star album for me that probably could only be improved to 4-star if they'd cut about 15 minutes from it.
It's a pretty good album. Would I go out of my way to listen to it? Probably not. Would I keep it on if it came on? Most likely.
Somehow I had forgotten about the skits between tracks. I was happier before rediscovering them. There's clearly some great tracks here, but I don't think it's aged particularly well. The flow seems somehow stuck between oldschool and some newer more complex schemes, but I didn't enjoy coming back to this album.
It started to grow on me by the second half.
Loved Fu-Gee-La, The Score, and Ready or Not.
I liked this better than a lot of the early 90s hip-hop albums that have been on here 3.5
Another album I’d never listened to as I was only aware of a couple of Fugees singles which never really tempted me into listening to any more of their songs. Therefore I was fully expecting not to like this and find it a bit of a chore to get through. However I was pleasantly surprised that there were a few songs I thought were alright. A few listenable songs which I was not expecting. Ok my attention wasn’t quite held all the way through but far more than I thought it would.
Hip-Hop featurimg many samples used in the 90-s. Remembering of Cypress Hill.
Very samey to me. But I can appreciate the background beats and the structure of their rhymes. Everyone js talented and going for it. No songs off. That being said, I didn't really enjoy it that much. I respect it but won't listen again.
The beats, lyrics and samples were on point, but I could do without the skits. Highlights: How Many Mics, Ready or Not, The Score, The Mask.
The skits are unnecessary. It takes away from the rest of the album.
So, The Score is a mixed bag for me. There are some absolutely great songs like Ready Or Not, and Killing Me Softly. However, there's also a lot of just dull repetitive stuff like How Many Mics which drove me insane. I've realised that I mainly enjoyed the songs with Lauryn Hill as the lead, and the two guys ruin a lot of the album for me. Lauryn has a great voice which flows well with a smooth beat. 3 stars for the mixed bag.
adtam, de még meghallgatom úgy is hogy figyelek a szövegre, elvégre lehet hogy azért jön át nehezen a műfaj, mert eddig is így kellett volna
Mainstream agro RAP
I liked it well enough. I appreciate its importance.
An obviously classic hip hop album that’s inspired countless artists throughout the years following. For some unexplainable reason I still struggle to enjoy most female rappers, this isn’t an exception. Lots of good flow and lyricism, I particularly enjoyed the shot at newt Gingrich out of nowhere. Killing me softly deserved so much better. Three stars.
the beats are good but writing a song about police brutality and antiblackness only to follow it up with racism against chinese people is crazy
Meh. Heard it when it came out
Some nice ones but…
Fastande aldrig för Fugees när det begav sig. Det är inte dåligt. Men är inte såld på det lite soul-iga soundet. Låtarna lunkar på. Blir inte överlycklig av hitlåtarna heller. Men förstår att det absolut kan upplevas som episkt.
I was a mere 10 years old when this album came out, but the hits transported me back to a magical time in my life. Listening to the whole album through as an adult was a wildly different experience. While I did really enjoy the songs, especially the lyrics, the skits were really hard for me to get through. For me, they disrupted the flow of the album which I felt was created to be listened all the way through in succession.
5/10 - Ready or Not sounds like it is sampled by some random mid 2010s song. It also sounds like somebody's watching me inspired a song from the 2000s. The end of the Beast was crazy. It was just someone ordering some food and then they began fighting over the food, I guess. I cannot tell if I have just heard these songs before, these songs are samples or they are all sampled by other artists. There were some strongish songs and a bunch of songs I did not enjoy that much. I think the woman singing was the best parts of the whole thing. Its a 5 not because the songs are mid but because of the average.
I'm not nearly cool enough to like this album.
I love when I am surprised by an album! The Score by the Fugees was just that. It's an unexpected and powerful album. Lauryn Hill might be the strongest link here; when it was her turn, her songs were the best and were very impactful. I definitely paid more attention to her songs, and I sure was rewarded. The songs chosen for sampling seem unusual; older and unexpected songs were used. And several songs utilized a South Asian sound, which definitely set the Fugees' The Score apart.
"The Score" is just so unlike all the other hip-hop that was trending at the time. I guess that's why it's called alternative hip-hop. But in any case, there's an easiness about this hip-hop; it's oddly chill and easy to listen to. Each Fugees member brings something to the table, but it is my opinion that Lauryn Hill is the standout of the group, at least on this album. I feel like this is only supported by the general population due to the fact that two of her heavy features, "Ready or Not" and "Killing Me Softly with His Song" are far and away the group's most popular songs. Coming in at only their second album, it is so strange that such a successful album (one of THE most successful hip-hop albums of all time) would never get a follow-up. Nonetheless, all three members would go on to have their own relative solo success, a testament to their individual skills. I was pleasantly surprised by this album, and have no trouble understanding how this would go on to influence hip-hop artists for decades.
Pretty good
Meh, not into rap but it was catchy
Better than I remember. Skits are ultra annoying. Some bangers, some average
I wanted to like this a lot more. The blending of some songs with the skits I found to be a bit annoying. When the songs are good they're really good. But the balance tips too much toward annoying rather than good if you ask me.
Some great songs, the really weak between track skits are just.. not something I miss these days.... very hit or miss.
Cool! Definitely heard a few cuts off of this before, but never assembled an idea of who the Fugees are. Most of the album was forgettable, but there were quite a few awesome tracks. Loved the no woman, no cry cover and killing me softly. I could sense this album was stripped for stems in other, modern rap songs too
all the samples are really good
Not as bad as I was expecting.
An odd thing happened for me with the Fugees. When they came out I was a fan and really liked their groove. But with the boom in hip hop and the sort of vibe this band puts out I think they ... well, it is hard to put my finger on so I am going to go for it like this: I feel like they are in some way over-produced. Like they are "too perfect" and professional and there are no mistakes and everything is neat and clean. What I love about music is when it is "real" more raw and open and everything isn't perfect. Listening to this album it is like, "yeah it is good, but where is the ... like energy underneath it?" It misses the passion of what comes after in a lot of ways. I am blaming the packaging, the commercialization, NOT the band itself.
I like the flow and transition of the tracks, it works well. Unfortunately I can’t get into this genre in general. I’ve tried but it just hasn’t clicked with me. I didn’t mind giving the album a listen though. That being said, there were some memorable tracks that definitely had an impact. I’d give some of them another go. I’d rate it higher than other similar albums because the lyrics were more creative and Lauryn’s singing is powerful. Highlights: Ready or Not Killing Me Softly With His Song
Lots of great songs on this album - Killing Me Softly is an all-timer.
ok
Can’t go wrong with Lauryn Hill. Obviously heard this before but another chance to listen to it, hell yeah
It’s solid, but I still think hugely overrated.
3.5
90s hip hop at its best
The whole rap genre is generally not my thing and since I'm old enough to know the original, Wycliffe contributed nothing useful to Killing Me Softly. But Ready or Not and Fugee La are notable standouts.
Pretty impressive. One of the more enjoyable albums of this type I've listened to. Clear narrative and enjoyable interpretations of music and moments. I think I'd rate it three. Not for any particular personal enjoyment, but for it being a good example of an album with a good overall theme, that holds its voice well, and is damn interesting to listen to. I may listen to it again, I may not. *Shrugs* TBH only the 'killing me softly' song really took my heart and mind.
Lauren Hill is legit. I don't get as excited about The Score as a lot of people. But Lauren Hill's style and lyricism is undeniable. And she can sing! The whole Fugees package doesn't do much for me. But did I mention that Lauren Hill is awesome?
First listen Saved 6/13 Top track:
Good stuff, didn’t amaze me though. Maybe a deeper listen would change that
Nice record
3.5
Pretty good, for 1984
i've heard this one before niels and erik used to listen to it back in '96 before i went on my mission they also would listened to it in the car after the mission in '99-'00 i don't think i have purposely listened to the whole album before let's see.... after listening: i like some of the tracks - that acoustic one was horrendous though
Обычная рэпчина 90х, есть пару хитов, но они уже давно набили оскомину.
Lo mejor las versiones y las colaboraciones. Por lo demás sin interés especial.
Some of the verses on this album are really good, but others are confusing or downright bad. The mix of styles works good at points, but a lot of songs felt out of place on this project. The skits were annoying at times too. Not my style, but I can appreciate early hip-hop.
really wanted to give this one a higher score, but it just didn't do it all that much for me :/
I enjoyed this but I feel like it didn't all age super well. Lauryn Hill is unmistakably cool even when doing outdated stuff haha.
Paree ku odotin
I still don't get the whole "one time" thing on "Killing Me Softly", but otherwise this is a good listen. Lauryn Hill elevates it; both her rapping and her singing sound great. Forgot how good "Ready Or Not" was. A high three, bordering on four.
I like the hits - and a few other songs on here, like The Beast. But generally I’m not into hip hop. I think they should have left out all the skits between the songs. It adds nothing positive, and it works much better on Queens of the Stone Age’s Songs for the Deaf, where it’s supposed to be from a radio
NICE
Noteworthy songs - 808080808 Magical Dream - Kinda catchy synth, but the rest is bland. Ancodia - Good background noise. Cobra Bora - Actually kind of cool, reminds me of Bomberman Hero. Pacific 202 - N64 vibes, but melody isn't great. Donkey Doctor - Nothing too special, weird ending. 808080808 - Really cool beginning. A little slow in the middle but stays interesting enough. Sunrise - Nothing remarkable. The Fat Shadow - Eerie. Very short.
KILLING ME SOFTLY with this song
I like Jean's solo efforts much better, but this is not bad considering the genre. In a way, I feel like the Fugees saved rap/hip-hop from itself. Unlike so many others, it feels like they perform for the audience rather than each other.
I know it's probably wrong, but it's hard for me to rate this without comparing it to Lauryn Hill's solo work. I thought that since the Miseducation is one of my all-time favorites, I was gonna love this one too. But apart of the major hits, I didn't. The only parts are really enjoyed were the ones involving Lauryn Hill's singing or rapping. You can really hear how much she stood out from the rest of the group. The rest of the album was a bit boring and tiring to me. Maybe it's because I don't particularly enjoy reggae, which is everywhere on this album? Also, the lyrics were too heavily focused on the bragging. Yeah sometimes the rhymes were clever, but repeating how you're the greatest gets old really fast. The hits are amazing though, including the Roberta Flack song, which is a strong contender for the best cover of all time. All in all, it's not a bad album, it's fun and easy to listen to but I guess I had too high expectations. 3.5/5
Killing me softly is such a great song
If it wasn’t for Lauryn Hill this album might have just been a 90s conscious rap blip. Her singing really rose this album up above others. And she’s a great rapper to boot. The other two sounded pretty generic in my opinion. Not every song on here was amazing, but there was some really good stuff. I think Fu-Gee-La is the best song on here.
Was alright but don’t think i’d listen to again
Hip hop is not my genre but some these songs sound pretty good.
Hip hop, ready or not, and killing me softly with his song.
Not a rap fan. But this record actually had some melodies and more restrained lyrics. Not a lot of 4 letter words. Still not my cup of tea, but better than most.
so groovy and stylish
It seems really good but just isn't my fave
Dado o contexto que não nem um pouco entusiasta do Rap, esse álbum é bem agradável e variado. É bem mais melódico do que os raps mais tradicionais que são só rimaiada e batida forte.... Não ouviria por não ser fã de rap, mas se tiver que ouvir algo do tipo, que seja esse álbum.
Not big on explicit lyrics.
I really liked this more than I expected to. I could here the influences of Gil- Scott Heron. I will listen to it again reading the lyrics to get the full message.
Pleasantly surprised by this album. Obviously Hip-Hop is not in my wheelhouse but I found this to be creative, interesting, listenable , and quite musical. And I really like her voice.
Good samples, love that it feels like putting a record on and hanging out with your friends. One song flows to the next.
Tónlistin er góð en útvarpsleikritin sem oft eru inn á milli taka alveg helling af ánægjunni við heildarhlustun, finnst mér.
I liked them but today it was average.
Mediocre alternative HipHop. I liked some tracks more Like "Ready or Not" but probably won't relisten.
A good listen. Worth it just for the "Newt Gingrich sucks dick" lyric
This album sounds like the archetypal late 90s-mid 00s hip hop album, until you realize it was released in 1996. I’d argue that not all of this album holds up: the skits are distracting, the use of samples is a bit too in your face; but this album set the standard for almost all hip hop for years afterwards. I enjoyed this album a lot more than I remembered, and I really appreciated some of the songs I didn’t remember at all like “Manifest” and “Zealots”.
Enjoyable album, the original songs and the covers alike (although not so much the skits). I leave it to other more informed fans to say if it belongs on this list, but I'm happy to have heard it.
It’s been a long time since I’ve listened to this one, and I think I remember it more fondly than it deserves. Some high points on here for sure, but a lot of it is just ok. In hindsight it feels like less than the sum of its parts
Solid beats and nice rhymes. There are a couple really high moments (Ready or Not, Killing Me Softly, NWNC) and Ms. Hill’s voice is amazing. With that said, I felt like this dragged a bit and started to blend together. I think it could have used some editing (song length, maybe lose a few songs and cut the nonsense in between songs). Also, I hate when songs include a siren. Listening to this in the car made me jump thinking 5-0 was after me!
Kinda of a mixed reaction. Really like some, not a fan of some. Ultimately, I like the Fugees and I'm a huge fan of Lauren Hills voice when she sings.
90's R&B. Very creative melding of a number of different genres. I'm not a rap fan but this was interesting, good lyrics, great beat and solid melodies, if somewhat repetitive. Liked it much better than I thought I would though it's not going into the regular rotation.
Really enjoyable. This was really fresh and unique when it came out, and it has aged well. Rich and soulful but assertive vibe, with strong, fast flowing lyrics. The chemistry between Lauryn Hill, Wyclef and Pras absolutely crackles. Fave Songs: Killing Me Softly, Fu-Gee-La, Ready or Not, The Score, Family Business, The Beast
Good
Not as solid as I remember. It was a great album at the time, but probably a three from me now.
It is kinda crazy that people think of this as a world changing record when its two biggest singles are covers.
I enjoyed this album fairly well. The problem that I have with this is that I am not a big fan of the self-reference. It was jarring at times on this album and pulled me out of the music. I will try to listen to their later work and see if the relaxed and got some more self-confidence.
Kregen we even een paar top albums achter elkaar, nog zo'n 80 te gaan en we hebben evenveel nonrock als rock albums! Beetje melodische hiphop, best wel een klassiek album. Als iemand niet van hiphop houdt is dit denk ik het eerste album dat ik zou laten horen, het is zo op de lijn van R&B/hiphop/Reggae. Instrumentals zijn simpel maar daardoor wel echt chill en niet gedateerd. Killing me softly with his song is angelic en echt top, maar godsamme luister alsjeblieft naar Family Business daarvoor. Het einde is letterlijk Lauryn Hill die al Killing me Softly begint te zingen maar dan begint over Killing a sample. Hilarisch, loev dit. Verder is het album heel erg R&B-ig en vind ik zelf eigenlijk Miseducation het betere album van de twee. Vind Lauryn Hill gewoon toch echt een stuk beter dan Wyclef en Pras. De No Woman No cry cover is natuurlijk echt bij lange na niet zo goed als het origineel. Dat is ook een klein beetje mn issue met dit album, het luistert prettig weg, maar het is toch heel erg een soort van interpertatie van betere artiesten/ al bestaande hits. Ze krijgen van mij 3,5 ster, da kan niet, hebben ze pech dat ik het deze keer naar beneden afrond. FAVO: Ready or not, Zealots, fu-gee-la, Family Business, Killing me softly with his song, The Mask
Not bad actually
smooth listen won’t return much. downloaded 6,8&12
Red Intro - its ok feels kinda long How Many Mics - boring skip Ready or Not - ayoo speed. kind of boring Zealots - I love the beat, maybe a bit boring overal, but its good The beast - its boring and wth is that last part Fu-Gee-La - love this Family Business - beat is good but again it's boorring. maybe need another listen Killing me softly - know this one. Its good, but missing smth The Score - its not giving The Mask - same with every song, I love the vibe but I get bored listening to it Cowboys - I don't like this No Woman, No Cry - I like this Manifest/Outro - i like this aswell Overall thoughts: I love the production on this album. But it's not only about the beat, vocals and emotion matter too and it's kind of lacking in this album. Songs are a bit boring as the same beat plays for the whole song. I do have to admit that this album sounds like a complete project: every song matches with another plus I like the *beep* when there is like a talking part in a song. Rank: like a 7/10, maybe it'll change with another listen
2024-03-26...
Nice. The first of what I assume are many iconic rap and hip hop records in the 1001 mix. Solid for me as it had a strong sense of jazz and sort of the older school "crate-digger" sound to it. And Keys' voice!
I appreciate this album for its place history. Fugees were made up of all-stars, and their sound lead the groundwork for a panoply of new genres. Not what i'd put on normally, but good for my education.
Loved this, I had not listened to this since my childhood. It was one of the first cds I ever bought. it still sounds good today. Lots more filler than I remember. Favourite song: Ready or not Least favourite song: Album artwork: Cool
This was ubiquitous early on at university, and I remember bitterly preferring the similarly popular Pulp Fiction soundtrack. Coming back to this was enjoyable, and I can hear why the hits hit. Most curiously, it sounds sort of half-baked to me, thrown off, hits aside a bunch of skits and cassette demos polished with that immaculate nighttime, slightly dub sound the record sits in.
I remember listening to this album after it came out, and a few times since, and I was never really sold on it. Wyclef's production is always just kind of... meh. Lauryn Hill was the star of this album, her going solo was the best decision she ever made. Lots of one stars on here, with a few 4 or 5s, and I never heard of anyone that loves listening to skits over and over again.
solid entry, catchy beats. Is there a version without all the "talking" inbetween tracks? kind of kills the vibe each song works so hard to build
Every time I listen to this album, it brings me back to my choir era
Very corny but very fun. Lauryn Hill has an amazing voice, she kills every RnB song on the album. Also they censor every cuss word by backmasking the vocals WITH the instrumental, and that gets annoying. Best Song: Ready or Not Worst Song: Zealots Most Epic Hood: New Jersey Album Score: 7/10
Not the genre I would’ve listened to by myself, but the album is solid. Favourite songs: - Ready or not - Killing me softly with his song
I'm not savvy enough to understand how good this is. To me it sounds like a 70s influenced, movie soundtrack hip hop. It's good, but some hold up and others seem dated. Probably need to do more research to get the context. 3.4
Excellent flow, grooves, swagger. Cools bass lines, tons of character in the beats, singing from Lauryn Hill is so good, and flows from Wyclef and Pras are very smooth and natural sounding. Very nice listen. Three stars
I had no idea Ready or Not was from this album, but that's a banger. Lauryn Hill shitting on the mic literally in this one. HOLY SHIT. Is Fugees short for "Refugees" like Lauryn raps on Zealots? I never would have thought. Wikipedia can confirm. Wow. I never knew! Songs that use sirens piss me off when I'm driving. All the Star Wars references in The Beast make me wonder if George Lucas got the idea for Jar Jar Binks while listening to this album. The background music and beats on this album are nice. Kind of unique. The flow sounds like 90's hip hop. Getting Tribe and Diggable Planets vibes. That smooth flow interlaced with intelligence spewing and nerdy references. So 90's. Rappers these days gave up on that shit. They don't have anything to prove like the Fugee's did. The only thing I dislike about this album is all the skits. When I want to listen to music I want music. I don't want people talking to each other in between songs. If they're split out from the other songs, that's fine because I can skip them but when they're embedded at the end of songs, I don't like it. Aside from that this is a solid album. Killing Me Softly has always been a hit. The No Woman No Cry cover (coincidentally on this album after listening to Bob's version a few albums back) isn't bad but I guess I prefer Bob's version. Solid beats, solid intelligent lyrics, and overall a decent listen minus the skits.
Ok
Sure
First time hearing the whole album and not just the radio songs, really liked it. Lauryn Hill’s cover of Killing Me Softly remains the GOAT
Not really my taste, but quite nice nonetheless
"Noone ever knows who the third member is" a friend once told me when I couldn't name him, and like all great shame, the memory has cemented it into the forefront of my brain: Pras.
I respect how much they love movies, and I love how killing me softly with this song then become a major plot point in About a Boy 5 years later. Some great tracks/covers but a little inconsistent.
wish it was more
Not my genre but very listenable. The talking at the end of most songs got a little old. Liked the female voice of the trio.
I liked this band - how could you not? And Ready or Not and Killing Me Softly are undeniable bangers. Unfortunately, everything else sounds the same, so hard to get overly excited about it overall.
Solid production, perfect smoke session / cooking vibes. Bonus points for every member being involved in some sort of financial criminal mischief, get that bread.
It's not my style of rap, it's not bad though. I really digged the roleplay at the end of the Chinese restaurant song though lmao, 3/5
Not my style but not unpleasant either
Some iconic tracks, not familiar with the rest. I'd have to give it all another listen. Hill is really compelling. Notable Tracks: Ready Or Not, Fu-Gee-La, Killing Me Softly With His Song
If you could isolate all the bits that are Lauryn Hill in this album it would be absolutely brilliant. The music is great and her voice is simply stunning. Unfortunately, Wyclef rocks up every two minutes to ruin anything. Also, there's some of the worst skits I've ever heard on a hip hop album on here. But it gets a decent mark for the two big singles, which are both tremendous.
Began really really well and I was totally digging the use of samples and Hill's vocals but then I felt it got a little samey
loved the synths and rap combined with rnb vocals. this version of killing me softly sooo iconic 3.5/5
The two hits are killer but the album overall is also great.
Good stuff
surprisingly had SO much fun listening to this. new artist for me but was bopping. started with the famous ones: ready or not, fu-gee-la, killing me slowly, no woman no cry (bob marley cover)
As a sort of gateway record I suppose it's irrelevant whether (or not) this is credibly good. If it turned a few suburban kids on to eventually explore and buy from among the wider reaches of hip hop, maybe that's got some value? And of course, it provided the springboard for Lauren Hill to go massive. So fair play, but it's still pretty stilted.
Still sounds like the year I graduated high school. Some classics on here but the other B-sides still do a lot of nothing for me.
I appreciate it for what it is, but not my thing.
1. I don't want to listen to y'all fuckin' around with your darn skits get that shit outta my face. 2. Half the word count on this album is capital letter references to things/people/locations/events I do not know about. And while I do enjoy me a mind expanding exercise, it gets progressively more annoying listening to these tracks and having absolutely no clue what the fuck they're saying. Doesn't help that I didn't live the life, and didn't walk the walk, and don't talk the talk. These tracks highlight their lyrical flow very well, but leave something to be desired on the instrumental side. Some of these tracks are 4-5 minutes long, and a lot of the time no matter where you skip the bar too, you'll hear the same beat throughout. So I'm left to judge this thing by lyrics alone (which as I previously said -- are too cerebral for a plebeian like me to understand). "3/5 - Some of these tracks pumped, but I ain't listening to 'em again."
It took me a while to settle into it. I felt a bit irritated on and off but I finally found it. The groove was great throughout. I think my only issue with it is that I was listening to it too early in the day. Overall I like it. Good album.
Rap is more gentle. Much more singing. Love the structure and storyline. Keeps going. Would give it a 3.5.
Not my usual cup of tea enjoyable listen
Interesting music. Some reggae, some rap and some old tunes done in rap and reggae. Worth listening to. Talented artists.
Rap/Hip-Hop Can be hit or miss for me and typically is not "work appropriate" which is where I usually have albums playing. Having said that, I listened and home was was impressed with the variety of styles present on this album.
Ms. Lauryn Hill at her best.
Ok but not my thing.
Entertaining but a lot of chatter between songs.
At times the rapping seems really repetitive(same rhythms) which wears me out a bit with so much of it on the album. Singing is great and Lauryn slays(no surprise).
lots of samples id heard but never the originals, clean production, beautiful harmonies
The songs I like I really like, but most of the album is not for me
Boy, does this album bring me back. I kind of forgot how many of the lyrics are explicit. But I do love a young Lauryn Hill.
It's fine.
I'm sure it's good, but it's not for me personally.
Not my style
Legendary, but not my taste
Not a big fan of rap, but this feels smoother than most 90s rap I've heard.
not for me
Not my genre at all, but I can totally get why this must be a legendary album. Even I knew many of the songs like killing me softly or gangsters paradise that have widely been used in popculture. Also nice version of no woman, no cry. I also want to mention that the choices of songs to sample from to get some melodic parts was excellent, even though I prefer the originals (cymande!!!) Almost always there is a skit before/ after the song so it really is an album that you would have to hear from start to finish in it's entirety and is not suited for modern, jumpy, Spotify listening.
One of my favourites
Good
Some great songs, some average
Not bad, didn't mind it. Not usually my kind of thing.
Really great stuff at times but too long and chorus too repetitive at times
Ok for this style, good production. 5 rated
Zealots is so underrated, definitely one of my favorite songs. The group complement each other’s voices well. Lauryn in particular is a gem with that timbre, lyricism, and both singing and rapping ability. But I think the album is a little uneven/does not constantly hold my attention like the best tracks do.
Un sólido 3.
Killing me softly is a classic for a reason. A good album, though some of the skits run too long. Mista mista by far the worst song.