Reviews (page 5 of 14)
Very powerful. Very angry. Very assured. One track flows through to another with a killer beat. Feel like I shouldn't be listening to this and allowed to enjoy this but it's so so good.
I have enjoyed this album since its release. There is still a lot that I really love here...but I probably wouldn't love it as much now, if this was my first listen. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean...I am a big fan of both!!
Excellent hip-hop. L Hill's voice is to die for.
It's really nice to have a female voice after all the male hip-hop/rap groups we've heard. Lots of great rhymes and fun references scattered throughout. Some nice musical sampling. And the really great cover of "Killing Me Softly With His Song." Not all fun and games with a lot of topical subjects. I enjoyed this quite a bit.
A classic through and through
What the Fugees are putting out isn't quite what I gravitate to: For example, I remember listening to Lauryn Hill's solo album and bouncing off the reported greatness somewhat. For a few tracks, I was worried the same thing happened here, but it sounds so current, with such spacious and interesting beats, that I can't help but be sucked in. On top of the contemporary sound, there's the insane influence this album has had. On plenty that I don't love, sure, but the source is on another level.
One listen to The Score by Fugees and you would immediately understand why. Why, for the past twenty-five plus years, fans of hip-hop and all genres of music essentially clamor for any crumb of material from the trio that turned everything upside down with their sophomore masterstroke. In a time where alienation, coastal divide and violence reined supreme, three MCs took it upon themselves to not only step up to the best of them but obliterate any doubt in the process. The Score is, perhaps, the prime example of lightning in a bottle; a moment in time that can neither be duplicated nor repeated. And, with that, you will understand why.
This is an incredibly produced album. Most of that was done by the group itself. I never understood why they were called Fugees until you listen to the theme of the album.
Lauryn Hill’s insane vocals and production skills make The Score one of the all-time great hip hop albums. 5 stars
Flawless.
Great album
Forgot to listen yesterday so no big review, but I loved this album
I must have owned this cd 20 times. What a perfect hip hop album. Never gets old
Essential Hip Hop
A higlight in hip-hop, I’d say
Maan... banger album och det funkr så bra som helhet.... jag älskar så gott som allt med det!
I had heard a song or two, some samples and a bunch of references but never listened to a whole album. This is right up my alley, though. The social commentary here is almost 30 years old and still holds up. Lauryn Hill is a poet warrior goddess. The Newt Gingrich dunk made me laugh out loud alone in my apartment. That Chinese restaurant skit is an instant classic. Phenomenal album, will be returning.
loved it already
👌 clássico
classic
o hip hop é foda
This is the type of album that for better or worse hugely influenced everything that came after it, still soulful and great, love it
One of the all time great hip hop albums. Lauryn Hill is the stand out in this masterpiece.
Holy cow - first time hearing this record. I’m so lucky to get to experience it brand new, but also so sad I haven’t had this in my life for so long.
A true treasure!
Geeente, julgando pela capa, já passou uma super vibe Muy buenoooo!
Adore Lauryn Hill and the nonstop bops of this album. I’m not a skit girl and some of them activated my fight or flight but didn’t take away from how much this album slaps
Muito bom!
Pure nostalgia. I'm pretty sure The Score was my intro to Hip-Hop (or at least Wyclef, Lauryn and Pras). // I play my enemies like a game of chess //
Aight this thing doesnt need to tell me to listen to The Score. Absolute classic that has never left my rotation.
They stepped up for their 2nd album. Great production, lyrics and flow
Incredible hip hop album. Now one of my favorites of all-time.
Classic.
I listened to Blunted on Reality first in preparation and I thought that was such a cool album - 10/10 favorite song was Vocab, what cool instrumentals for an old school hip hop song and now I just finished The Score and I think it’s crazy how they managed to make an even better album than before this is also a banger 10/10 over the tragically short discography of Fugees has some of the best production, verses, and overall execution of any old school rap I’ve ever heard would highly recommend you hear these two great albums i’m gonna try to look for any other stuff they’ve made also a huge plus is that you can hear a woman that can actually rap, and she raps damn good
Best!
5/5 - love this album
nice
Great album
Sooooo ducking good
Nice lil album
Great album, nice to listen to in one go
A modern classic. 6 stars.
this was my go to album in secondary school when it was the in thing for everyone to listen to rap music. i got the reverend to put it on once on a long car journey and it was at that point that i realised the levels of choice language in it. the outro did not go down well. this is a hell of a lot better than i remember it being.
Was tempted to give this a 1 star review purely to spite them for their tardiness in turning up for gigs. But then it's so, so good. It's in the top 10, maybe top 5, hip hop albums of all time in my very humble opinion. Ms. Hill is criminally underrated as a rapper too. Maybe that's because she's a woman, or maybe it's because she never turns up to her fucking shows on time.
After 150+ albums there have been many that I've been familiar with and a handful or so that I've owned but this is the first that I knew every second of, back and forth. I love this album. I really enjoyed and had sentimental ties to the first Fugees album and remember the anticipation for The Score. It exceeded all expectations by miles and for me it is a top ten hip-hop album of the 90s if not all-time. Dynamic production in a variety of styles, intelligent and purposeful lyrics, and great interaction and balance between group members. Everything that Lauryn does on this album is remarkable - vocals and lyrics. While Killing Me Softly does stick out a bit from the rest of the album it is also beautiful in it's simplicity and still adds value to the whole album that already has a classic hit on almost every other track. The in-between songs are also strong without exception and there's no filler. My only criticism would be with the skits but they tie together and preview the upcoming songs along with keeping with the style of groups like ATCQ, De La Soul, etc. The album is a great transition and contrast from the more violent and vulgar hip-hop that was popular in the mid-90s. The sound still holds up today, 25 years later. I've listened through this dozens of times and would every time, any time without hesitation. It's unfortunate that this would be their last album as a group but they nailed it and secured an absolute all-timer.
Lyrics+music+sound is just chefs kiss
Classic. Fuck the outro.
Yo-da-lay-heeeee… Impressive production by the Fugees. Plenty of engaging tracks which more than make up for the less gripping ones. I’m not gonna pretend I’ve yet caught or processed even a quarter of the lyrics, but there are some great beats and sweet reggae fusion. Five bags of popcorn.
Amazing
I've listened to album a bunch over my life. Personally, I wasn't quite sure how to rate it. I was thinking it was maybe a 4, but I've had so much fun and enjoyment out of this album that it is a true classic to me.
This was awesome!
An absolute classic
the production and the vibe of this is stellar. great rapping and vocals, and all the performers work really well together. My biggest criticism is that the skits slow down the momentum, and the album didn’t feel super cohesive. 9/10
Really great album. Slightly long but the beats, lyrics, vocals, and hooks are all so good. 9/10
I don't know the last time I had listened to this album start to finish and it was so much more than I remember it being. This definitely belongs on the list.
Cant give 10 stars
Incredible. Sad that it would be impossible to stay up late enough to see Lauren hill now.
Masterpiece. Some of the best songs of the decade are on here. Lauryn Hill is a GENIUS!!!
Great Album
Rating: 10/10
Brilliant. Full of great songs. Worth powering through some of the weirder skits but just par for the course at the time I guess.
Amazing mood and lyrics.
For me, this album just encapsulates all the goodness of 90s R&B
this shit go hard
Ya lo conocia y es excelente
Album art: 2
Amazing. Never heard it before and will definitely get a lot more runs. Loved it.
Love the vocals from Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean in this album. Very unique and loved the samples that were used. Very iconic songs and very comforting. This album had an almost edgy-like feel to it. Highly recommend listening to it.
From the get-go one of the greatest hip hop albums I've ever heard. Absolutely blown away.
Historic, influential, landmark.
This was played so much growing up.
Makes me want to wander the streets of a large city, drinking in all the sights, sounds, smells, and feels. The reggae tones are vibrant. I'm now reminiscing about my early days when I first discovered Marley.
Didn’t get all the way through it but it’s an album I’m familiar enough with. Stone cold classic
The best album this list has churned up so far by a very long way. Its so good I forgive the length and the interludes.
This album has aged really well. Some tracks wouldn't be out of place on the airwaves if commercial radio.
Even better than I remembered
Cracking
Amazing album with some classics
I didn't finish it yet, but this a great hip-hop/soul album. Unbelievable that I didn't know it until today. Thank you 1001albumsgenerator!
The Score is the second and final studio album by the hip hop trio Fugees. Upon its release, The Score was a commercial success, peaking at the number one spot on both the Billboard 200, and the Top R&B/Hip-hop Albums chart (it was a number one album on the latter in 1996 on the year-end chart), becoming the third best selling album of 1996. With an estimated 22 million copies sold worldwide,[3] the album has become one of the best-selling albums of all time, at the time of its release it became the best selling hip hop album of all time,[4] while it remains the best selling album by a hip hop group.[5] The Score was nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, becoming the second rap album to receive a nomination and the first for a hip hop group
Haha 10/10 easily. This is arguably one of the best hip hop albums of all time for me. This will be required listening for kids if I had them. It's a complete album - front to back - this is a weird comparison, but like Dark Side, it's an experience with perfect songs that radio can pull out. It is hard to start but ideas that come to mind are : Lauren Hill Band that is loving playing music together Awesome samples and uses of them 90s poetry infused verses (makes references stand up to time and interesting) Amazing Interludes (you want beef?!) Arguments for Praz being crucial to the Fugees Wyclef Genius Maybe my favorite singing part in a hip hop song to belt out of all time? (more later) Boom Bap LAUREN at her best? Best Songs : 1) Killing me Softly Talk to me about 3:12+! Probably my favorite rap singing part ever to sing out loud doing Lauren's part? Even the later parts are good where they just talk and riff. Then! (below) 2) The Score I just like the way this one sounds mostly - New Yorkish - bassline - also, they sample themselves in it (amongst lots of other cool stuff) 3) The Mask - I honestly had this at 2 earlier, but I got caught up in the post Killing Softly hype and rolled with it. I am a sucker for songs that spell things for one - for 2 - I walk the streets and camouflage my identity. Also I am wearing the mask a lot. Also what happened to Steve, really? Mixing, creativity, band vibe : all on point. 10/10 all around.
Wow I finally see why this is so popular
i finally get it! i wasn’t old enough before
Love this, excellent songs and kept my interest throughout. The three of them have a nice dynamic that keeps the songs moving. Lots of great samples. My only complaint is the bonus tracks, not needed.
Perfect
Love the Fugees
Amazing beats and samples, rhythms are also tight
This album rules. I did not know there were so many hits on this one and I was surprised by how many songs I recognized but didn’t know were them. I think I listened to this album 3 times over the weekend! So good
Lauryn Hill is massively underrated
10/10 Intense, smooth af Damn
Amazing
Iconic tunes in there
Certified Classic . An album to study . Sample selection is crazy
Tätä tuli siskon kanssa kuunneltua moneen otteeseen aikoinaan ja edelleen toimii kuin häkä.
The singles are the keepers, but also top quality for How Many Mics, Zealots, Score, Mask and No Woman. Not much filler. Remixes are forgettable.
Amazing samples, super unique rap album. Giving it a 4 for now, but this might go up. And it did!
A bit dated, and a bit overrated, but its hard to argue against melodies, lyrics, and beats this good. A tad overlong, but some stone-cold classics make up for that ("Ready or Not," "Fu-Gee-La," their superior cover of "Killing Me Softly." Also crazy to hear a rap album with actually funny skits!
This album really hit on my night drive and I thought it was great
So good. However, a little too much fluff, a few too many men.
Solid
Great album.
Pretty solid to this day, aged pretty well compared to some other hip-hop/rap albums of the 90s. Vocals and production quality are really good. The rhymes were decent, some good some weak, but overall a very listenable album.
Me ha gustado mucho. No lo conocía, y obviamente es un clásico. Tiene varias canciones que conocía, pero es que además es muy variado, muy noventero. Gran descubrimiento.
- ezen van a Ready or not, here I go lalala - fasza klasszik hip-hop groove
Undeniable hip hop classic. I feel like The Score was one of the great leaps forward for moving the sound forward.
Only halfway listening through this, this morning, but obviously this is a monster of an album. I know for sure at the very least it deserves strong 4 stars, it's an amazing work of Hip Hop, greatly produced, great influences and for me, this is Hip Hop at its best. WE will see if it can reach top marks, but probably clear 4.5 on RYM.
Love this album overall. The Fugees were a monumental hip-hop group that did so much crossover with the genres they loved and so much more. It's sometimes a lot to take in, and some of the sketches are a bit obnoxious, but they were writing the equivalent of literature for Black culture and socially contentious and marginalized youth alike. That production is so thick and juicy, and so hard to resist. Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill in particular cemented themselves as R&B/hip-hop legends with this. There’s lots of real instrumentation and vinyl scratching, not just sampling. "Ready or Not" is simply a classic, and I love the experimental hip-hop of tracks like "The Mask" and the title track. That cover of "Killing Me Softly"? Mythical. Classic stuff. I wish I could enjoy this more, but it'll require repeated listens over time, like any great book. 4 stars.
Geniuenly nice
Fikk ikke hørt feridg, men dette var jo klassisk og definerende hip-hip/pop. kjempekult!
Dette er musikk jeg kan sette pris på, klassealbum. en sterk 4-er
I never realized how common it is for covers to get so popular that people never learn who made the original song, or better yet, even learn that the song is a cover in the first place. I could name three Bob Dylan songs with covers that are more popular than the original song. That being said, it damn-near overshadowed the whole album. Not to discount Wyclef Jean, but this group has a very clear star of the show. The whole album is pretty good, but the cover of Killing Me Softly and Manifest are the best. This would probably be higher if I were more in the mood for this kind of rap, but it's still really good.
Great, just really long
EL FLOW ES DE OTRO UNIVERSO me encantó
Vraiment pas fan, hiphop
Really top songs on there but couldn’t capture me all the way through
3.5
This is a pretty good album. Holds up well in the 30 years since release. Ready or Not is a 90s classic and deservedly so. The samples are great too. Shame they didn't manage to keep going and much else that was anywhere near as meaningful. Excellent stuff.
Oh hell yeah Fave track: Killing Me Softly With His Song
Great album. Killing Me Softly - incredible. There are skit versions of several tracks - that play before the actual song. Why? 4/5
Would've given this the full 5 if not for some of the skits. Still plenty of great songs on here but for some reason all 90s hip hop albums were required to have annoying skits tacked onto the ends of songs which completely ruin the flow. But this does have Ready or Not, Fu-Gee-La and Killing Me Softly on it so I can only complain so much.
Classic
топ
This album was really great, I liked the stylistic choices and the confidence coming from the singers, it has a vibe and I lowkey wanna relisten again someday, the production was nice too and they had plenty of interesting beats and samples
Lauryn Hill truly makes this album. Great melodies and rhythms, with a couple of dated skits here and there. A classic! Rating: 8/10 Favorite Song: Killing me Softly, Fu-gee-la, ready or not
This just sneaks into a 4 star review as the highs are very high! Following the commercial flop of their debut, they really forged a unique sound here that has oft been copied since with Lauryn Hill's fantastic voice at the helm and some sharp production. It is overly long though and I feel a trim here would have really made a huge difference! It's mad that they never followed this up!
A very strong hip hop album. Sharp and witty throughout, as good rap should be. Just short of the all-time greats in the genre in my opinion. 4/5
Great boombap, great bars. Shocked this is sort of their only “album”, given the influence
I was not really interested in listening to this when I saw it in my shuffle, I don't really like Lauryn Hill and the only thing I knew going in is that she was a part of the Fugees. But honestly once you get into the meat and potatoes of the album it's really solid, there's a lot of cool beats and flows on here. I do think there are still some songs that feel really long, especially towards the beginning, but it was a lot more enjoyable than I thought it was going to be. Favorites: Zealots, The Score, The Mask
Ready or Not, this album is ready for you to listen.
Ready or not, Killing me softly with his song, No woman no cry, and Fu-Gee-La ... this album is iconic. So many bangers.
Historic album. I haven't heard any hip hop at all when I was young, so it will always seem to me like an alien genre, but this album has so many different elements, samples, and lyrics it grabs you in. The sampling rabbit holes can make you make a big trip into the past... A tribe called quest to Rotary connection 'Memory Band', then you've got Roberta Flack and Lori Lieberman, and more and more beats to create THE version of 'Killing Me Softly' that everybody knows... One time, two times. Samplying Enya in a hip hop album is quite a feat. It's like taking great music moments from XX century and make a better version of all of them.
Hip-Hop, außer "killing me softly" habe ich davon noch nichts gekannt. Gefällt mir aber.
incredible album, incredible trio. unbelievable that all these great songs were from the same album.
Aivan todella kovaa tarinankerrontaa kappale kappaleen perään! Oli tosi lähellä ettei saanu viittä tähtee, mut jokin esti sen tällä kertaa. Viis tähtee ehkä seuraavalla kuuntelulla?
this really is a fantastic album, lots of highlights throughout
Love it
leuk!
heerlijk !!
i think pras is kind of a nothing burger on this album but Wyclef is great on the hooks and Lauryn Hill is of course great overall. Full of bops and bangers.
Really interesting use of samples and beats. It's really engaging. Great rhymes and flow. It's length is what's dragging the album down. It's just too long. (I listened to the copy with some bonus tracks, but I was feeling it even before I got to the end of the regular edition tracks) Standouts for me are "Ready or Not," "Zealots" - the rap integration with the "Only Have Eyes For You" sample is fantastic - and "Killing Me Softly." Super strong album though. Easily 4 stars verging on 5 for me.
I should listen to this several more times.
First Listen Favorites: Zealots Ready or Not Fu-Gee-La Honorable Mentions: Killing Me Softly With His Song Manifest
Good flow cool people very nice and clean
4.5
Really enjoyable and that's coming from not the biggest hip hop fan.
Well made, intelligent hip hop. Did not need to be 77 minutes long.
How the hell have I not listened to this album until now
Amazing! I want to listen to this album again. The sampling, the little conversations, the rapping. Kept coming back to the same idea that Kanye must have listened to this album a lot. Felt similar to Late Registration in some ways
Really amazing production and sampling. I especially love the covers
Really good rap album—Lauryn Hill is great on it. I don't love the crude language but what are you gonna do.
Red intro - na How many mics - 3 Ready or not - 4 Zealots - 3 The beast - 2 Fu-gee-la - 4 Family business - 3 Killing me softly with his song - 5 The score - 4 The mask - 4 Cowboys - 4 No woman, no cry - 4 Manifest / outro - 3
Very nice album, diverse songs, a's some really funny segme ts in between. Several really strong tracks
a bit too minimal in the backgroud, but still some banger tracks
interessting, experimentel, but some interludes are annoying
Some absolute banger songs, the skits are super annoying, though.
Ms. Lauryn carried, great listen with some bangers I didn't realize were from this album
Ambientação muito foda. Gosto da "divisão" entre as músicas da Lauryn Hill e do Wyclef e Pras, desenvolve identidades diferentes pra cada um mesmo sendo do mesmo estilo. Os efeitos de disco e foreshadowing de tracks futuras também são muito legais
This album is too cool
Miseducation so thoroughly replaced this in my shuffle that I forgot how much great stuff is on this, beyond the mega-hits.
I got a bit out of touch with Hip Hop over the last few years simply because I dived more into the Rock genres especially and discovered lots of great stuff there. My hopes are that my connection to Hip Hop gets stronger again with this project and my first album is this classic. The Score builds a lot on samples and that approach works great here. I loved the beats they give very relaxed vibes and set the tone for a smooth sounding record. Every member of the Fugees really shines on there and their talent comes to full display. Not the kind of album where I would play many individual songs but as a whole it works really good for me. Also good work with the covers, chosen fitting interesting songs and implemented flawlessly. 3,9/5
Absolutely iconic album. The balance of Pras, wyclef and Lauren hill is amazing. Her voice just makes the raps so much stronger. Some of the skits were a little outdated
This was actually pretty good.
Me gusta el hip hop
I'm really impressed by this one, more so than I thought I was going to be. The rapping and singing work well with the samples and I can definitely see why this is in the list.
vibe-y old school hiphop plaat. Klinkt alsof de coolste mensen die je kent de coolste muziek maken en daar zelf heel chill over zijn.
Insane
I am not as good at analyzing rap, but album nice. Fuck Newt Gingrich.
Dieses Album lief in meiner Kindheit immer im Auto meiner Mutter rauf und runter und deshalb klingt es so nostalgisch für mich. Die Beats sind alle total cool und die Lyrics sind genial aber mittlerweile catched es mich irgendwie nicht so wie früher, ich weiß nicht woran das liegt...
Good beats, good rhymes, good humor, pissed off and still-relevant messages about vice and oppression. Didn't know Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean were part of this group! Heaps of talent in a hip hop outfit that stood out with more socially conscious music among their gangsta contemporaries.
One of my brother's favorite albums. Don't listen to it as much as I should. Everytime I do, I forget how damn funky and enjoyable it is.
Pas le temps de tout écouter mais au moins 3-4 grands classiques, le reste a réécouter
I’ve been meaning to listen to more hiphop & rap and this absolutely ensured I’d do just that. The lyricism is incredible and I’m a sucker for the transitions between the tracks. The songs are cohesive and memorable and I’m really fond of it. Definitely something I’ll revisit in the future
Really enjoyed
SO fucking good. I’m glad I held off on a listen until the atmosphere called to me. Bopped around Seattle, on a perfect weather walk, with Lauryn in my ear
not like
Iconic cover of Killing Me Softly
Love Lauryn Hill! Fave song had to be the Mask though
Great stuff
wow this is great
The album is packed with tubes (but mostly covers) and overall a real pleasure to listen to. Favorite songs: Ready or not ; Fu-Gee-La ; Killing Me Softly ; No Woman, No Cry ;
Siento que este disco está lleno de samples que escuché en otros discos más nuevos, o que usan samples de las mismas canciones que esos discos. Quizá es un disco que sirvió de inspiración para muchos productores de principios de los 2000?
All flowed together. Lots of Wyclef Jean and Ms. Lauren Hill. Ready or not, here I come and Killing me softly with his somg
Man, the Fugees can GET it! A solid hip hop album with a few differing style pulled together in a great blend.
Rating: ⭐️4/5 Favorite Tracks: Ready or Not, Fu-Gee-La, Zealots Verdict: Unlike most other hip-hop/rap albums I’ve listened to. Lauryn Hill’s vocals, the clever rapping of Pras + Wyclef Jean, and jazz influences really elevate this album. Lauryn Hill’s spotlight piece ‘Killing Me Softly’ is also very good as well as Wyclef Jean’s song ‘No Woman, No Cry’. However, I thought the album dragged a bit so some tracks like ‘Mista, Mista’ could have been cut, which felt unnecessary.
An undeniable record.
An exalted display of 90s hip-hop, brimming with talent, potential and ambition on every track. And then there are skits for some reason.
Great, had no idea that some of these songs came off this album (or at least the versions I know best) . Seemed to fly by which is always good for hip hop, which usually drags for me unless filled with bangers, I guess owing to the variety of spoken/singing
Heard several of the tracks on here already but even the ones I hadn’t heard slapped, still not loving the skits and outros on these 90s rap albums but not enough to make this down much 4
wish i could give it a 3.5 at the moment. feels like it might be a 4 as i listen more but i’m just following my heart with the 3.5
Really good vibes and it’s cool and there are some real strong songs here. The only thing working against this album is that it’s the same drum sample the whole record. Killing me softly and ready or not are obvious bangers, the rest are all great too. Just get tired of that drum sample.
Really liked this one! It’s firmly rooted in 90s-style stripped down beats, but in the raps you can hear the melodic singing style that would become more prevalent in the 21st century. While Hill’s the star of the show and made an even bigger name for herself outside the group, I still really dig the Caribbean influence on some of the songs, no doubt attributable to the other members’ Haitian heritage.
Cool, smooth, intelligent. I didn’t particularly enjoy what was popular in the 1990s, but this was the exception. So good. 4.5?
7/10 Some of the songs on there were very good and I would listen to again, but the album itself varies in quality quite a lot in my opinion and so it brings it down, too much filler. But it made me appreciate hip hop a lot more, really liked No woman, no cry! Would happily listen too again, but would skip some songs.
6/10 = didn't mind it and enjoyed a fair few but expexted a little more for how much it's been hyped up since forever
Great album all round. Has a good flow to it and the beats work really well. I think what they do the samples works really well. And there's a lot of little touches of musicality across the record that all just brings it together really nicely. It has a warm feel but still with pointed lyrics and a sense of attitude. I'd be remiss if I didn't say that Lauryn Hill is the stand out here. I have to admit that's the only thing that stops me from ranking this higher, I prefer Lauryn Hill's solo work over the fugees. So it misses that mark for me just so. Fav Track: Killing Me Softly
This album brought back some fond memories. It was strange to hear Wyclef be involved in actually good music rather than shit but enjoyable stuff like "Perfect Gentleman" and "It Doesn't Matter" and just plain shit songs like his Pink Floyd cover. The Score suffers from the common hip hop problem of being overlong and filled with skits that you don't really need to hear more than once, especially the mildly racist Chinese Restaurant skit with its ching chong Chinaman. The music however is mostly good. The Roberta Flack cover is great the Bob Marley one is nice enough and the originals are fun. Overall it's a four from me.
It was very good, a stand out to me was Killing me softly with this song and Cowboys .
9- / 10
The beats are just ok and Lauren doesn’t have enough verses. The ones she gets are excellent and worth the price of admission.
Surprisingly quite good - interesting production and lyrics. I think I’ll listen again at some point
Decent - Lauryn Hill’s voice is excellent - the hits are really strong, and the rest of the album good enough - just edged a 4 for me.
A well constructed album with a number of memorable songs. Some of the interludes were not great, and some of the songs were kinda forgettable, but overall good. 4/5
Really liked this album, a fine story told from start to finish
Well, guess it’s time to revisit Lauryn Hill again, and honestly, I liked this album for some similar reasons to Miseducation, but it was diverse enough to not feel like the same album. Going in, I originally thought that the Fugees were kind of just a novelty of the 90s, really only known for Killing Me Softly, but after listening to the whole thing, I can definitely say that it has more depth than that. The way that the songs flow into each other makes the album feel more like a singular experience, rather than just a collection of tracks. Staring with How Many Mics was kind of off putting since that track didn’t feel like it stacked up to the rest of the album, but the run of tracks after that more than made up for it. Each member of the Fugees get their moment to shine, as most songs on the album contain verses from all three of them, such as Family Business, my first standout track. However, the covers on the album, Killing Me Softly With His Song, with vocals mainly done by Lauryn, and No Woman No Cry, with vocals mainly done by Wyclef, do lift up the album rather than just feeling like pointless cutaways, these are two other standout songs. The production on the album is also impressive, with the use of various samples, such as on Fu-Gee-La, my final standout track, helping to create atmosphere. Songs like The Mask and Cowboys are also worth mentioning, though not the main standouts, they do not feel like they waste their runtime. Overall, a shockingly interesting album experience, and definitely a listen that I recommend.
Bon vibe tout le long, quelques standouts. Pas tout à fait mon genre, mais très bon quand même.
I think this is…a little more than decent. I love this project for making me hear the full albums and learn more than just the hits and this happened today. It’s been on my to do list to listen to this full one. The hits are still great. The skits drag the album down. All that said, it was enjoyable. But not on the level of ATCQ or De La Soul and others.
4/5. For a group whose legacy is largely defined by clashing egos, conflict and scandal, you honestly don’t feel that in their music as all three members here play off of each-other very smoothly. That being said, for me the highlight is unsurprisingly Lauryn Hill who gives this record a lot of its most iconic hooks on songs like “ready or not” and “Killing me softly with his song”, the former being my favorite track here. The production is also mostly great. That being said, what the hell was that Chinese restaurant skit lmao.
Wyclef and Lauryn Hill is a pretty slick combo. Love all the little samples/covers of other songs they sneak in there. 3.5, would bump if it was a bit shorter EDIT- next day slightly hung over listening is absolutely ripping. Definitely a 4
This album has so much to say! It grooves to no end.
Not a big fan of hip-hop/rap but this album had some pretty good songs. Definitely one I will come back too.
Such an enjoyable experience! Great songs, strong beats, memorable lyrics.
Loved the lyricism and interpolation of more famous tracks (though arguable some of these have outshone their originals). Very 90s in its instrumentation, drums, and sampling. Favorites: Zealots, Fu-Gee-La, Killing me softly, The Mask
Lots of good tracks on here.
Just a smooth rap album all-around. Great rhyme flow from the talented trio, and wonderfully crafted thanks to the sampled melodies and instrumentation choices. While the skits here are not quite as prevalent compared other 90's rap albums, I didn't care much for them and thought they took away from the experience a bit. This is still a classic, however, and is a worthy inclusion. This album won a Grammy for a reason.
*1996. *I only knew Ready or Not, plus the two covers, Killing Me Softly and No Woman, No Cry. *The lyrics are complex and layered, and both Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean rap in such a musical, lovely way. *This does need to be 20 mins shorter though - too many skits and extra stuff at the end of the songs that needs to go. RATING - 7.5/10
Oh wow, this rules. So glad I finally listened to it. I could do without the skits, but it's a 90s/00s rap album so I get what I get.
I'm biased but i love it and thats all that matters.
Pretty solid albums. Killing me softly so good even though I know ms hill has some controversy with her career.
Pretty fun hip hop album. There was a lot I enjoyed but some songs didn’t quite hit the vibe for me.
I really liked this album. Atmospheric and really well produced. Great vocals too
Really good album but a few too many misses for me to give this a 5.
The cover of No Woman, No Cry is incredible.
A classic.
I was not into this at the time and needed to develop my taste a little more before I was ready for it. But it is of course fantastic.
Awesome saucesome
I've had the privilege of seeing the rare good recent performance by Lauryn Hill, absolutely a talent and an icon of the era and our crew mourned her fall after witnessing her completely dominate a stage. The current state of Pras and Wyclef, lol. This album is really good to excellent with the exception of the Chinese restaurant skit, which has to be one of the worst examples of the trend in all popular 90s rap albums, horribly unfunny and way too long! The singles are all timers though!
Interesting.
Heerlijk album. Leuk dat er veel gesampled is. Sommige teksten/ tunes herken ik van andere artiesten. Zouden Fugees dan de OGs zijn? Goeie feel, beats on point. Fijn om weer even uit de wereld van WMvML te stappen.
Heb de cd een tijdje terug een de kringloop gevonden. Wat een top plaat. Erg verfrissend tussen de gangsta rap van de jaren 90. Beats met soul, funk en reggae en live instrumenten. Klinkt veel levendiger dan andere 90 platen. Lauren Hill steelt wel echt de show, de stem, de flow. De covers en aantal bekende samples maakt het toegankelijk voor grotere publiek maar er zit veel meer in dit album. Het is bijna 5 sterren. Net iets te veel covers, de skits zijn een beetje overdadig.
An album I owned and loved when it came out. This was the type of hip hop I really enjoyed. I had not listened to it in a very long time. It was still good, but the two absolute standouts were Killing Me Softly and No Woman, No Cry. I love the original versions too, so I’m not sure if this is as amazing as I thought it was. There was still a lot to really like here, but what was a five star album back then is now four.
I normally get hooked into hip-hop, or not, by the production but this is a fun exception. The music is pretty minimial and repetitive (I think it's live?) but almost every track manages to establish a good hook and run with it nevertheless. The rhymes atop flow smoothly so, while it doesn't really have standout tracks as such, the whole just works. Stylistically, it feels like it owes a debt to the RZA, and it's cool to see a rap album acknowledging a debt to reggae instead of soul.
I’m culturally richer and genuinely cooler for having finally listened to this.
Listened to this before, took a while to grow on me. Shit rips. Standouts: Ready or Not, Fu-Gee-La, Family Business, Killing Me Softly, No Woman, No Cry, Manifest / Outro.
Minus a star for the racist chinese skit in the middle of the album
Loved it
Always wanted to listen to this album, put it off for years. My kind of hip-hop record.
Still standing the test of time tight hip hop rapping without getting too gangsta They flow well and I love the in and out from Wyclef, Lauren and Praz. All three cementing hit afterwards Nice covers too made them their own while the originals shone Great album plenty of nostalgia
Not really my genre but I love at least half of it. Some of it is too crass for my liking. Overall a good listen; just skip the skits and it's greatly improved.
I think this is a good album but I did feel it went on for a bit long and needed to take breaks to finish it, some very good songs some others that were take or leave
Er mye bra her altså! Merker noe forskjell etter hvem av dem som har skrevet låta. Noe som er litt masete i skrivende stund, men velger å skylle på bankende og sliten skalle, og lar herved tvilen komme skiva til gode.
Lauryn Hill!!! Not really a genre I listen to, but I can appreciate the artistry.
Overall pretty good. I appreciate that it's a big blended album of styles and done really well. Killing Me Softly is obviously huge, but the other songs have a decent amount of muster to hang
My friend Carl brought me this and 36 Chambers on CD the same day to let me borrow them and in a small way kind of changed my life. This was the same guy who, when I told him I was going to DC for a month to be a page for Strom Thurmond, told me I would like DC because it’s a chocolate city. Carl wasn’t one of those mythical people who don’t see race and so thought I was black. I expect that when you’re one of two or three black kids in the “smart classes” of a small town Southern high school that’s basically 60/40 in the rest of the school and people would regularly tell you to your face that they didn’t mean *you* when they used the N-word that you make allies anyway you can and I wish I had been a better one to him and others. Although Nikki Davis did write in my yearbook that she and I were down like four flat tires, so maybe I did okay. Anyway, I loved 36 Chambers and really liked this album, although I think this one might have been the one that I connected with most of the two of them at first. Melodic, poppy, fun, smart. The Fugees really had something. This is a good album and worth hearing. Thank you Carl.
Shoulda listened to this ages ago
Not sure I've ever listeened to this from beginning to end. A huge album by hugely talented artists ... and yet, a truly gripping track doesn't arise until Fu-Gee-La. the sixth track (though, on an album like this, that's maybe the third actual song). Speaking of which, to get to a good track, the listener has to endure some tedious hip hop skit bullshit. (My best friend from elementary school years told me recently he harbors an ambition to create a long playlist exclusively comprised of dumb 90s hip hop skits, which is a sort of brilliantly absurd conceptual art project, but a terrifying prospect to sit through.) Absolutely beautiful bass line on the Sly and Robbie mix of Fu-Gee-La. I remember this as the cornerstone or a high point or whatever of the Phat Beat era, and yet ... I'm less blown away by the beats than I thought I would be. I think I never listened to this all the way through because I became discouraged by the boring parts and stopped. Which seems about right. Beautiful beat on the Score. I don't remember that one. Very compelling music. Surprisingly generic vocals given the opportunity provided by the music. Overall, this is surprisingly hit or miss for such a successful album.
I listened to this album a lot in my mid-20s, and it is a lot better than I remembered; I would call it "almost perfect," but it's poisoned by a couple fatal flaws. The beats are so raw and minimal in a really gorgeous way -- it holds up against the best production of almost any NYC hip hop record from the 90s. And their rhymes, flow, and chemistry are unmatched. But, (1) the skits are not only irritating, they fall victim to this insane anti-Asian trend in 90s hip hop that I cannot get down with; (2) the multiple cover songs and interpolations generally do not interest me.
Same as the previous one, rather amazing piece of history, love it 💕
It was actually surprisingly good for hip-hop. Not really a fan of most.
Classic and somehow underrated
album #78 absolutely phenomenally constructed album! the enya sampling in "ready or not" brought me /so/ much joy. this is an album that will always stand the test of time, i think! very much want to get the CD, such a good album to just have on and chill. ꩜ average track rating: 3.8/5 ꩜ favourite track(s): ready or not, the score ꩜ least favourite track(s): the beast (because of the skit lol) ꩜ album rating: ★★★★⯪ ꩜ number of albums left to review: 1,011 ꩜ number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 37 (+1 The Score) ꩜ albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 16 (+1 The Score) ꩜ albums from the list I won't include on my list: 62
I was very familiar with the hits form this album. Taking the time to listen to the whole album really tied them all together. Some very good tracks on this album, I guess now I know the score.
High quality stuff, all 3 Fugees bring their own talents but Lauren's voice is spectacular on this
I was not familiar with the Fugees before listening to the album. The album is solid from front to back. Enjoyed the skits included in the album. It adds a break between songs. Loved all the samples used.
First time listening to this and it is really, really good.
Never been a fan of the Fugees. Distinctly remember when they came out with this record and I basically shunned the album, partly because so many people were crazy about it. There was just so many other R&B artists I would rather listen to at that time like Tony Toni Tone, New Edition (their reunion record), and others. I just didn’t care for the Fugees. So when this came up I was like “meh.” But in actually giving this record a chance, it is fire! There’s just a lot to like about it, from the grooves to the raps to the way they play off each other to the slight crackle that gives the record an old time feel. Very cool. Lots of talent on display throughout this record. Favorites were Fu-Gee-La, Family Business, Killing Me Softly With His Song. Their version of No Woman No Cry is an excellent take too. And the closer Manifest is awesome. Maybe it’s just me, but it seemed like Lauren Hill was ever so slightly behind the beat when she was signing about trying to catch her breath which, if intentional, is an amazing touch. 4 stars and an admission that I have been wrong all these years.
I like this record, but then again, this is one of those rap records that white people like.
Red Intro - 3/5 How Many Mics - 4.5/5 Ready or Not - 3.5/5 Zealots - 4/5 The Beast - 3/5 Fu-Gee-La - 4/5 Family Business - 4.5/5 Killing Me Softly With His Song -5/5 The Score - 3/5 The Mask - 3.5/5 Cowboys - 3/5 No Woman, No Cry - 2.5/5 Manifest/Outro - 3.5/5 Fu-Gee-La - Refugee Camp Remix - 3.5/5 Fu-Gee-La - Sly & Robbie Mix - 3/5 Mista Mista - 3/5 Fu-Gee-La - Refugee Camp Global Mix - 3/5
listened to this on a walk. some absolute bangers on this album, i really enjoyed it :)
This album was a monster hit when I was in college and I didn't care for it then. And honestly, it's still not my jam. But hip-hop in general isn't anyway, so I don't fault it. The trio are really "on" here and the writing is pretty brilliant really, so it's a positive review from me for something I don't particularly care for. Sometimes you can recognize a masterpiece even if it's not for you.
Classic album. Still one I need to explore more but I always enjoy it.
Good album! Interesting production and some cool delivery. Not all tracks hit but more than less.
There are very few Rap / Hip-Hop artists I like. The Fugees are one of them. Intelligent texts, without that BS gangsta stuff. And a plus for using Enya's Boadicea.
Chicken shop lol
How many mics do *I* rip on the daily? None. But I'm happy to listen to the Fugees rip many many many. The only real downside here is that the album suffers the same issues as most of the genre that I've heard. Too many slurs and too much blaa blaa blaa between tracks. I get that it was the style but fanny packs were popular once too. That doesn't mean they're actually cool. It's second hand embarrassing. It's fortunate that they're really really good. Mostly very enjoyable.
Such an amazing album, thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a little bit long for my taste, not a huge fan of the skits in the middle of albums, but the music itself is so good. Four stars.
7/10
god rap
Jeg kan se appellen, jeg tror de har inspireret mange moderne albums med denne lyd. Det holder - og deres hits lyder faktisk også bedre i albummets kontekst, det synes jeg også er godt gået. Lige over 4 på denne
Great
Fresh and varied; it starts to fade in the second half of the album; some of the repeated motifs are distracting (mainly Hill's laughing)
Good ass sampling going on here.
A classic of 90s hip hop and R&B for a reason.
for a bunch of tax criminals, they sure can make one good album
Must listen/ Will listen again. Amazing trio, bars on bars on bars
some real bangers, overall not revolutionary for me therefore 4
Clean. Not so into the melodies but they work.
You'd be hard pressed to find a finer distillation of the kind of mainstream approachable yet street legitimate, conscious yet tuff soulful boombap that typifies the late 90s as this. So many reviews saying they don't get hip hop so can't rate this... bruh, what's to get?
Undeniable classic tracks here, and the influence on future hip-hop is palpable. Some of the rhyme schemes hit a bit corny, but I'm not the biggest rap fan anyway. Solid overall, don't know if I'll be back for a full listen though. Also, wtf was that Chinese restaurant thing?
One of the best best!!!
Have a listen to The Score and note how little anxiety there is in it. So much of 1996 mainstream culture now feels like it was unconsciously hardening into systems - Britpop becoming institutionally self-aware, stardom becoming more performative, music journalism beginning to mistake scale for importance. This album somehow sidesteps most of that. Catch this: it doesn’t behave like a canonical statement even though it very obviously became one. Instead, it feels inhabited. Loose. Social. More like joining a conversation already in progress than being confronted with a thesis. The album constantly leaves space for interruption, humour, overlap and drift. That matters. A lot of supposedly “inclusive” music really means “submit to this communal gesture.” The Score is different. It invites participation without flattening personality. You’re not being led by the nose. You’re being asked to step into the current. Musically, it’s extraordinary how relaxed the record remains considering how densely constructed it actually is. The sampling is less crate-digging machismo than emotional architecture. The Fugees pull atmosphere out of records rather than simply quoting them. The Mask somehow extracts nocturnal cool from Nights in White Satin. Elsewhere you get jazz-funk, soul, reggae, classical guitar, Michael Franks smoothness, old sound-effects records and Caribbean rhythmic logic all dissolving into one another without any panic about genre boundaries or credibility bookkeeping. That Caribbean sensibility is probably the key to the whole thing. Even at its hardest, the album lopes rather than marches. The grooves stay socially functional - music for rooms, kitchens, parties, cars, flirting, heat, arguments, fans turning lazily in the corner. Wyclef in particular is crucial to that balance. He overcommits to virtually every syllable like somebody trying to keep the singalong alive at a party, but the album is warmer because of it. Lauryn supplies gravity and clarity. Pras grounds things. Wyclef keeps opening windows in the music. And perhaps that’s why the album still feels so alive. It never loses sight of people. Not demographics or movements or generational declarations - actual people. Couples half-singing along to songs that remind them of old mixtapes. Someone yelling “one time” from another room. Someone hearing Marley through the haze of a hot afternoon and a badly tuned radio. Even the serious moments retain humour and looseness. The record understands that communities sound like overlapping voices rather than perfect synchronisation. That’s what makes it such a defining album of that strangely good natured summer. It was everywhere in 1996, but never in an oppressive way. It drifted through ordinary life like weather.
3.5 vibes
Classic
Classic
Awesome album
Some great tracks on here. :9’e not so great. Good listen
I think of all the 90s R&B/rap so far this is the best one. I also liked it better than Lauryn Hill's solo album. Some real standout songs here.
Great listen. Interesting in conjunction with Miseducation of Lauryn Hill to get a sense of her evolution.
Ready or not, even a non R&B fan like myself will enjoy this one! Great hooks, interesting raps, and melodies you don't always find in this genre
Great 90’s hip hop
This has so many great songs and I’m surprised Lauryn Hill and Fugees aren’t usually mentioned as the best hip hop artists. 8/10
Very chill, classic 90's hiphop. But the variety in instrumentation, songs, and even a few really good covers make it a much nicer album experience than most of the sort. Faves: How Many Mics, Ready or Not, Killing Me Softly with His Song, No Woman, No Cry
so great. I haven't listened to much hip hop before and this is a great introduction.
never heard this in full before, though i'm familiar with their best hits off of here. i'm relatively familiar with Lauryn Hill's solo album as well my rating excludes the two Fu-Gee-La mixes and Mista Mista. i thought the mixes were redundant and they're bonus tracks anyway Red Intro - no rating How Many Mics - 5/5 Ready or Not - 5/5 Zealots - 4/5 The Beast - 4/5 (would've been a 5 without that stupid-ass chinese restaurant skit) Fu-Gee-La - 5/5 Family Business - 4/5 Killing Me Softly - 5/5 The Score - 4/5 The Mask - 5/5 Cowboys - 3/5 No Woman, No Cry - 3/5 Manifest / Outro - 4/5 Average score: 4.2/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ pretty stellar conscious hip-hop album. Lauryn is a fuckin' wordsmith, easily outshined her fellow group members. considering how old this album is, i think this is one of those rare instances of a 90s hip-hop album that aged like fine wine i really wanted to give this a 5-star rating, but a couple tracks toward the end kinda tanked the average score unfortunately. still a great album i could see myself coming back to
The Score by Fugees was one of my most egregious blind spots in Hip-Hop. And even on a first listen, I can tell that this is really something special. The trio of Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Pras is electric. Everyone gets ample chances to show off clever, conscious, and dynamic raps. And they also contribute a lot to the production of the incredible, varied beats across here. And I can definitely see how this had some cross-over pop appeal; songs like Killing Me Softly smartly incorporate RnB into the sound here. I also want to say that the sound on this album has aged *incredibly* well. This doesn't sound at all dated or cheesy, and I was really struck by some of the flows on here. I don't have a lot to complain about, but I will say that this is a solid hour of dense rapping, and I haven't fully digested it. But as I said, there's definitely something special here, and I see myself coming back to this quite a bit. But what is certain is that this has earned it's legendary status.
This is such a fun, creative, well produced and performed hip hop album. An absolute joy to listen to. Of course I knew the classics from here, but never had the chance to listen to the entire record. It's very well crafted and I guess I'll be listening to it for day now. A 4.
16.Mai 2026
The fusion of genres is so apparent❤️❤️ Timeless in every right!
GENRE: Conscious Hip Hop, Boom Bap, Reggae FAVs: How Many Mics, Ready or Not, Family Business, The Score, Cowboys, No Woman No Cry, Manifest FIRST LISTEN RATING: 8/10
said “omg this is on here?????” to my bf at least 3 times. transportative! lauryn hill is such a beast she can be as late to concerts as she wants
I was dreading putting this on a little bit, mainly because I have a big aversion to Killing Me Softly. It was played to death and then some. But I had forgotten how good Fugees actually were, if I could pretend that one song never existed. I love Fu-Gee-La though, it's great. This album is not really like anything I'd choose to listen to but turned out to be a very enjoyable listen.