Reviews (page 6 of 14)
Didn't realize Lauren Hill's version of Killing Me Softly was originally recorded during her time with the Fugees. Learn something new every day.
Люблю некоторые песни с этого альбома и в целом он был бы прекрасен, если бы не трёп в конце почти каждой песни.
First time listening to the album. Had heard and enjoyed several songs. It is better as an album. Has a feel like being live in a lounge. If I like rap it would be 5. 0 songs added to playlist.
Some crazy mega bangers but also some mid songs 8 bordering on 9 out of ten
31/1089 The Score by Fugees Banger alert. This is just banger after banger. Aside from a few random skits, this album is absolutely fantastic. Of course the star of the show is Lauryn Hill. The highest highs on this album are all driven by her talent. Her rapping, singing, charisma, everything just feels on another level. That being said, the whole group works beautifully together. There’s soul, hip hop, political lyrics, rage, melody. The whole thing just feels incredibly cool without trying too hard. Absolutely loved this. It’s a 4 for me right now, but honestly I could easily see this becoming a 5 with more listens. Food pairing? Jerk chicken, rice and peas, something full of flavour and warmth. Wine pairing? A bold, juicy red with a bit of spice. Maybe a Syrah or Zinfandel. Something smooth but still with attitude. Favourite song? “Ready or Not”. Vinyl? Want this as soon as possible. First listen? Yes. Overall 4 out of 5
Very good.
I’ve always loved the hits here and I’ve listened to the whole thing but was definitely do to revisit it. Lovely!
The excellent samples outweigh the terrible skits
That was real cool. And kudos for sampling I Only Have Eyes For You by the Flamingos
Great lyrics, great flow, great beats, great album.
Hell yeah. Still a great album, except for the racist trope of the Chinese restaurant owner...
Absolutely packed album, completely stuffed back to front with just whatever the hell they wanted to do and wanted to say. Fun listen. Not really my thing, but still very fun listen.
I really liked this
Super chouette
Really liked the majority of this. Couple of weaker tracks towards the end
It’s good. Really good. An album full of 89bpm groove, my favorite groove tempo. It’s a shame that L boogie became such a diva asshole. The kind of music that I enjoy most is when I can comprehend and musicality and still feel the emotion. This hits the mark.
The more I listen…the more I remember I really like wyclef….his tone….his inflection….his style. Lauren Hill is just something special! The more I listen the more I am liking this all over again!
I prefer rap when it gets intelligently political. And this album does that really well. Some of these lyrics are amazing. And, as someone who’s kind of neutral on hip-hop a lot of the time, this is an album I really enjoy sonically all throughout. It’s really good. The cover of No Woman No Cry is so so good. A great penultimate song before the outro.
Best Song: Killing Me Softly With His Song. This song exists, for me, in a pantheon of some of the greatest songs in modern music history. It is perhaps as close to perfect that a song can get. Lyrically wonderful, and this version far surpasses all others. Worst Song: The Beast. I've never understood the impulse to put a skit within the runtime of a song, rather than between them. The song was weak already, the skit made it weaker. Overall: Sometimes the three of them seem to get in their own way, but they're all so talented - Lauryn Hill most especially - that it's hard not to have fun listening to this album. Her ability to make rap-singing sound so angelic is unbelievable.
Very good
27 de abril de 2026 omg é o album da ready or not
The sophomore album of one of hip hop's most illustrious trios.
7/10
A notable gap for me. Iconic run of tracks from Fu-Gee-La onwards. Feel like it maybe doesn’t put its best foot forward though, took a track or two to get going for me. As ever, I could take or leave hip-hop skits. They detract more than they add here though and that’s probably the worst thing I can say about The Score.
Didn't pay much attention to this record in 96. I was into Wu-Tang and Public Enemy in the 90s, plus whatever the ex-NWA members were up to. Listening ad an adult reveals an album rich with storytelling, great production, and a positive overall experience. Teenage me missed out.
Has one of the greatest songs ever
4.5
Хороший, крепкий такой рэп-альбом. Нормальный, традиционный, я бы сказал, генста-рэп, очень приятные и качовые биты, клево читают эмси, классные мелодичные вставки с женским вокалом. Стильный и крутой альбом.
Great
excellent, holds up very well.
me gustó definitivamente es un gusto diferente pero el como tocan los temas de cómo fueron tratados con injusticia en el pasado con una buena combinación y creatividad increíble
alternative hip-hop at its finest (with fire lyrics) and also i was today years old, when i found out creepin‘ sampled ready or not (shame on me)…
Have a strong style, liked zealots, mista mista. 3.5/5
Had heard the singles before, some iconic songs on this LP. Really its lauryn hill and her vocals that stand out on my top tracks, (ready or not, killing me softly with his song) Other tracks have some meaningful lyrics and good rhymes, but lack on other areas like interesting instrumentals like zealot, the beast. The score and cowboys brings some good rap into it. I'd like to have more of the Dub and reggae influence shine through, some more style switchups or similar for me to give it a 5/5. Also a bit too cover-heavy. 4/5
Nice
Some bangers For the genre - 7/10
8/10
feels pretty fancy
this was gooda fck
Jersey represent! The hip-hop is great. The mixed vocalists is great. The skits take away from the album for sure. Ready or Not and Killing me Softly are great songs.
RIP the third guy. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef crush their tracks on this one. It’s soulful, col, and so 90s. Really felt like we were on the verge of the world being amazing. Little did we know it was the beginning of the end…
what a great album personaly i don't realy like the firt 4 songs
No doy 5, porque creo que no todas las canciones son para todo el público. Pero avemaría sí aquí hay clásicos del rap.
Lauryn Hill briljerar verkligen. Varje ton hon tar lyfter skivan en klass eller mer. Hennes känsla för gränslandet mellan soul och hiphop är enastående. Det hör vi exempel på i Ready or not, Zealots, titelspåret, Manifest och förstås Killing me softly som i Fugees version blivit en modern klassiker och det tycker jag den förtjänar. De vokala insatserna från Wyclef och Pras håller inte samma nivå, även om de inte är dåliga. En femma för Lauryn Hill. En trea för resten. Då får det bli en fyra på totalen.
Lauryn, Wyclef and the other guy. Antagligen så inne man bara kunde vara på Expressen fredag 1996. Hur står det sig då idag? Både och, är väl den inte alltid helt enkla sanningen. Lauryn Hill är riktigt bra, även om jag hellre hör Robertas original av Killing me…(Med det sagt, hitsen från albumet bortsett från No woman, No cry som är en rätt seg version, håller än, inte minst Fu-Gee-La) Wyclef duger gott medan the other guy är just the other guy. Samplingarna är emellanåt snygga. Vid andra tillfällen rätt daterade. Skitsen är vilka tenderar inleda och avsluta spåren, är som vanligt urusla. Dessutom outhärdlig långa. Annars kan de mer spartanska spåren som Family business och cowboys lyftas. Summa summarum tål albumet att spelas även idag. Skippar man skits, No woman och outrot är det faktiskt rätt bra.
The Score is near perfect 90s hip hop. Literate, free-associative verses following the rhyme wherever it might take them. Warm production with enough edge to maintain momentum. Smartly foreshadowing what might come next to weave the record together, ensuring flow between tracks with clever callbacks so they lock. We can acknowledge that the Chinese Restaurant skit at the end of The Beast is a bit rough — it's not the worst thing I've heard from a hip hop/rap skit but it's one of the elements that has aged unfavorably. I'm not saying that from any claim of moral authority, it just sounds like something you might find funny in your 20s over twenty years ago and cringe at now. While we're in the territory of edits I'd make, Cowboys feels 32 seconds too long and I prefer to stop the album at the end of Manifest/Outro when I'm near the controls. Keep things tight, it's a score after all. You don't linger during a heist and this album can steal your heart.
this is GOOD!! the sampling and production is fire. i like the rapping on this, and especially lauryn hill’s rapping/ singing on this a lot in combo with the production.
Listening session: april 10th, while getting ready in the morning Listened to before: listened to a few songs before Thoughts: my 100th album on this project and what a great one for that! As I said before, I love hiphop and this album is a great example of covers and sampling done right Favourite tracks: Zealots, Killing Me Softly With His Song & The Mask
I love this album,. so much and lived it even more when i was younger. This listen through, whilst still being very very good it just didnt have the same oomph that it used to. Lauryn Hill is so fucking talented, and this album is so good almost excluisvely because of her. Hard to pick a favourite track: Probably ready or not, but i've always had a soft spot for the ridiculous cover of No Woman, No Cry
Découverte du groupe. Très bon album de hip-hop/RnB. Des samples connus, de belles voix, ça groove, j'aime beaucoup. Un gros classique.
C’est un no skip. Que des bons titres, un très bon album au global. Il se mange un 4.
Atmospheric and laid-back. An album that works as both background music, and rewards closer attention.
Interesting, creative and cool. Need to listen to it again in one sitting. Enjoyed some of the songs immensely and thought the album was v well produced
Primeros temas buenos rap de chill
Solid 90s hip hop album. Knew a few of the big tracks.
What is to be done, what has been created. What should have been done. And it's true man, first human.
Jättebra förstås... Fortfarande. Älskade Fugees när de slog igenom, de var överallt och sedan var de försvunna. Lauryn Hill är fantastisk och tillsammans med Pras och Wycleaf blir det någon sorts magi. Sedan blev de alla konstiga och problematiska. Suck... Men just här, just då var det underbart! Ready or Not, Killing me softly och Fu-Gee-La. Vilka bangers!
A great album, some songs have a deep message. The style and the voices are amazing Fav songs - Ready or Not, Killing Me Softly With His Song, No Woman, No Cry 4/5
One time one time Two time two time
It's the Fugees. Lauren Hill is amazing. Wyclef, is acceptable. They basically owned mid ninety's. Ready or Not and their reinterpretations of Killing me Softly and No Woman No Cry, are great versions.
Bueno tengo opiniones mezcladas con este album, por momentos parece que Lauryn esta carreando heavy y por otros se luce el flow de uno de los vatos cuyo nombre no ubico. De igual forma, los lyrics de los vatos estos son flojisimos, que poronga es "I used to work at a Burger King, a king taking orders"???😭 Los covers están muy bien y especialmente How Many Mics es un banger muy destacable, pero otras canciones se me quedan cortas. A todo esto yo soy muy fan de Miseducation (aunque Lauryn sea mala persona) y nunca habia escuchado este album entero, pero no creo que le vuelva a dar mucha bola. 7,5/10
I was expecting to like this one pretty well and I did. One of the few rap albums I own is the *The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill* and I do adore that album. I also have dug some Wyclef Jean singles, most notably "Any Other Day" (f/Norah Jones). This is the first time I've listened to this album as a whole though I knew a couple of the singles of course "Killing Me Softly" which I always did like that version, and "Ready or Not" which I didn't really pay much attention to at the time but actually I really like that one actually a bit more than "Killing" (yikes, that sounds bad... Lol). But I think even deeper into the album there's some songs I really liked "Family Business" is one I really got into musically and thematically. It seems like most of the street violent rap that I heard in the 90s tended more towards praising the lifestyle, where this actually made it feel like it was a harrowing story as a mean as a necessity for survival. I also like the use of the Flamingos "I Only Have Eyes For You" in the song zealots. And I'll have to say their cover of "No Woman No Cry" actually kind of slaps. This is definitely one I should spend a little bit more time on at some point (8.4) ★★★★
The skits and the dumb intro/outro bring it down a bit, but I think the actual songs are pretty great here. I think the blend of hip-hop and R&B is really cool and in a lot of ways it shaped the future of both. Highlights for me are "Ready or Not", "Zealot", "Family Business", "Fu-Gee-La", and "Killing Me Softly". 4.5 stars.|
Hip hop, a veces no entiendo por qué se repiten tracks con algún remix eso se me hizo muy largo e innecesario, pero el disco es una maravilla the score ❤️
favs — 'killing me softly with his song', 'the score', 'cowboys'
exelente album. 4/5 cancion fav: ready or not
Not my favorite east coast classic but I appreciated it far more this time around.
Love this record.
Great production, great flow, great melodies. Favourite Track(s): Fu-Gee-La, Killing Me Softly With His Song Least Favourite Track(s): No Woman, No Cry
Remember listening to this freshman year a ton. Think Panichelli and Melchior had CD. Several incredible songs. Don’t need the interlude snippets.
How Many Mics Ready or Not Killing me Softly The Score Cowboys Fu-Gee-La (Feat. John Forte)
How Many Mics Zealots Fu-Gee-La Family Business Killing Me Softly With His Song Cowboys No Woman No Cry
I have purchased this album on CD three times due to how much I listened to it. The in-between song sketches are dated and racist, the songs are flawless.
Very good. Poignant but has Lauryn Hill's voice accompanying rap verses.
Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 🤵🖤✒️ Production: 😌👂🧈 Music: 🤌😎🎤 Rating: 💰💰💰💰(💰)/5
Well here's one that I've spent way too long waiting to hear. "Ready or Not" using an Enya sample to create an atmospheric, ambient pad for its beat to rest proves my personal taste in those kinds of beats. Love a good amount of the lines here too, amazing flows and performances. I'm still sick of mid-90s hip-hop records filling a CD just because they can though. I know the main album ends at 60 minutes but man I still think my preference for most hip-hop is 45 minutes or less (The Infamous and 36 Chambers not included). A very strong 4-stars, since it handles the length pretty well and my enthusiasm for the album grew as it went on. Looks like I'll be coming back to this one, especially once I hear Miseducation.
Great album, very pleasant to listen you, regardless if you're into the genre or not. It's eclectic, crisp and pleasant to listen to. It has quite a few of bangers, with "Ready or Not" probably the most obvious choice for a no. 1 track. That being said, the biggest complain one might have is that some of the best tracks on the album ("Killing Me Softly" and "No Woman, No Cry") are not their original composition. Credit where credit is due though, they made those songs their own. Fantastic alternative hip-hop album, one I will probably go back to once in a while.
it’s hard to find a single flaw. It feels like one of those rare, "near-perfect" moments in music where everything—the production, the chemistry, and the message—just lines up perfectly. It’s legendary for a reason. Right from the jump, the atmosphere is incredible. The way they blend cinematic samples with those heavy, dusty boom-pap beats gives the whole record this gritty, cinematic weight. It doesn’t just feel like a collection of songs; it feels like a cohesive world they’ve built. The production is incredibly lush but still has enough "street" edge to keep it grounded. The dynamic between the three of them is what really carries it: • Lauryn Hill is a revelation here. Going from her sharp, aggressive flows to that soulful, effortless singing is mind-blowing. Her presence on "Ready or Not" and "Killing Me Softly" is just haunting. • Wyclef and Pras provide the perfect contrast, bringing in those reggae and Caribbean influences that make the album feel much more global than your standard mid-90s hip-hop record. The lyrics aren't just "poetry exercises"—they feel urgent and lived-in. They’re tackling social issues and personal struggles, but it’s balanced with so much musicality and melody that it never feels heavy-handed. Every track seems to lead perfectly into the next, and there’s no filler to speak of. I walked into this knowing its reputation, but hearing it for the first time is a different experience entirely. It’s soulful, it’s raw, and it has this timeless quality that makes it feel like it could have been released yesterday or thirty years ago. Definitely an essential listen that I’ll be keeping on repeat.
Peak hip hop icl. I like a few of the tracks but “Ready or not” has always been a banger. This is something you actually have to hear before you die.
8.5 / 10
Banger 90’s
Album is good, not a huge fan of this genre
Previously known. So good. Just not really a fan of the skits.
En hip hop-trio bestående av Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean og hans fetter Pras Michel. Låter med attitude og fantastisk produksjon. Megahits som Killing Me Softly og Ready or Not. Kan minne litt om The Roots. Veldig bra. Top 3: Ready or Not, Killing Me Softly, Fu-Gee-La
I feel like this is going to be a highly rated album. Lauryn Hill's voice was the backdrop to the 90's. There are songs on this album that I have vivid memories of singing over and over in my bedroom while imagining I was a popstar. Even the songs I didn't previously know, were mostly really good!
east-coast hiphop hårdere trommelyd og mere lyrisk fokus. det er forbundet til NYC-scenen. alternativ hip hop så det blander genre. progressive rap i album mode hvor produktion tema og variation tæller mere. Der er sygt mange populære sange på det her album som man kender der er virkelig gode. Det er rimelig fire må jeg sige, men ved heller ikke rigtig hvad jeg ellers har at tilføje. Jeg synes der er nogle gode beats og sikkert også lyrikker.
Great hypnotic 90s east coast sound
Iconically iconic. Lauryn Hill’s legendary vocals both rapping and singing. This album is filled with the hits. The ones that have been sampled and remixed a countless amount of times. Great all around album, but could have done without some of the skits. Anyways. The hits are the hits: Ready or Not, Killing me Softly, Fu-Gee-La… I really enjoyed Zealots, and The Beast. 8.2/10 Classic
Great album. Holds up really well after 30 years.
Very Good Album
Lauryn Hill is fantastic on this. I would have been 10 when this came out. I seem to have watched a lot of MTV in that mid-90s era and I know I heard "Killing Me Softly" plenty (maybe "Ready or Not" too), so I think this one's got a little nostalgic weight.
Really liked a lot of these tracks, Lauren Hill is excellent, could have done without the skits
Another classic I haven’t listened to in years. This album is effortlessly cool. All three Fugees really shine here on (though one shines brighter than the others). The hits are great and the B-sides are just as good. If I had one negative thing to say it would be that the Chinese restaurant skit is cringe but whatever. Favorite track: Killing Me Softly with His Song
I knew some songs on this album, but i never thought this could be such a masterpiece. The clean cuts, or rather the blends between songs are immaculate. The way this has made me feel, I really don't know how I didn't listen to the whole thing until now.
What a trio. Although my favorite tracks are always fronted by Lauren Hill. This whole album is a balance again the gangsta rap that was dominating my High School Ready Or Not Fu-Gee-La Killing Me Softly with His Song No Woman, No Cry
3/12/26
Wonderful.
Me like much
Still a great album.
I haven’t listened to it in years. I hadn’t heard all the once omnipresent singles in ages. I thought it would sound dated and overly familiar but it didn’t- fresh, new, exciting. 4 1/2 because the skits are errrr.
When I started this project I said I wouldn’t let the skits cloud my rap album ratings. They were just part of the deal in the 90s and you gotta move on. But they absolutely kill the flow of what has every right to be a 5-star album. The Score is amazing. Incredible variety, consistent quality, remarkable vision and uniqueness. Just a bummer it felt like half of it isn’t music.
Best R&B/Hip hop album I’ve heard I think. Goes well. 8/10
Day 211 Absolutely love this album, Lauryn Hill is flawless all the way through, would definitely be top marks if it weren’t for the annoying skits. Highlights How Many Mics Ready or Not The Mask
Despite its ubiquity in my youth, I'm not sure I've ever properly listened to this end to end. How wonderfully referential and beautifully stripped back.
Love this album. College. Doesn’t need the silly little skits.
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would
a lot of iconic songs here.
Would but
the flow in this album is insane, this group was really insanely talented, can’t believe the number of iconic samples that come from it.
Hip-hop hit its golden era in the burgeoning days of the CD format, meaning you're very likely to find albums falling into the trap of trying to fill 80 minutes, instead of the 45 minutes you get on an LP. And with that comes the very real danger of bloat. Disappointing tracks, hidden tracks and, 'skits' became 𝘥𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘶𝘳 as artists decided that filling 80 minutes was more of a requirement than an option. The only downsides to this slick and brilliant album are its runtime and its annoying chattering skits between the tracks. The hits are all superb; Killing Me Softly, Fu-Gee-La and Ready Or Not, but there are also plenty of excellent deeper cuts, The Score, The Beast, Cowboys... and it's just a shame you have to keep hitting the skip button to put a stop to the nonsense and get on with them. All three of Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel are on top of their game and surpass the sum of their parts consistently. It's a shame their ambitions drove them all off into solo projects that never quite reached these heights but sometimes you just catch lightning in a bottle.
I got The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill a few days back. This could be even better but it's possibly just on par. Could be a shorter/tighter album and the best songs aren't originals. 4/5.
Me re gusto, algunas para escuchar de fondo, con actitud, baladas. Guarde varias
Amazing and perfect. Timeless
Loved this album, such a classic and been samples so many times
good covers. vibes soul, hip hop combo
This album made me realize what a wimp I am, some songs were very real and the expressions were direct and it made me a little uncomfortable. At the same time I added a couple stellar tracks into my regular rotation!
Heerlijke nummers, meerdere 5/5, maar als album is het voor mij net wat teveel gezever met onnodige skits die het tempo er af en toe volledig uit halen, dus dat is jammer. Maar goed, de muziek zelf blijft nog steeds heel erg goed.
love it, shout out dirty jerz
What a quality album. My only complaint is it’s a bit too long
Great storytelling and production value
I listened to this… two times
really wonderful experience, enjoyed it very much like a 4.25
Блять я перепутала. Ну я так поняла, что это были известные исполнители. В целом хорошо 6/10
Que buena vibra que tiene, no pare de menear la cabeza todo el album
The trio works realy well with each member, singing parts of their tracks; beats remind me of ATCQ. Skits revolve around ghetto East Coast life
Such a talented group. Wish I had listened more when I was a kid.
Nice album. I was previously familiar with Killing Me Softly, possibly one or two other songs.
I find the songscape of this album to be very diverse. Recognized songs I had no idea where from them - maybe I do live under a rock. All in all, very enjoyable, will be coming back to it.
Ms Lauryn Hill the woman you are 🫡
Fuck this is good. Effortlessly way too cool, smooth, angry in an intelligent and simmering way. The beats and production are absolutely insanely well-made in their simplicity and ability to showcase very incisive rap. Individual members are damn talented but together something emerges that is absolutely on fire. Lauryn hill lifts this to a spacious, cool, laid back place that sets the bar for cool in the 90s
Not a big fan of skits in albums, but otherwise this was pretty good!
Red Intro-7 How Many Mics-5 Ready or Not- 9 Zealots-9 The Beast- 6 Fu-Gee-La-9 Family Business-6 Killing me Softly- 10 The Score- 6 The Mask- 5 Cowboy-5 No woman, No Cry-8.5
Für mich ist es eines dieser Alben, die einfach nie a Kraft verlieren. Es fühlt es sich für mich wie ein warmes, souliges R&B‑nahes Gesamtwerk an. Die gibt dem Album diesen organischen, leicht rauen Charakter, der mich jedes Mal packt. Lauryn Hills Stimme ist für mich das absolute Highlight, und Songs wie „Killing me Softly“ oder „No woman no cry“ funktionieren bis heute perfekt. Ein paar Skits sind aus heutiger Sicht verzichtbar, aber das ändert nichts daran, wie stimmig das Album ist. Insgesamt es für mich knapp hinter Thriller – weniger perfekt, aber emotional und atmosphärisch unglaublich stark.
Feeedt, elsker bare rap😍
red intro - 5/10 how many mics - 7/10 ready or not - 6/10 zealots - 8/10 the beast - 6/10 fu gee la - 8/10 family business - 7/10 killing me softly - 9/10 the score - 10/10 the mask - 7/10 cowboys - 8/10 no woman - 5/10 outro - 9/10 overall score - 7/10
banging
Something different. When I explored way more hip hop back in college for a while, this came across my radar but don’t remember it except for Killing Me Softly, so excited for a re-listen. Always liked that old school 90s hip hop sound like this. Ready Or Not is the first song I recognized again and it’s great. Love the sound of this style of hip hop. A simple beat, a great hook or chorus, some great production. All simple but elevated somehow, with one song going seamlessly into the next. This is all so good. Fu-Gee-La is awesome. Just a really fun easy listen. Not always or often in the mood for this kind of music, but I almost always enjoy it when I do listen to it and this is about as good as that old school hip hop gets. Overall, album feels a song or two too long? But nothing bad here, so hard to complain. Not sure it’s an album that would regularly enter my rotation and I gotta stop giving 5s too lightly. This feels like a solid 4.
This is a great album. It's the Fugees at their best. The track segues range from frightening to hilarious. The songs are all fantastic.
I mean, Lauryn Hill is on this. -1 point for the Chinese restaurant skit
some certified bangers in here. I really enjoyed the sampling
El hiphop no es lo mío, pero es un buen álbum y un clásico dentro del género
Really solid album. Really liked it for a long time. It embodies that hip hop soul sound of the time.
Wow The Fugees. Who knew? Dig it but could be 20 minutes shorter.
I "came of age" in the late 90s and missed this album by a few years. I remember my childhood best friend's older sister had it, but that's as much as I knew about it at the time. I do have distinct memories of the Lauren Hill and Wyclef Jean solo albums, and owned the former. I always wanted to circle back to this record because I understood it was a big deal, but never could justify spending money on this few-year-old CD when there were newer things I also wanted. The pitfalls of being a young, broke, hypebeast, I guess. Sometimes this list serves you albums in a way that seems like it's intentionally helping you build context. In this case, I got The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill last week, and Liquid Swords by GZA earlier this week. The Lauryn Hill connection is obvious, but the GZA piece is interesting. I tend to think of the mid-90s as being prime 'gangsta rap' era, but between WuTang, Fugees, and I'm sure plenty others, the roots of 'alt hiphop' are also here. The Chinese restaurant skit on "The Beast" really helps underscore the spiritual connection to GZA/WuTang; but let's all be glad the skit era is over, right? Still, if I have to pick a cringiest moment here, it's "No Woman, No Cry" - I appreciate the intent but, at the end of the album, it just feels kinda corny and beneath them. "Killiing Me Softly With His Song" is the showstopper that I think "No Woman, No Cry" wanted to be; there's no doubt these tracks switched position on the live setlist. Anyway, I didn't just listen to this one time (one time), but two times (two times) and really enjoyed it; I get the hype. I'd buy it on vinyl, but only if you promise the bonus versions of "Fu-Gee-La" won't be included. The bonus tracks really make this feel long in the tooth; let's just end it with "Manifesto/Outro" like they clearly intended.
Ate it up. Stunning Queen. You have DONE IT again.
Wow this was actually pretty good! I would listen to this again. Fits the "old school hip hop" vibe and I swear I recognize some of the songs even though I've never heard of this artist before.
Red Intro 3/5 How Many Mics 4/5 Ready or Not 5/5 Zealots 3/5 The Beast - includes Chinese restaurant skit 2/5 Fu-Gee-La 5/5 Family Business (feat. John Forte) 4/5 Killing Me Softly with His Love 5/5 The Score (feat. Diamond D) 3/5 The Mask 3/5 Cowboys (feat. Outsidaz) 3/5 No Women, No Cry 5/5 Manifest/Outro 3/5 Overall Album 3.69
Really good album. Incorporates elements of reggae, but it's mostly rap. Quintessential rap album. Overall, one of my favorite rap albums.
Hyvää ysärihiphoppia. Pari tuttua hittibiisiä, muuten ei ollut tuttu. Lauryn Hill jossain määrin tutumpi omasta tuotannostaan. Upposi aivan hyvin, ei nyt suuremmin jääny muuten mieleen ku hittibiisit jäi pyörimään päässä toviksi.
Blending chill hip-hop production with stark, socially conscious lyricism, The Score remains ridiculously relevant nearly 20 years later, with skits softening its heavier moments.
Still sounds good.
Enjoying this overall; skits are cringe but there are some great songs on here; 4 stars
The Score is tense and militaristic. It is also carefully interjected with the bare amount necessary to bridge unflinching "Real Hip Hop" with something even more musical. The Score is groundbreaking for this bridge. The strength of this album is how woven into bleak realism and severe Hip-Hop dogma (very normal pre-Bad Boy Records NYC posturing), there is still humor, contemplation, social commentary, and a tenderness to musicality. Credit to Lauren Hill's exceptional, stark, and unexpected vocal sections alone, the album would certainly otherwise fall apart under its own seriousness. The album starts. The Fugees are so, so angry at whack MCs. They are also (eventually) highly organized and disciplined. The intro is a barrage of complaints, yelled by everyone all at once. I didn't mean to bring this up right after talking about discipline and organization. That actually comes in the second song. It's funny, though, how intense the intro is. To being something I've never heard before, I give it credit. The next three tracks go into more organized fashion to establish their superiority over rap competitors. It is an exhausting start, but I am now so, so certain I understand why they feel they are the best. Of course, this is all in old rap tradition and knowing the release year gives plenty of context. Seemingly built from the same bones, crime thriller "Set it Off" coming out later in the same year as "The Score", carries a same grit in theme of crime, survival, and discipline, and transformation. (Promo posters alone, "Set it Off" rhymes to the cover of "The Score" a little closely. Contemplative Black faces emerging from darkness.) Aside from the album's opening salvo of bragging. The boot-camp-like tensions are further supported by overt moments such as repeating marching orders of "Left, Right, Left", long sections of more-is-less production, and, expanding out from the base bragging, themes of System oppression ("The Beast"), family loyalty ("Family Business"), and false pretenses ("The Mask"). Fugees, even when too annoyingly close to the craft, still are hard to fault. Their flows and lyrics are easy enough to follow on the surface, but show deep attention to detail. Lines from each MC ring effortless swinging between triplet and quarter-note feels. This commands attention over beats that often compose of nothing more than simple drums and a bassline. This is, again, hip hop and adherence to form and tradition. There are also some WTF absurd moments, such as Lauren Hill's line, "I'll be Nina Simone and defecating on your microphone". Although skits don't deserve so much critical weight thrown at them as the actual music of the album,"The Chinese Restaurant Skit" is notably cringe. For whatever reason features incongruous sounds of Indian Sitar and Tambura as the soundtrack to the fictional restaurant. The production on The Score also deserves praise and attention. It is rife with clever and interesting samples. Despite having an array of producers working on the album, the whole is cohesive. On each track, samples are manipulated into stony clouds that form a melodic haze over the boney bass and drums. A sample becomes a hook unto itself, in the Sitar lick lifted from The Rotary Connection, to support the turnaround in "Ready or Not". The album also features Wycleff's own guitar playing, which is a nice, humanizing contrast to the grittier aspects of album. I had thought I ignored "The Score" when it came out. At the time, I was even falling in love with underground Hip-Hop. It was their constant presence on MTV that ignorantly prevented me from seeing The Fugees as "Real Hip Hop" like Rawkus Records joints (that would come after "The Score") and deserving of my time. To my surprise, even though I never took on the album as a whole, I was already familiar with nearly every song. The songs were still baked in to my memories, either through endless inclusion in Hip-Hop mixtapes, DJs playing the tracks out, or just smoking weed in my friends' cars.
8.5/10
Great music, enjoyable album all the way through. I loved hearing the transition into Killing me Softly!
Very good apart from the irritating one time two times
Such a great album. It's a shame they couldn't stay together and record more. Only one song that I disliked, and it's only because I really hate the song they used as the backing track ("Zealots" with The Flamingos "I Only Have Eyes For You"... just has always grated on me). The rest of the album, top notch. Loved revisiting this one.
If I'm honest, I'd always thought of the Fugees as Lauryn Hill and the two blokes who were holding her back. I owe Pras and Wyclef an apology - she's the standout here, but this is clearly a group effort and a lot better than I remembered.
This reminded me that I don't dislike hip-hop, I only dislike atrocious new school. This was pretty good.
the chinese restaurant skit was PAINFUL. more of a 3.5 for me, but i'll round up for lauryn hill's beautiful vocals.
i enjoyed this album more than i expected, given that i only knew killing me softly going into this. the beats and samples are solid, the skits were weird and unnecessary, and there are some catchy hooks here. mixed bag, but trending towards good. 3.75? favorites: how many mics, ready or not, fu-gee-la, killing me softly with his song, cowboys, no woman no cry
Score!
Well done
Took a little bit to get into this album but after a couple listens it is a great, soulful, groovy, and really in depth album. It has a lot of interesting elements that are questionable at first but they add a lot to the tracks and the album as a whole. Amazing production and instrumentation. 7.5/10, Favorite Song: Cowboys
4⭐️/5 01.26.2026
Score override. I love this album deb doesn't
love my smooth R&B, they didn't miss here Would I listen again: probably Deserves to be on this list: Yes 3.9
Ouuuu it was soooo goood def added it too myyy profile
This album drags a bit, but your patience is also rewarded on each and every track. If you are willing to listen to a slower more methodical rap album then The Score is the choice for you. I really wish Ms. Lauryn Hill was front and center on more of the tracks but overall I was quite happy with this.
origin of peak
This is such a fun album to listen to. These many years later, though, I realize the degree to which what is great about the album is very much the vibe, the sleek production, the quality of their voices, etc. A lot of the biggest songs here are functionally covers (of varying creativity). Still an iconic and compelling album.
Lauryn Hill is a beast. Some really great vibes songs in the first half but I lost interest in the back half. Probably a 3.5 for me, I don’t see myself returning to the full album. But I may throw on some of the songs occasionally.
3.9/5 all time classics and then some
7.5/10
Rating: 8/10 A great album experience beyond the certified classics it contains. Feels pretty distinct from other records in the pantheon of 90’s east coast hip hop. Great production. Some radically political lyricism. One thing about Fugees though is that whenever Lauryn Hill isn’t currently present on the track…you just want her to come back. She can sing and she’s got bars. I think the best song on here has to be Fu-Gee-La. While it’s not a personal 5 I still think it’s great and I’m not sure how you could rate it low!
Really some solid hip hop tracks on here. My first full length album experience with Lauryn Hill and it really didn’t disappoint. Her vocals are top notch and for me the highlight of the album when she’s on the mic.
Realy cool album, lyrically insane and beats hit hard. My fav songs are how many mics, No woman no cry and cowboys
Some incredible classics and incredible rapping all around, but don’t love the interludes
The great songs are great and the not great songs are pretty good too. I could listen to Lauryn Hill sing the phone book
Pretty good
With these beats and melodies I could listen to this over and over. Maybe a little too heavy on the simile rap but that was the time I guess. The little spoken word sections are fun the first time through but get skipped later on. Quibbles though. Great album
Haven’t heard this in years. Hip hop isn’t my thing but if there’s something called user friendly this album is it from the start it keeps throwing up a balance of music and skits that give a good balance to keep you interested. I’d recommend this to anyone who wants to give hip hop a go. It’s a great starting point. However, i think it is probably 15-20 mins too long. I’d have given 5 stars otherwise
This was good!
It was pretty good, didn’t blow me away or disappoint me, 81/100 Favorite Tracks: Killing Me Softly with His Song, Fug-ee-la
9/10 – Great
I enjoyed the concept of this album. How Many Mics, ready or Not, the Beast (that skit was something else lmao), Killing Me Softly With His song, and The Mask were all highlights of this album. I find the majority of these albums in this list suck if it’s not a certified classic rock album everyone has heard or a 90s Jess-infused r&b/rap album. I enjoyed this one.
One of the things that’s surprised me the most is the creative sampling and appropriating, the weird use of Enya and various little danchell references. It’s kind of one of those classic albums that you know is a classic for a reason. I’ve obv heard all the big singles from it, but then you listen to the whole thing it’s obvious why. All the same, when records are this tightly crafted, I sometimes struggle to feel a personal connection.
Maybe I do like some hip-hop. Accessible, and doesn't have the dull bravado of most rap albums. Some great pop songs on the album too - forgot how good a song Fu-Gee-La is. Could be even better but for some pointless drivel and filler in between some good tunes.
Ben echt blij verrast! Lekker chill. De stem van die vrouw is echt fantastisch. Dacht ik ken haar stem ergens van. Toen kwam ready or not, en die ken ik natuurlijk van allemaal remixes. En het origineel heb ik ook wel eens gehoord. Fu-gee-la kende ik ook al, en natuurlijk killing me softly with his song
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ fav: Fu-Gee-La least fav: Red Intro iconic: Killing Me Softly With His Song
Incredible!!! Was really jamming with this one and will continue to listen to it. I loved the little easter eggs of some other songs in the album embedded into eachother. Some real bops on here.
A very well produced hip hop album that leans into the absurd at times, while also delivering many classic early rap/R&B songs. I have already listened to the cover of Killing Me Softly (which is excellent), but also loved Ready or Not, and the cover of No Woman No Cry, which leans heavily into the group’s reggae influences. For me, this album sometimes can lean a bit heavily into the sampling and so felt messy at times. Also, some of the lyrics fell a bit flat for me at points, and I definitely preferred Lauryn Hill’s verses to those of the other male vocalists! A pleasantly surprised 8.5/10
Gas
Hits top, rest a bit boring
Smart and doesn’t take any sh*t, great rhymes, great hooks. Listening to it now also makes me miss New York in the 90s.
A true classic
AK
I love this album
Favorite songs: Ready or Not, Zealots, The Beast, Killing Me Softly With His Song, No Woman No Cry
Great album. Holds up really well after 30 years.
Gosto muito e já conhecia algumas musicas
EXCUSE MOI LAURYN JE N’ÉTAIS PAS FAMILIER AVEC TON FOOTBALLL. Enchaîner des couplets techniques, tranchants avec des refrains iconiques d’une sensibilité iconiques comme ça c’est juste irréel ; je vais devoir écouter ton album j’ai plus le choix. Plus généralement, énorme classique, mélange de rnb, soul, hip-hop et de rap, bien produit, Wyclef et Pras excellent c’est très fort. L’album s’en prend à la misère des ghettos, à la société aliénante mais aussi au stéréotype du gangster des quartiers. L’album se place comme un pilier du hip-hop qui ne glorifie pas la violence, qui ne fait qu’aggraver les difficultés des noirs américains (cf cowboys). On alterne entre des prods froides et menançantes, des refrains chantés iconiques et du reggae qui vient comme une note d’espoir (no women, no cry). Le rap egotrip est d’un niveau qu’on ne voit plus aujourd’hui, mon dieu Lauryn quelle reine. En bref un giga classique
Shocked this is only their second album. Lots of great songs in here, and the energy is great. Favorite Songs: The Mask, Killing Me Softly with His Song, Ready or Not
Such a warm, listenable, socially conscious album. Jean and Hill really shine. Catchy, hooky, genre-hopping/ bending, magnificent sampling. A classic.
Beats on some of these songs sound like they're 10 years in the future and some of the Lauryn Hill bars are ridiculous. I even like the No Woman No Cry cover (better than the Marley album version, at least!) Still, some of this shit hasn't aged great - the skits, for instance, really kill it, especially given how some of these songs blend together and how the album has thematic elements across it. Despicable 4, because of the skits. Otherwise great.
J’écoute pas de hip hop mais slay Lauryn Hill
No woman, no cry is the best song on this joint
Pretty cool
Enjoyable with a lot of familiar sounds 4
made me feel things for sure
Si te importan las liricas en canciones, te puede gustar este álbum. Canciones casi habladas con un beat del 80% del hip hop de la era. Fu gee la esta buena.
i love the beast but wtf was that chinese restaurant skit😭😭 🥇fu-gee-la 🥈killing me softly 🥉ready or not
Excellent album, really more like 3.5 stars for me because I don't find the flow/cadence that compelling on a lot of the tracks, but the highlights (that Enya sample on Ready or Not!!! Killing me Softly!!! etc) and the general quality warrant rounding up to 4 stars.
Heavily borrowing from a lot of other artists but the sublime lauryn hill lifts this above the ordinary to extraordinary at times. Fu gee la, ready or not and killing me softly are tremendous adaptations which update and sometimes better the originals. Unfortunately a bit too much filler towards the end of the album. Still well worth a listen or 3
One of the best rap albums of the late 90's.
This had a lot more music/acoustics than I expected!!
Very good album
Solid shit. That skit wasn’t great though was it?
Creative mix of smooth flows and melodies
Entspannter Rap, Lauren Hill auf die 1
Love the simple instrumentals Lauryn got great bars AND a great singing voice Wyclef got a great flow, not as big of a fan of pras (except in the song ,"the score" he came in strong) 6.7/10
Enjoyed the album. I think if it was a bit easier to sing along with it would have been a 5.
One of the best r&b albums, some songs are quite trendy and some aren’t as good
As rap/hip-hop goes this is a good album.
Wow surprised how much I didn't hate it
hit
This album is great to turn on while driving around. Has some real classics, too.
top tier. no notes
Really vibe-y music. The type you'll listen to when you're chilling on a Sunday afternoon with a cigarette on ur hand
Good, not as good as Miseducation
Good Album with a lot of classics.
Had listened to some songs previously, interesting to understand the wider context to each individual members own solo discography.
Couple of all time bangers.
What. An. Album. I was familiar with the song ‘Killing Me Softly’ and I hoped the album would sound similar to that. I was blown away when listening to the album- it was everything I wanted and more. I adore the songs How Many Mics, Ready or Not, Zealots + Cowboys. One of the best albums I’ve listened to for a while.
Classic
Pretty good listen! A couple of classic songs I didn't know were by them.
Fugees The score Stand outs Track 2: How Many Mics - it sounded familiar from when I first heard the lead - cool airy synth(?) Track 4: Zealots - i dont know, i just really like it Track 5: The beast - i instantly wanted to know the name of the song Track 6: Fu-Gee-La - "ooo la la la la la la lalalalalaaa" Track 8: Killing me softly with his song - classically awesome Track 9: The score - the chorus includes mix of the hooks used in each song and skit snippets Bonus track: Mista mista - I really like songs with storytelling in them. This reminded me of Bobby James by NERD because both of these songs relate to drug addiction and falling deep into it (the only difference being the perspective). Summary Overall, I liked this album and i thought it was very cool. I really liked the simple yet captivating drum patterns they used along with the amount of instruments they used; not much, but enough. I really like this style of rapping that sounds like talking and rapping at the same time. I've always wanted to get used to that kind of freeform rap and i'd say it helped a ton. 8.2/10 December 21st 2025
This is another iconic hip hop album that includes harmonies, skits, and two musical superstars, Wyclef Jean and Ms. Lauren Hill. The album did an incredible job bringing the feeling of Brooklyn through the music. Several places in the album had some dialogue plots and skits to keep the record from sounding monotonous.
Great album between wyclefs production and Lauren’s voice there is some great songs.
Yeah it’s good what else do you want
Liked this more than I thought I would - and has more hits than I thought it did! Agree with many of the reviews that the skits did not age well are detract from the album itself. Between and 3 and 4 for sure
Good album, rap isn't really my style but it has quite a lot of popular songs I know.
I really enjoyed this, a good 90s rap album with sort of jazzy elements in there.
Such seamless flow between Lauryn and Pras, then Wyclef shows up and it’s fun and different. Slight downgrade for the Chinese restaurant skit, like who thought that would age well?
Classic 90s hip hop. Solid through and through. Admittedly this may have only been like the third time I’ve listened all the way through. I forgot some bangers like “Cowboys.” Points off for Wyclef. I never liked you! You were never my friend! One time!
Yet another classic
Loved it. Such a classic album.
They suggested another hip hop album and it turns out to be another album I enjoyed.
Good album.
Some of these beats are annoying af but most of it is classic
Not your typical hip-hop record. While a lot of the lyrical themes don’t hit home for me personally, the album feels like a breath of fresh air compared to much of the genre I’ve encountered so far. The mix of soulful melodies, reggae-infused grooves, and sharp rhymes gives it a unique character. And Lauryn Hill? Absolute standout—her voice elevates every track she touches and I might be a little bit in love with it!
Nice pleasant hip hop for suburban high end mall dwellers, but it sure is pretty. Nothin wrong with that.
This was, for a long time, my sole hip hop CD. That just goes to show what a cultural phenomenon this album was - even white indie kids in the UK had a copy, and I remember hearing the Fugees on the radio in France. It's held up pretty well too. It's varied, well produced, political and refreshingly non-gangsta. Plenty of solid tracks alongside the 3 great poppy singles. Shame they didn't make more music together.
Pleasantly surprised.
Some amazing songs on here. But basically I'm just waiting for Killing Me Softly when I listen to it.
4/5
“Abstract raps simple with a street format” Having only ever heard Lauryn Hill’s work from her universally loved solo album I had an extremely high opinion of her as a singer and RNB musician. However, given how heavily weighted towards RNB rather than rap that album is, I didn’t have a full understanding of why people hail her as such a gifted rapper. This album changed that completely. This will no doubt go down for me as one of my favourite 90s hip hop albums. I can feel the inspiration from (influence on?) so many other great hip hop collectives throughout from Wu Tang to OutKast. I’m sure more will become apparent on inevitable re-listens. The only track that left me feeling a little cold is the most successful single from the album “Killing Me Softly With His Song”. Although in total fairness I have never been a huge fan of it and on this listen I think that’s because compared to everything else on The Score it feels instrumentally a bit empty. That aside though it is easy to see why despite a limited discography Fugees have achieved legendary status and I am glad to have finally taken the time to give them a listen.
Great album art. Great album dude. Like maybe a five. It was actually really an outstanding listen. I’m going to have to listen again. Perhaps the most lyrically rich album I’ve heard yet.
Enjoyed the variety and storytelling
sounds great
många bangers!!!
Cuppa bangers
Pretty darn good. Still sounds fresh to my ears. A couple five star songs, but overall album feels like a strong four.
At times: amazing. Other times: meh. I think this is an easy 5, if you trim 20 minutes. Unfortunately, those 20 minutes brought this down to a 4 for me.
8/10 really really good didn't expect anything bad
A must listen for anyone curious about the golden age of hip hop.
An album I come back to periodically anyway but enjoyable to listen to for this project a few times in a row. You won't find much in the way of original musical ideas, any tunes or songs are borrowed / sampled, but it's the background to the interplay of rappers with the added bonus of Lauryn Hill's singing voice, and for me she makes this a 4 more than anything else.
Essential hip hop album. Great flows and production and only really suffers from a sameness in the beats and energy from the group. Lauryn Hill elevates the sound but in all they’re greater than the sum of their parts.
I wish Hip-Hop gave a damn about clever lyrics and creativity, range, as this album does. But I suppose that’s one key reason why this stands out. First half is great.
A classic hip hop album, ready or not is probably a peak 90s sample. Lauren hill’s voice takes these songs to a new level.
Fugees epitomize here today, gone tomorrow. Not long after this album, the group fell apart and none of their solo albums have reached the heights of this one, not even the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. It does suffer from having the skits which I have never liked in an album and is endemic in this era of hip hop.
I think the trio's performance can be somewhat rough around the edges, but damn is it a beautiful album
fiiiire
Tatsächlich ein Hip-Hop Album, das einem gefällt. Sofern man das behaupten kann. Zwei Super Songs drauf, die wirklich jeder kennt. Deshalb drei statt zwei Sterne.
This was really cool, I didn't actually know this group existed before this list.
Definitely one of those albums that I was sure I'd listened to before, but hadn't. Really enjoyed this.
So *this* is where Killing Me Softly and Ready or Not come from! Lauryn Hill has a beautiful voice. I really like the transition between one song and the next. Surprisingly enjoyed this even though it was waaay outside my comfort zone, though I did get a bit tired halfway through. This would have made great video game soundtrack music. Interesting read on how The Fugees broke up: https://uproxx.com/music/fugees-breakup-unforgettable-legacy/
An album of standout moments. The singles sound as good now as they did almost 30 years ago - "we used to be number 10, now we permanent at one" is a great opening line. Kudos for the range of samples and swipes (Falmingos on Zealots, Cymande on The Score and Teena Marie on Fu-Gee-La). They slide into some boom bap tropes at times, and the skits can be laborious/offensive (one notorious one in particular). But the interplay between the three members, with Ms Lauryn Hill's incredible vocal performances the highlight, and general joyous nature of the record bring it to 4 stars
They managed to blend styles and not fall into the gangsta rap or pop-rap traps of the time. Production-wise, it is a product of it's time. It broke big, winning two Grammys in 1997 for best rap album and best R&B vocal by a duo or group for "Killing Me Softly". clearly, it's a big record and belongs on this list.
Maybe it was just them ending with the cover of No Woman No Cry that tugged at my heartstrings a little bit but this gets a 4/5 from me; might revisit a few songs later for sure but maybe not the whole thing
Another classic
Banger
fuck yeah. so glad to have pulled this one. it's one of the best rap albums of the 90s for sure, and has to make one pine for the return of old school east coast hip hop. the production on this record is so cool. just basement grooves all around. obviously there's a lot to love lyrically, and part of that is just because this record is a product of its time. ms. lauryn hill is a goddess and has been since 1990. there's a reason she won a grammy for this one. i actually don't care much for "ready or not", which has been sampled to hell and back. not sure why that one. we're still allowed to like this one because d*ddy's gross fuckin hands aren't on it! i learned against my will that the brits love this one. to them i say only this: get your own. we're gonna gatekeep this shit.
they don't make em like they used to by god
True generational talents. I hope the person who decided every hip hop album needed “comedy” skits during the 90s and 2000s is having a bad day.
Mä kyllä tykkään tästä räpäytyksestä ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nyt oli kyllä ihan pirun kova räppilätty. Tulee kuunneltua toistekin.
Favorite track(s): Fu-Gee-La, Killing Me Softly With His Song, Cowboys
Really good.
More similar to Wu-Tang and Tribe than I expected. Fave Tracks: Ready or Not, Killing Me Softly, Cowboys 3.8/5
It’s always Fugees and Funyuns
Transition til Ready or Not 🤌🤌🤌
Banger! Må næsten være en af de første plader der har balanceret hip-hop, R&B og soul på den her måde, og nok stadig en af de bedste.
This was so good? Great song and good production. Probably top 3 of worst albums on this list, to listen to if you're driving, because of all the police sirens.
Good album. I liked the songs I knew (the intro to Ready or Not is an especially haunting moment in context, when it emerges a couple of tracks in) and I liked the songs I didn’t. A bit more ‘alternative hip-hop’ than I probably expected from a record that broke into the mainstream in such a big way, and that’s a good thing. I’m also suitably impressed with Lauryn Hill’s rapping (as I was on ‘Miseducation’ tbh).
I've heard this plenty of times. It's a really good album. It's got a bit of everything you look for in an east coast rap album from the 90s. It's both laid back and groovy while also being intense and in your face. There's some great samples on this. All 3 MCs have great flow and great wordplay, but Lauren Hill is the star. She's a good singer too. Lyrics are pretty straight forward black militant stuff you heard from 80s-90s east coast rap, but I think they're actually rastafarian instead of 5 percenters. I think others did it better, but this is still a great album. Best songs: Ready or Not, Zealots, The Mask
Need to finish it but very good!!
Highlight Song/s: How Many Mics, Fu-Gee-La and The Mask This album has SUCH a dark atmosphere to it, it doesn't feel welcoming. The choruses on this album are quite good, to me hip-hop choruses don't tend to be too great. Well this album breaks up the pattern. The lyrics are quite intricate and the flow is considerably good whilst at the same time is quite lazy-sounding.
Pretty solid album, some great tracks, and the concept of a "score" is an interesting one. I enjoyed the James Taylor, Cindy Lauper, Robert Flack, Bob Marley references. It's clever, it is foundational and I respect it a lot. However, I do find it a bit repetitive sonically when I do play the whole thing.
Love this. Feels like it’s been constantly in my rotation for as long as I can remember, the cassette was always kicking around the house when I was growing up