Reviews (page 8 of 14)
I can dig this. Vibe with. I really dig the beat work it's got goin' on. And... Yeah, that's all I feel like I hafta say. Which feels weird to me; I should have more about one of **the** albums of hip hop, but... I'unno. Yeah. It'd be neat if we lived in a timeline with a second album from these people.
So many hit songs, I enjoyed it
I liked this one, very 90s hip-hop feel to it.
I enjoyed this album a lot
Awesome
Stands the test of time well. Lauryn Hill is clearly the stand out performer, but they work well as a trio. Stand out tracks Killing me softly and Ready or not. 4/5
More gangster than i thought
Really great and creative album. Just like "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill", I like how the songs are interconnected. The blending of all these different genres also help this album have a unique and memorable personality. Definitely one I need to listen to regularly to really appreciate it due to all the detail. Some songs do miss the mark though so it isn't a 5/5 but still great.
This was very good.
An amazing combination of the two dominant early 90s New York hip hop sounds - the emphatically lyrical wordy and insistently clever delivery of Tribe Called Quest or Digable Planets paired with production style of Wu-Tang, with dead simple looped piano/drum machine beats that serve as perfect platforms for the delivery. More than any individual contribution, the interplay between the voices swapping verses, picking up and continuing each others ideas, speaking back and forth, extending the rhyme schemes and cadences is the real magic here. The hits were inescapable but remain fresh and exciting, some of the best hop hop singles of the 90s. Overall it's is very consistent in terms of sound/style and quality - so a bit samey, but lots of good stuff, though the Bob Marley cover is very corny. The whole thing has a very cinematic feel, from the movie-poster style cover and the silly skits, to the atmospheric beats, and scene-setting, character-establishing, story-telling style in the lyrics.
song reco: killing me softly, ready or not ⭐⭐⭐⭐ easy to listen hip hop album. even though i'm not a fan of hip hop, i liked this album. better listen to it in order.
Very close to a 5*. Very good stuff
Solid hip-hop/R&B album that's at it's best when Lauryn Hill is singing. Relaxed pace, poignant lyrics. Nice choice of samples. Standout is "Ready Or Not".
Amazing
Fosters a very specific energy. Incredible production for the time. Falls to some trappings of 90s hip hop that isn’t my personal favorite, but a great listen
This album helps me understand the popularity of hip hop and rap, which gets me to 3 stars, but when I compare it to the rambling garbage of Eminem it goes to 4 stars or a B rating.
Great flow and rhythm of the music.
This is a 4.4. Going to have to round down because of the skits and because some of the non-hits don't strike me as hard as the hits do.
Very good
Cool
i love how many songs sound familiar because people have ironically sampled the shit out of this album
Classic
Really really good. Borderline HoF.
What a solid album. 3 amazing rappers showcasing their skill, and the production is great too. Honestly it's a shame they broke up so soon after this, but hey it gave us The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill so I won't complain too much.
The singles are all amazing but while the album tracks have some cool lyrical moments, they’re largely forgettable and often sound like second rate Wu Tang.
Dope production, rapping and singing with carefully crafted lyrics. All around amazing.
Great album. Love miseducation of Lauryn Hill, so expected to like this and I very much did. Some great lyricism in many of the songs
HL: "Fu-Gee-La", "Killing Me Softly", "Ready or Not", "No Woman, No Cry", "Zealots" June 6, 2024
Lots of hidden bangers. Amazing flow
Enjoyed it! Good listen.
Well know,great album
Surprisingly good. Very well constructed and executed rap. I love the east coast spoken-verse flow. Lauryn hill is remarkable as a rapper, and stellar as a singer. While there may be a few filler tracks, the peaks are really strong here and as a complete collection it flows well. The beats are strong and well recorded, the passion is felt throughout.
Chill production, great flow, some real classics. Good album all around!
not a genre i spend a lot of time in but such a pleasant listening experience feels like im in the room with them. killing me softly one of the most beautiful covers of all time..
A very well produced album. I know "Killing Me Softly" is pretty much a cover, but I didn't realize how many samples and interpolations there would be on the album. The lyrics are often well thought it and poignant. The Chinese restaurant skit was humorous, but also kinda came outta nowhere? The album was certainty an interesting listening experience
Nice to hear Lauryn Hill again on this album. I didn't know she was singing on this famous cover of Killing Me Softly With His Song. Also nice to hear Wyclef Jean! I liked this album, it had a few big standout songs in the mix. I liked Fu-Gee-La and Ready or Not the best, How Many Mics was cool too. I'm off to finally watch the 'It's tough loving Lauryn Hill' vid I've have on my to-watch list for so long.
Normally, I’m meh on hip-hop/rap. I’m a music first listener, so I usually enjoy the melodic stuff. However, this is really good. Probably my favorite hip hop album as of now. Favorite song: No Woman, No Cry
Hmmm this is a difficult one. Went into it think it’d be a 4* for sure with possibility to get to 5*. But I started to waffle the more I listened. There are the hits, sure, but the rest of the album isn’t as captivating as I remember. And those skits…man, really take me out of the flow. I ended up at a strong 3* or weak 4* and rounding up given how monstrous this album was when it came out. And the popular songs are still great. 3.5/5
This was really good, I enjoyed this a lot. Fugees are a trio of Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel, and they all compliment each other super well on this. It has a really mellow vibe throughout most of it, the lyrics are relaxed and funny. I like this comment from an Entertainment Weekly critic, "The Score feels warm and intimate — partly because the instruments are live but also because the Fugees sound so relaxed and casual." There's quite a few covers/samples on here, including some of the most well-known songs. "Killing Me Softly With His Song" and "No Woman, No Cry" are covers and "Ready or Not" has a few major samples (plus others I'm sure). They manage to pull these off in a fresh way though and they all work great. Generally just really enjoyable stuff here. I'm not a huge old rap fan, but this was great, it's almost 30 years old but still sounds pretty fresh. A few weaker songs scattered throughout (on a 61 minute album), but plenty of good to make it worth it. Lauryn Hill is super talented, I'm sure The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is on this list somewhere too, so I'm looking forward to that one. Favorite song: Ready or Not Other: How Many Mics, Zealots, Fu-Gee-La, Killing Me Softly With His Song, The Mask, No Woman No Cry 5/6/24
Wish Lauryn Hill would sing more.
några bangers
Lauryn Hill Wycef John. Third Guy. This was essential 90s jams.
please miss hill just one chance 💍🧎♀️ drags in places
Lekker
It's easy to forget how good this album is amongst all the things that followed - Wyclef's penchant for flipping cheesy samples, Pras' legal troubles, and Ms. Lauryn imploding her career after dropping Miseducation. But subtract all of that and take it back to the source - fresh beats, interwoven rhymes. Three lyricists giving their best over their own productions. Who could have blamed anyone for seeing anything but a brilliant run of albums as a collective and individuals? Dang. We'll always have The Score.
I really like the flow on this album. What we could've had if these folks stayed together. A few all-time greats on this album, there's some filler I could do without, but overall a great album.
Such an amazing album. The three of these guys really brought something magical. I’ve loved this album since I can remember.
Smooth grooves, nice flow, great beats, and at times, when Lauryn Hill is on vocals, transcendent. I do have to knock it down a star for the Chinese Restaurant skit.
The Score sees the Fugee's hit their stride while making their collective's unexpected final statement in one swoop before going their 3 separate ways. The result is a collection that is equally lyrical as well as hook-driven. Plenty of these tracks will live on as instantly effective needle drops forever while scores of the the bars wait with more layers of depth for new listeners to discover. The collision of 3 independent and strong personality types working together in a project has long been a compelling formula, from the rock power trio, to a small jazz combo, to 3-MC equation of hip hop. Run DMC, De La, Tribe, Beasties, TLC, Cypress, Def Squad, and so many more prove how formidable a sound can be formed with this kind of lyrical triangulation. Also impressive when a trio can stick together through stylistic changes, creative disagreements, and personality clashes, and it's understandable that longevity wasn't meant to be. This album remains a shooting star forever flaring brightly in the CV of Pras, Wyclef, & Hill.
This album rules. I remember listening to my parents cd in my early teens.
Pretty okay
Great to step into the 90s hip-hop sound today. I love the simplicity of the record. It's so effective and lets LH (and Wyclef Jean and Pras obviously) shine. I hadn't ever noticed to the chord structure of Killing Him Softly and I thought it was genius. My big takeaways are that sometimes simplicity is king and that LH is goated.
cool album, but not as good as i remember. 3.7/5
4.5/5
I can't help but like this album. It's well-crafted, catchy and fun. You already know all of these songs but in the context of the album they are that much more compelling.
Violence ain't necessary, unless you provoke me Then get buried like the great Mussolini
Fantastic album!
Some great songs!
favourites: "zealots", "fu-gee-la", "killing me softly with his song" skip: "mista mista"
Good ass tracks in this one.
Lauryn Hill is extraordinary. Didn’t keep my attention the whole time but they still killed it. 7.2/10 (+0.2 bonus for NJ natives)
- wild listening experience, huge fan of all the skits & feeling right there in the studio with them - fugees is a funky name but also sick that its topical to the album - refugees - obsessed with Lauryn Hill's voice, obviously - had to keep from laughing out loud during the outro - not as familiar with standards for rap music / this kind of flow but love it. the conversational type of contributions are amazing - sometimes cannot tell where one song starts and the next begins - as working music 4/5 - vibes 5/5
These are the albums on this list that keep me going. These are the albums that I know why they are on here the minute I see the visage of a Lauryn Hill (also looks like this was an album of the year nom). I did not know this existed! I fell in love with Hill years ago and was obsessed. Not a one hit wonder, but a one album wonder, by choice. But here we find that it wasn't one album, she was also in a band with Wycliff Jean! These songs were great and I'm keeping a few of them too. This cover is so Godfather and I love putting Lauryn front and center. Another classic hip hop album at 80 minutes but I think it's being driven by some remixes at the end and skits within the songs.
Hell yeah, most definitely a classic hip-hop album, and one of my favorite of 1996. Multiple beats that have served as classics for a long time, and Lauryn Hill's as sharp a rapper as she is an excellent singer, like on "Killing Me Softly," you'd almost think that was her song. Though I may have been surprised to say this at one point, I prefer Miseducation. Nevertheless, this is an excellent album. Favorite tracks: How Many Mics, Ready or Not, The Beast, Fu-Gee-La, Killing Me Softly, The Mask. Album art: Definitely iconic. Quick sidenote rule of thumb to follow - if Marvel hasn't done a cover variant of your hip hop album, it's not iconic. Anyway, yeah, three disembodied heads floating in darkness, plus the Godfather-style font. It's powerful, foreboding. 4.5/5
Great album, lush mix of sounds.
I really enjoyed this album. Imagine crafting Enya into an awesome Hip Hop track - Genius! I loved the skits and in-between bits and wish more albums would incorporate this in their storytelling. (Shout out to The Killers—Pressure Machine!) I'd be happy to listen to this again outside of this challenge, and I'm sure glad it was on the list.
The handful of hiphop choices are doing their best to drag up my 90s average score. Surprised at how much Wu Tang I could hear in parts of this.
own
Skits are charming, rapping is good, beats are fresh, ryan is happy
Surprised to learn Alec Baldwin was relevant back then
Ready or not here I come! Time less .
At the start of Ready or Not I had to double check my queue and make sure Enya didn't somehow get mixed in. I love the song Boadicea and was surprised to hear it sampled.
I wonder if I still own this CD? 🤔
Have I heard this album before? Yes Highlights: Ready or Not, The Beast, Fu-Gee-La, Family Business, Killing Me Softly with His Song, The Score, The Mask, No Woman No Cry Rating: 9.1/10 The trio work really well together, Lauryn Hill has incredible singing ability and Wyclef and Pras rap with real flavour. Caribbean influences blended with hip hop and R&B make for a really funky listen. Loved this one.
Great samples, flow and lyrics. Lauren Hill makes this album. The skits are out of place but an essential part of late 90's/early 2000's rap.
good
What stood out to me was that it still sounds current. The instrumental backing tracks have a nice groove and I think are what take it out of the 90’s. The songs that feature Lauren Hill are definitely stand outs. It could be because of my own bias toward melodic hip hop— and I mean, she’s an amazing singer— but even the songs where she’s rapping have a sparkle the others don’t quite have. 4.0
Some great grooves. Solid original “non gangster” hip hop
I remember this record better. The highs are incredibly high, and they're largely all Lauryn Hill coming through with some of the greatest verses in hip-hop history. But the lows stand out. Wyclef and Pras are...a lot more boring than I remember them being. It's not like they're bad, but they pale in comparison and weigh down the record on most tracks. The last few songs after the title track feel excessive, and while I don't hate them, the album should've ended with the title track and cut that feature. Maybe it's a sequencing issue, too? Also, the mastering is weird. The fake vinyl sound is annoying as hell. And the skits not being their own tracks ruin this – they're either really bad or outright unnecessary. Golden Age Hip-Hop albums are often bloated, but this would have absolutely benefited from a tight, concentrated edit down to 10 tracks, at least if you insist on keeping the skits. I complain only because it's flaws are obvious, but again, the highs are high. There are stretches of this album where it is just stone-cold-classic after stone-cold-classic, and that basically means the problems come out in the wash. It's still a classic record, and the quintessential "intro to hip-hop album" – I know it was that for me – and that reason also validates its acclaim. It's not a 5 star record, but it's an important record, and one that I think serves an important role in most music nerds' journeys.
Great album by some amazing talent. "Killing Me Softly" holds a special place in my heart.
I love Lauryn Hill, probably her solo album more than this, but this does have Ready Or Not and Killing Me Softly on it. Still, some pretty good beats and lyrics overall. Definitely a classic in my eyes.
Flows y beats que aguantan el tipo 30 años después, y momentos vocales que podrían samplearse para hacer d&b.
Again, I truly dislike rap/hiphop but this was nice enough. I didn't care for some of the songs and most definitely not for the skits, I skipped those. But the singles are great, Killing Me Softly was one of the favourite songs of my teenage self and still is. I also really like Lauryn's voice.
This is incredibly good and then Lauryn Hill comes on the track and really takes it to the next level
Great, lauryn hill is a new favorite.
Unreal that Wyclef used to be, like…a real rapper. Lauryn Hill the 🐐
Great vocals, great songs
Top tier hip hop boosted by recognizable singles. Love the cool sound and the blend of styles. Everyone vibed in the car on the way to ski at palisades. Shae wanted me to put in the record that he would also rate this highly although he will not be filling out a ballot. I wonder if I wouldn’t rate this a 5 if I had grown up listening to the whole album more.
If it weren't for Lauryn Hill I'd probably give this 2⭐ There's a reason the three big singles feature her heavily. Didn't care for the skits.
Not the right album if you're introducing someone new to hip-hop. Several stone-cold classics, excellent (if uncharacteristic) mixing/mastering, and a great all-round album for connoisseurs, but let down by the too-laid-back beats that don't match the lyrics. I could've done with the aggression turned up a little bit. Unfortunately, this leaves it trailing its contemporaries. Still great, though.
Chilled out, groovy hip-hop vibes and spawned some mega-hits
nice evening smoke sesh soundtrack. didn't expect to like it as much as I did! top 3: how many mics, ready or not, fu-gee-la. honorable mention: cowboys
Bit of a mixed bag but when it's good it's incredible. Pretty much the epitome of 1996.
The coolest
3.5 rounded up. Honestly I just want to hear more of Lauryn Hill every time I listen to the Fugees. They're a solid trio but for me she’s the star. One thing I’ve found listening to these 90s rap albums is that they tend to hold up - with the noticeable exception of all the skits. Which just make me feel icky listening to.
Excellente - peak 90s
I knew most of the hits from this album but I especially liked their version of No Woman, No Cry. You can tell how much influence this album/group had on hip hop. 8/10
i listened to this wth
Fugees are a bunch of assholes. Good music but asshats
Hip hop has not that often bought the right people together to combine softer hip hop without losing any steam or hardness. Certain tracks stand out obviously.
Lots of great stuff
Remember this album well. I don't really like the skits, but the songs are great. Fave songs 'Ready or Not' and 'Killing Me Softly' 4/5
I forgot how good this album was. Honestly it was so popular that it was way overplayed and I was sick of it pretty quickly.
Very fun. Killing me softly is just genius. Felt a little like not being sure they'd have another album lined up that they had to use every good idea they had though?
Lauren Hill is clearly the best female rapper ever. Whole vibe of this album is great. So unique.
"The Score" by Fugees, released in 1996, is a groundbreaking hip-hop album that deftly blends conscious lyrics, innovative production, and infectious hooks. Tracks like "Ready or Not" and "Killing Me Softly" showcase the group's ability to tackle social issues with a blend of introspection and infectious rhythm. The album's production, overseen by Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill, combines elements of hip-hop, reggae, and soul, creating a rich and diverse sonic landscape. While some tracks may feel slightly dated in their production, the overall impact of "The Score" remains undeniable. It's a landmark album that helped define the sound of 1990s hip-hop and remains influential to this day. Overall, "The Score" is a classic album that showcases the Fugees at the height of their powers. It earns a solid 4/5 rating for its innovative production, thought-provoking lyrics, and enduring influence on hip-hop music.
In the right mood and right place…yes, I like and will listen to them again.
real nice, some songs a bit boring but quite a few known to me and very loved important that i have listened to it
Would recommend
I listened to it. Liked the music better than the rap. I had a hard time understanding the words, especially when there’s competing sounds and voices. Overall, I liked the variety and scope of most of the selections. From reading the other reviews, the Fugees have a dedicated fan base and I appreciate that.
Defecating on your Microphone! Fand ich wirklich gut. Lange zwischen 3 und 4 geschwankt, ich wünschte der beat wäre etwas abwechslungsreicher. Ich geb ne 3,6 und damit ganz knapp 4 Sterne. Teilweise zu monoton. Einige Rhymes waren echt witzig und ich mag die Stimmen.
A little long, but otherwise excellent. Still feels fresh.
Lauryn Hills later life back problems are because of this album. Shout out Bob Marley. 4.5/5
Oh-lay-heeeee
One of the best yet.
4.5/5. Effortlessly cool
Killing me softly and Ready or Not - classics.
Although there are some pretty legendary songs (ready or not, fu-gee-la, killing me softly with this song), there are also some songs that I would instantly skip if I decided to listen to the album again.
Great stuff, anything with Lauryn Hill is a must
Liked it, mostly.
A little explicit for my taste, but good. Good vibes
Singles are brilliant - I’m being generous.
This lot should still be making records
All over the place apart from the singles, "Ready or Not," "Killing Me Softly," and "Fu-Gee-La." Somehow it's charming and it has a unique perspective, despite its scattershot approach. Basically a drunk driver of an album but with fewer road casualties.
Bin kein Hip-Hop Fan, aber das kann man hören. Killing me softly war bereits in meiner playlist, ready or not ist hinzugekommen
It might be sacrilege to say this, but I think the two covers are the weakest songs here. As nice as Lauryn's voice is on 'Killing Me Softly...' it's just 5 minutes of chorus, and comes right after the double hit of 'Fu-Gee-La' and 'Family Business' which are two of the best on here by far. I heard the popular songs plenty but somehow never went through the full album, and I was definitely missing out. The beats are fantastic, I love their chemistry together, and though they're all great here, Lauryn really shines. Classic hip-hop.
Really liked listening to this. I expect the score could rise after relistens. Lauryn Hill’s voice is gorgeous. The production is great. The beats and samples perfect. Wish the skits were on their own tracks. Often they ruin songs. 4/5
Very cool album. I knew a couple of the songs and liked a couple more, but I never heard of the band before. Cool mix of rap and maybe R&B? Not sure
fire
Good, not for me
Great!
Solid, good mix of hip hop and reagee. Not my thing, but enjoyed it
Wow this takes me back to a certain time and place. That time is middle school and that place is Mikey's bedroom, playing SNES Mario Kart and listening to the Fugee's CD he stole from his older sister. I don't think I've heard it since then. Upon re-listen its still quite good, maybe even better than I remember, which makes me wonder why I don't ever just happen upon it. But I also realize I'm unlikely to keep playing it after today. Perhaps its doomed to be stuck in the mid-90s...
Love The Fugees! The OG’s of rap with so much talent. Love the mix of songs on this album including the Bob Marley cover. Appreciate the message and beats.
jeben album, znao sam neke pjesme od prije. Pocetak albuma malo meh, ali sredina i kraj brutalni. Neki late night summer drive vibes mi je.
iskreno, nisan mislila da ce mi se ovoliko svidit, mozda je samo pogodia mood dana. Ima i dosta poznatih pisama
Joj meni je ovo bilo odlično uz igranje catana. Luce i Ivan su mi objasnili da je dosta toga uzeto iz drugih žanrova tako šta su uzimali svakakve ploče i ubacivali dijelove (džabe!) pa su oni obradili. Ja nisan očekivala da ce mi se ovako nesto svidit, al tome ovo slušanje albuma i služi!
Rap ne slušam skoro nikad ali ovo je stvarno bilo odlično, jako dobri beatovi!
schöne klassische 96 Scheibe...
I wasn't sure what to expect out of Wyclef and Ms. Lauryn, but this album genuinely sounded like kids having fun with R&B and Rap. Always hard to assume what you do is visionary, but this helped push rap further into the vibe category and away from the original Gangsta attitude it had associated with it. A phenomenal cover and lots of notable originals
Die Fugees…. Ziemlich cool und herrlich basslastig. Killing me softly… genial
4/5 Killing Me Softly With His Song (recognition from a tik tok sound- love it) Ready or Not ( Bridgit Mendler's song inspo- love it too
50/50
This is so close to a full 5/5 stars for me. I think the most impressive thing about this album is how many songs have absolutely killer hooks, all done by the trio, all sung by people who consider themselves rappers/mc’s before singers. Intstrumentals are so pleasing and easy on the ears
1996 - Hip hop music; Soul music; Contemporary R&B; Alternative hip hop; Progressive rap
This one surprised me. At first I got sent to the censored version of the album, but once I sorted that out it was great. This is the only kind of hip hop that I seem to enjoy. Clever, witty lyrics for the most part. A couple of sections were a bit off colour. The Chinese restaurant martial arts beatdown? Not funny the first time, and who wants to listen to that EVERY TIME? Such a weird feature of hip hop albums.
Ms. Lauryn Hill really served on this record. She proves that she was on of the most talented artists OAT. However some of the songs get a little too repetitive for me to give it a 5/5.
Very good. Slightly tighter and may be a 5.
Ready or not, Fu-Gee-La and Killing Me Softly with His Song are dope.
Realität good choice
I don't listen to much of this 80s-90s hip-hop, but I always enjoy it when I do.
This was a very solid album. I was not familiar with the Fugees before this, but I’ll have to listen to more of them. They have a very nice and unique sound to their beats and vocals.
Lauryn Hill is just too good.
Aged pretty well
Consistently good, nearly a 5. Great sampling throughout.
Nice
One of the best trios in Hip Hop history. Awesome display of Mis Lauryn Hill, with some stunning vocals. Listening to this makes you go to heaven because of how beautiful it is. Red Intro: 8.7 How Many Mics: 9.3 Ready Or Not: 8.5 Zealots: 8.9 The Beast-includes Chinese restaurant skit: 8.2 Fu-Gee-La: 9.6 Family Bussiness: 9.3 Killing Me Softly with His Song: 9.8 The Score: 9.7 The Mask: 9.2 Cowboys: 8.5 No Woman, No Cry: 8.8 Manifest/Outro:9.8
I grew up listening to “Killing Me Softly” & “Ready or Not” which I still love. I do feel like these two songs really carried the album and the rest of them were slightly lacking, but I still enjoyed them. Maybe just a bit too long to keep me completely interested. 7/10
Man Lauryn Hill is one of the most talented people in history. The best songs are her taking a lead and main part in them. Good beats and solid lyrics, I do think some songs overstay their welcome by like 30-45 seconds. The bit at the end of the beast was fucking hilarious though. 7/10
Spectacular flow, perfect beats, delightful singing, bits at the end of songs that weren’t needed and went on too long. 7/10
The Fugees are so good. A few too many skits for my liking, but that’s really a hallmark of most hip hop albums from that era. Lots of solid tracks here. My favorites are probably “Ready or Not,” “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” and “No Woman, No Cry.” Overall one of the best hip hop albums from the 90s.
It was decent: I really enjoyed the funk to this album. I felt there were strong performances from everyone involved, felt it could've slapped a little bit harder but overall it was very very good. Could definitely listen to this some more.
At its best ‘The Score’ it nigh on flawless, but it’s dragged down by a lot of long spoken word interludes and skits that I find take me out of the record and mostly add nothing. Also. whilst their cover of ‘Killing Me Softly’ is excellent and fresh and brings something new to the song, I found their cover of ‘No Woman, No Cry’ to be average and unnecessary at best.
I’m glad I’m doing this list. I ended up listening to the album twice in one day. Wish I could give half stars.
Powerful classic rap. Rhythmically and culturally significant.
Great memories, much nostalgia, very fun
The beats, rhythms, & grooves of this album are great. Not something I could listen to everyday, but it's got my respect for sure! Corny, but I also enjoy the speaking tracks & crackling record effects sprinkled in. Classic throw back album for my generation. I'm curious how younger generations would grade this album. Had I not grown up to this, I'm not sure I could grade it as high as I did.
Noiiis. Rap cu reggae și cu alte nebunii
This was groovy and I recognized a lot of samples. Favorite was Zealots
This was such a good mix of solid genres, and it was set in such a way that it was both playful and serious at various times. Definitely will be added to the rotation
A classic, though maybe not my everyday go-to.
Now that was a performance. Lauryn Hill's solo album was great and this project is also great. Musically, lyrically, hits closely to perfection. 4.5/5.
Classic, even if not fully my style
Some real highlights on this one. Unique rhythm stylings and interesting themed content.
From the first verse of How Many Mics, it’s blatantly obvious Ms. Lauryn Hill is by far the best rapper in the Fugees, by the next track Ready or Not, it’s obviously she’s an absolute superstar. The Fugees diversity is their greatest strength, each offers a very different style…. But what if it was just Hill … would this great album be every better?? History suggests it’s possible, maybe likely. Regardless, it has that east coast 90s hip hop we all love plus soul 8.6/10
Great album. Lauryn Hill is obviously the standout of this album. Her voice and rhymes are impeccable. The beats are excellent. Has three all time hip hop songs, there aren't really duds on here.
Had low expectations, Common's album made me question my affinity for rap. This album fixed me. Reggae elements work really well. Mista Mista was fun, will probably stick in my head for a while
Listened Before? No Album Art: 4 / 5 (classic and simple. Dude on the right got done dirty, but otherwise great). Did not realize that Wyclef Jean was in the Fugees before Black Eyed Peas. Only listened to Ms. Lauryn Hill on the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Excited to hear more. How Many Mics features a dope beat centered around punch snare and bass and a looping warble with spooky background sounds. Song fucks. Beat on Ready or Not was recently sampled by Metro Boomin' / 21 Savage on Creepin'. Interesting stereo production; I find it a bit distracting tbh. God damn, the beats and production on here are amazing. The Beast is rooted in a repeating strings line that comes in and out of focus, with some great little elements interspersed. Adds a psychedelic effect. Ends with a Chinese restaurant skit that, while it has aged poorly, is actually hilarious. Fu-Gee-La continues the string of sick instrumentals. Almost sounds like something Immortal Technique would rap over. Vocals are initially suppressed, but they flow like butter. Killing Me Softly is a classic track that has stood the test of time. Cover of No Woman, No Cry is well done, but IMO unnecessary. The original needed no extension and this one doesn't do much to distinguish itself outside of an overlaid hip-hop drum track. Alright so this is a classic entry straddling the boundary between Hip-Hop and R&B. Phenomenal production throughout with some of the most interesting and varied beats I have heard for this era of hip-hop. On top of that Wyclef and Lauryn Hill are very adept MCs that flow off of one another throughout. This album started extremely strong and lost steam throughout its playtime. All said, this is a solid 4 / 5 that I will be back to. Added to Library? Yes Songs Added to Playlists: - How Many Mics (Skate Mix)
Damn I did not know much at all about the Fugees going into this one but I really really liked it. Between the beats and a bunch of songs I didn’t even know where the Fugees I was bumping this. Killing me Softly is such a great song one of my favorites. Had it stuck in my head since I finished the album.
This is really good; Lauryn Hill is just absolutely brilliant, and the others aren't far behind. It's clever, witty, playful, with a bit of bite, and very listenable. They get away with it being a longish album because of the variation in the tracks and their voices, it all flows really well. 4/5.
pretty interesting I think
Pretty fabulous really. Not a fan of the skits. Love the reinvented covers.
Never listened to the Fugees before somehow. I love the laid back beats of this era of hip-hop.
I've listened to this album before and wasn't that impressed. This time I enjoyed it more. The hits are ok but I think that the more traditional rap songs are where this album really shines. Favourites include "Fu-Gee-La" and "How Many Mics". I actually listened to this quite a few times during the day but couldn't really decide how good I thought it was. Some of the songs are clearly part of the 90s "cover-mainia" (looking at you "No Woman, No Cry"). Still think this gets a weak 4 since I listened to it a lot and still enjoyed it.
I really liked most of this!
First of all, somehow did not know the Fugees are an NJ group. Bonus points for representing the homeland! Great record, absolutely phenomenal lyrics, loved the arrangements, a couple songs that sounded a bit dated and typical 90s alt rap but overall fantastic. I think the big takeaway for me is Lauryn Hill is a god-tier musician and performer.
4/5
Man this is some good stuff on here. It's a shame they couldn't stick together although I do like their solo material. The mercurial Lauryn Hill has a gorgeous voice especially on the cover of Killing Me Softly. The title track samples Dove by Cymande brilliantly. I'm deducting a star for some of the skits after the song ends which hip hop is guilty of. But overall, it's a solid album. Yo L: Take it to the bridge.
Better than I expected. There are a couple nice songs. Still not a hip hop fan but this was better than average.
1/5 - Never listening again 2/5 - Its ok, but not for me 3/5 - Will listen again 4/5 - I love it 5/5 - Going in my playlist Red intro -/5 How many mics 3/5 Ready or Not 5/5 Zealots 3/5 The beast 3/5 Fu-Gee-La 5/5 Family Business 4/5 Killing Me Softly With His Song 5/5 The Score 3/5 The Mask 3/5 Cowboys 3/5 No Woman, No Cry 4/5 Manifest/Outro 3/5 Album: 4/5
This is so good! Lauryn Hill is amazing
hey this was great
Strong 4, very strong start. Falls off slightly at the end of the album.
Good
- Heard this before - Classic album, but I think there are a few slightly weaker tracks - Probably prefer Miseducation - Fav songs: Killing Me Softly, Ready or Not, Fu-Gee-La
So much god damn swag. The transitions. The content. The repetitions. Iconic songs, to sum it up
how can you complain about lauryn hill? well you could complain about her punctuality at live events. some great songs on here. ready or not, fu-gee-la and of course killing me softly. Really loved the Bob Marley cover. I cannot escape this song. What an album
Great album.
How can you not enjoy this album, regardless of what score its given, it's a worthy listen if you enjoy rap/hip hop/R&B! Standout song(s): - How Many Mics - Fu-Gee-La - Family Business
3.76 per track. If it wasn’t for mista mista and the skits this would have scored much higher. Great album.
Excellent; the beats have an immense amount of gravity, and the samples / re-interpretation of songs was both innovative and richly deployed; enjoyed the meta textual element of the album being posited as a film, and personally imagined an additional layer, with the filmmakers perhaps watching us watch the movie; this saturates the album with vivid color, with the lyrics painting sharp and cutting images. Ms Lauryn Hill's professional reputation blurs some of the lines and pulls me out of the album, and makes me come to the table with my own considerations.
Enjoyed it, but found the little "skits" they did at the end of each song to be kind of stupid.
Such a vibe. Foundational album of the 90's.
This feels like it could be my favorite rappers favorite album. So many later artists have a sound that reminds me of the fugees sound. The rhyme schemes are layered and equal to any modern rapper. Mant of the tracks remind me of MF Doom. I cannot believe I didn't find this album sooner. Favorite track was Zealots
Smooth songs. Many classics. Not an everyday album for me. Really have to be in the mood
Enjoyed it much more than I thought I would, not my traditional genre choice but great feel with classic influences to the big beats.
Veel zinnen die in meerdere liedjes voorkomen, veel conversatie, sommige liedjes andere zangers
Album was better than I thought it was going to be! New York rap scene vibes.
Enjoyable but repetitive, low 4
You know if you overdub The Godfather with this album, it syncs up perfectly! 4 severed horse heads out of 5 🐴🐴🐴🐴
Really good listen, loved it
I liked this album a bit more than The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest. I felt the beats were enjoyable the whole way and varied. I found the audio stories in the songs to be hilarious especially on The Beast. This all around had great vibes some serious bars and beats that kept giving.
really fun. did not realize how great a rapper lauryn hill is. all her radio stuff is her singing
I learned something new today
Honestly, a dope album, I get why it's famous. Worth a re listen
fantastic, chill lauryn hill always gets respect the skits are wild
great album 8.5/10
Rentoa hiphoppia ja hauskoja skittejä. Monta tuttua biiaiä
I laughed at the funny rhymes and had a better understanding of the seriousness they were presenting, in contrast to the pop culture rap from the time.
Best one so far. Amazing album. Minus one point for the skits, they get old fast.
very good listen, some catchy production and good skits. Killingly my Softly with his Song is a great standout due to Lauren’s vocals, but i love her rapping. the mixes at the end were pretty sick too. more lauren is great, but the other two Fugees nail jt. the lowkey production and focus on lyrics are very chill
ноу вумен ноу край, вот откуда это взял нойз
Да, именно отсюда нойз взял, ноу вумен ноу край, ахахах Гангста-репчик прикольный... но меня настолько уже все эти экспериментальные современные (и не только) штуки разбаловали, что это звучит как-то слишком олд. В целом раскачивает, но периодически уже думаешь "когда же уже всё закончится и я выберусь из Бруклина"
Deep soul A lot of songs I didn’t realize I had heard. It sounded fresh even though it’s from the 90s and the mixing is amazing. Incredible production and sampling
Ready or not = Banger Zealots = Banger Killing Me Softly = Banger Lauryn Hill Couldn't Miss back then. 2nd half starting to feel long. Woulda been a 9/10 after 9 songs, lost me by the outro Strong 8/10
Je suis amoureuse de la voix de Lauryn Hill. Les arrangements, la production et les échantillons sont bien réfléchis, se répondent autant qu'ils surprennent.
Muy buen álbum, aunque algunos sonidos se escuchan dated. La primera parte es mejor que la segunda.
Like Digable Planets that would appear only a few years prior, Fugees was one of the finest rap trios of the 90's, even if they only had two releases. I do find that if someone is speaking about this group, they are probably only referring to one member. I wasn't aware of who Pras and Wyclef Jean were before this, and I'm sure a lot of people still aren't. Lauryn Hill excels at just about everything she does, which often overshadows the successes of her two cohorts, who are really solid on their own merits. But truthfully it is hard to not talk exclusively about Lauryn. Not only is she a fantastic writer and lyricist, but when she sings, it brings the song to a whole new level. This album has some of the catchiest and most memorable hooks and choruses of 90's hip-hop, mostly because of her. For example, look at Killing Me Softly. I knew of that song long before I ever knew who Lauryn was. The beats on this are pretty good. I find that the drums sound the same on pretty much every track, which is par for the course in this genre. But I like a little bit of change every once in a while. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) is a good example of what I mean by that. A lot of the time, the drums feel like they take a back seat to the sampling on that record, and I would have liked to see more of that on here. But because the drums are the way they are, the beats have to rely on the sampling, and while the sampling isn't bad on here, I've seen and heard better. I'm honestly glad I got the chance to hear this before I will inevitably listen to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, because I like seeing an artist's progression in life through their music. Rating: 7/10
Tudi ta album sem poznala od prej in mi je bil zelo pri srcu. Ene izmed najboljših hip hop komadov vseh časov so na tem albumu!!! Mogoče sem ga svoj čas preveč časa poslušala in je malo izgubil čar, ampak je še vedno izjemen album.
Fun.
Muito bom, altos clássicos do hip hop
Wow this one surprised me some classics I didnt know was the Fugees. 4/5
Wow this just build and builds. First few songs in I wasn't all that impressed, but somewhere during Zealots, the album starts cooking and doesn't let up. Fav track: Cowboys 4.5/5
Great record start to finish. Hill shining again with captivating flow and vocal performances. Fresh beats and fun sampling throughout. Fave track: Zealots
Some classics but not perfect on every track. Is that even possible?
90s hip hop, nice mood. Some high level covers (no woman no cry, killing me softly). Ok to listen in a Hip Hop mood :)
Classic
Solid project - love the covers, samples, and beats. But the album is carried by Ms. Lauryn Hill.
This was pretty good. Lots of good stuff going on. I'll have to listen to this again.
I’m not that much into Hip Hop, but I enjoyed the classics on this album a lot!
4.5
Great album. Classic 90s rap/hip hop vibes. Not a bad song on the record. Top 3 songs for me were Zealots, Fu-Gee-La, and Manifest. -Klep
C'était bien mieux que dans mes souvenirs
Really good. Could see myself relistening to it
This would be a perfect record if it wasn't for the skits. 4/5
7,9/10
It's almost perfect, I'm not a massive fan of rap but this is different proper R&B and more Jazz-Rap some beautiful vocals the only reason it's not a five is some songs still aren't my type of music and the Beast with the Chinese restaurant sketch is strange.
Primeira vez ouvindo algo do tipo. Foi meio que um.... Prog Rap. Curti bastante
TRANSITIONS, my goodness.
Never listened to this album through and it definitely matched my expectations. Its impact on the wider hip-hop scene is clear and anything Lauryn Hill touches is golden. A really enjoyable listen and “Ready or Not” is the centrepiece, just needed a couple less skippable songs and that’s a 5
samples and ample amounts of bass. lyrics focusing on spirituality and social consciousness. two covers that are well done and they made their own. lauryn hill is indeed the star of the show, and how she shines. in fact, this was the group’s last album, as hill branched out on her own and recorded a solo album, the critically acclaimed “the miseducation of lauryn hill”. highlights: “how many mics”, “the beast”, “killing me softly”…
Fugees were pretty cool, huh? The references to other recordings and artists are abundant, and the blend of hip-hop with soul and reggae influences works well. Still too many skits and soundbites though...
Pointing out references and samples on The Score is a pastime in itself. A bunch of legendary tracks where all members of the trio step up. Could’ve done without the skits though - just to shorten the whole thing a bit.
This was legit great.
This is a great album. It’s really runny to me though. People doing a Jamaican accent for reggae is hilarious.
Ready or Not & Killing Me Softly with His Song
Loved it apart from the chatting rubbish in between tracks
This was proper good! I knew of the Fugees and some hits but not properly. Really loved how varied this was, the samples and the little bits of dialogue in between.
Sometimes I think that I like The Score better than Miseducation, but nah, no way. It’s really good, though, even if there’s a clear MVP here. I’ll just say that it’s funny that Wyclef thinks that Bob Marley is in his range. B+
I'm not the target audience for this kind of music, but I found it very entertaining nonetheless.
I really enjoyed this! I can't believe I'd only ever really listened to the one song.
Killing Me Softly is an iconic cover, one of the best that’s ever been done. The beats are tight, Lauryn Hill is a goddess, and the album cover is perfection.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. You had some real smooth, tasteful production and some good beats here, while the bars and flows by Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel were all real good. Loved the humor interjected in between the serious notes, and Lauren specifically stood out in the best way. Only thing I really didn't care for was the skits.
Few superhits but I don’t want to buy the whole album for my collection.
Masterpiece hip hop album with a lot of great sampling, hooks for days and a great mix! And that sweet Lauryn Hill voice! 8 out of 10
it was amazing
It's always been in my musical wishlist that this flavor of R&B and hip hop becomes mainstream again. It is just so much better. Sexier, funkier, more sultry, more angsty. Not every song is an absolute winner, but the album highs are stunningly high.
Ooo, I like this one a lot. Really solid album. There are a lot of layers in the tracks, and I like the textures and complexity. I'll have to come back to this one.
Yes
Decent 8
Great classic hip-hop records with great samples and groove
Prima muziek maar niet voor mij
Brings back the nostalgia
It’s been a while since I listened to these songs. All these guys are extremely talented and I he overall vibe in this album is a test of it. Definitely, Fugees is one of those projects you should listen to to understand how hip hop evolved during the 90s. Unluckily, it is a long album. They could have cut a couple of songs (like the Marley’s cover) and have a better crafted album.
8/10
Boom....bad boy riddums throughout!!!!! Selecta
3.5
And even though some of the rapping on this album is actually pretty good, I think this album plays better as back on music when you want something for hip-hop background music. A lot of hip-hop today just doesn’t compare to how good it was in the 90s also a little aside, “killing me softly with his song“ is a cover, but the Fugees and others like Roberta Flack always saying it as if the song was metaphorical just like the “killing”. But the original was actually about the songwriter seen the singer Don McLean and she didn’t really know who he was at the club and one of the songs just killed her and she wrote the song on a napkin so it’s literally about the song, she thought he was singing only for her and she didn’t expect it, though it gets re-interpreted as a metaphorical way a Man loves a woman. It’s just shows how good art can be reinterpreted. The song is also a great example of how professionals in any corporate industry will steal from artists. The original songwriter, Lori Lieberman, was never given writing credit, the actual person who was “killed softly” by McLean’s song, and she didn’t get songwriting credit/pay for Flack’s nor the Fugees’s versions, both which went to #1 on various charts & won Grammies.
6.5/10 too many words?
I’m into this, I’m into this
4.5/5
I can understand why its beloved by some, but its just okay for me. Lauryn is certainly the standout. There's some really good songs here surrounded by a lot of "that was ok" A 3ish for me, bumping to a 4 for the standout moments and because I can certainly understand why ot would be here.
Alto disquito de Rap, onda Doggystyle. Muy buenas líricas de la mina.
I both love and hate this record
4.5
3.5
Would call them a rap supergroup but this was before the members had successful solo careers. Very influential in the genre but like most hip hop albums from its time, the skits are ridiculously stupid and cringeworthy. Glad they’re mostly a thing of the past.
Great tempo with mostly good beats, decent lyrics with some excellent bars. Finally some female representation as well. Overall a great album with some well-known bangers, although in exchange some of the songs are not that good. Still, this definitely feels like a breath of fresh air within the ocean of the generic shitty boomer ass punk/rock albums that this list provides. Well-deserving of a 4/5.
28 years it took me to realise fugees = refugees. Pretty d though.
A very good hip hop album from a group that's unknown to me. I've heard their "Killing me softly" before but the rest was new. The beats and production is stellar and their rapping is really on point.
Surprisingly good, I think I never got around to it in the day because it was so lauded that I didn't care? Any way, it's a pleasant good hip hop album from the late 90s... dig
Did we really need a remake of "Killing Me Softly"? The Roberta Flack version was, and is, pretty perfect. We may not have needed a remake, or update of the classic. But it turns out, my word, we all really, really wanted one. Or at least one reimagined by The Fugees. It stands apart while also making Flack's version even stronger. Both versions are balls out classics, and that's saying nothing for how the whole thing began by the songwriter being mesmerized by a live performance of Don McLean. It all comes down to the Lauryn Hill of it all. As great as this is, the listener gets the feeling that it's beneath her. Probably because that's what she was projecting. Not for nothing, but props must also be given for submitting my all-time favorite version of "No Woman, No Cry", a song decidedly not inspired by Don McLean.
Absolute Klassiker dabei, muss gut bewerten
Didn't fully listen but the tracks I did were good.
Great record.
Heerlijke relaxte beat, waardoor de muziek lekker zomers doorkabbelt. De skits hadden van mij niet gehoeven, die onderbreken de flow (al dan niet bewust). Ik heb niet heel goed naar de teksten geluisterd, maar het voelt allemaal niet als die hersenloze gangsterrap, maar meer als de chille hip hop als tribe called quest enzo.
I will listen to this one time. Will I listen two times? Ready Or Not manages to be more than just the sum of its parts - Enya (with a John Carpenter vibe) and the Delfonics. Songs I've never heard and enjoyed - Zealots. Nice use of The Flamingos. Family Business - just a really decent hip hop track. Notes - The skits are kind of annoying, the one time two time and general chunnering behind Lauren's excellent performance on Killing me Softly is still very annoying given how good the rest of it is. The deep voice rapper (presumably Michel) reminds me strongly of the later Jurassic 5. The cover of No Woman Cry I found kind of bland and nothing at the time, and I still do. Overall, wow, Killing Me Softly did a really bad job of enticing me in to what is an excellent hip hop record back in 96. When the lads are rapping, its also very good. Very surprised how much I enjoyed this. Just chunner less lads, you've got gold here!
Not all songs are as memorable as others, but the heights on this album are really worth listening to.
4/5 I was really excited to see this album pop up. Previously, I only listened to the songs that were the "famous ones," so this was the first time listening through the whole thing. I thought it was very conscientious rap, and I can get behind that. I liked a lot of the lyrics, (even though they were a bit poop centric LOL). The fact that Lauryn adds a MOFO just to get the "ignant" you-know-what's to pay attention.... Well done. 👏🏻
Really enjoyed this. Would have been even better without the skits and n bombs but it's to be expected with the genre. The extended version was long (and probably longer than I'd have liked) but this was definitely an album I enjoyed LISTENING to. Great lyrics, great themes. With the fat trimmed could have been a 5.