Reviews (page 8 of 14)
the outro of the beast has one of the worst Asian impersonations i've ever heard. this is a 90s album I thought they were supposed to be good at being racist back then pretty good ig
-this is probably one of the most enjoyable hip hop albums I’ve ever heard, to be honest. Lauryn Hill is probably the best part, absolutely phenomenal -The rhythms and sampling is sooo good in every song, especially in the first half (Boadicea my beloved…). Would want to listen again -Favorites are Ready Or Not, Zealots, and Fu-Gee-La
Great
4.25
Lauryn Hill is so talented. 4.4.
The blending of genres and lyricism on this album are top notch. Could do without the skits. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
I remember listening to this album in my apartment in Lawrence Kansas. It was my sophomore year at KU and my friend and I would listen to this album and smoke cannabis. It was really good times, I can almost smell the incense that we would use to cover up the smell from my neighbors. Lots of good memories around this album. It's unfortunate that all three of them appear to be less than stellar individuals, the music is still great though.
I am far from a hip hop/ rap aficionado. Not something I ever “just listen to”. I know the Fugees were a very influential group within this genre- But to me it is simply a solid well done album.
Further proof that you should not underestimate New Jersey. Talk all the shit you want about us, we’ve heard it all before…chances are we’re too busy making something incredible to care what you think.
I've always had mixed feelings in my limited exposure to this group. I heard only the hits. As an album it feels like a true synthesis between Wu-Tang and something more gentle like LL-Cool J's more romantic tracks. It has skits, it has some nice flows, it has great sampling, it's a fantastic and varied album. I don't know that I'll run it back again and again but I enjoyed it.
Excellent.
Uno de los mejores álbumes de Hip-hop que he tenido el placer de escuchar, y todo se lo debo a esta lista. Con un contenido lírico que se enfoca en representar la realidad afroamericana (la cual no cambiado mucho desde los '90s), el trabajo nos muestra capas y capas de rica crítica social a través de flows prístinos e intervenciones melódicas que evocan a lo mejor del R&B, Soul y música caribeña, de la mano de la talentosísima Lauryn Hill. Definitivamente, "The Score" es uno de los mejores LPs de los '90s, no solo por su relevancia cultural y contextual, sino también por su nivel de producción, creatividad e influencia para el panorama del Hip-hop.
Wicked hip hop. I like the speed and clarity of the lyrics and beats, it was very easy to follow along too which is essential to the genre (for me anyways) I'll be revisiting this album for sure.
Love ya Lauren
Classic rap album 4/5
Very enjoyable
Throwback hip hop and soul with a message that everyone should hear. I love this album so much. Must listen songs: Zealots The Beast Killing Me Softly No Woman, No Cry 4/5
it is funny how Spotify has "The Beast" coupled with "- includes Chinese restaurant skit" in its title. big "Dead Dove: Do Not Eat" vibes from that. i can understand why some see this as an enduring classic, but i wish i could do the same. it's not bad or even middling by any extent of the imagination -- "Ready or Not" is a pefect song -- but it is easy to see a better record if some changes were made. let Lauryn rap more and get Pras to rap less. let John Forte join the group and make him contribute a bit more than Pras. tone down the tutting judgement in the first half of the record. cut the "No Woman, No Cry" because it's straight ass and you have a cover on the album already. don't let Ruff House put three bonus tracks on on the CD. however, The Score is what it is and it's no point dictating things you could do to improve it. the milk was spilt, dried, and forgotten. i don't think there are any really weak instrumentals on the record, everything's very well put together (barring the bonus tracks stapled to the end). it's more to do with the simple fact of who the Fugees are -- a very talented woman who knows this, a guy who thinks he's much more talented than she is, and his cousin. why did the Fugees break up? why do crows mob owls? why do papier-mâché volcanoes explode? because there is no other outcome for the combination of the parties involved. it's just the way it was always gonna be.
Blast from my teenage years. Classic 90s rap. Lauryn Hill is amazing. I have definitely heard this album at school, takes me back. Some absolute bangers.
Some very catchy alternative hip hop/ pop taht has many songs and samples that I recognise. Standouts: How Many Mics, Fu-Gee-La, The Score and Ready Or Not
Don't honestly know why I've never really listed to the Fugees before this is right up my alley. 8/10
Immer noch gut.
This album has some really cool songs on it only marred with dumb chatting between songs.
4.5
Her voice is flawless and everything else sounds really neat and nice for an almost 30 year old album
How have I never listened to this completely? Crazy.
An obvious classic. A smooth, super well produce hip-hop record. Such great sampling.
#376. When I listened to Lauryn Hill's album, I shit on it pretty hard, and I think rightly so. Pretty shit, to be honest. But listening to this here shows me that wasn't always the case. This right here is pretty fucking good. Seems she took the John Lennon approach and decided to go off on her own and just make trash afterwards, but there did, at some point, seem to be some pretty good stuff going on. 4/5: great
8.3/10 Bangers and flow. Appreciate the wyclef jean and lauryn hill b2b melody.
Highlights: How Many Mics Zealots Killing Me Softly With His Song The Mask
such a banger 4-4.5/5
I was struggling to crack this one but the more I paid attention the more interesting some of the samples on this went went; there's a 3 second sample of The Day Begins from The Moody Blues Days of Future Passed. That's such an interesting call for the very end that almost leaves the song hanging. Then they use a sample from Knights in White Satin from the same album to end The Mask. There's a great energy throughout this. This feels like it's a bridge between a lot of things but I don't know hiphop at this time well enough to me able to see it all. Cool listen. This is the type of thing you could pay attention to and get something or zone out and get an entirely different experience. I know it was of the time but the skits don't land. Their voices work together really well.
They have that bounce in their flow that I like. Over all sounds like a blend of The Wu-Tang Clan and a Tribe Called Quest, sprinkle in some reggae. Some of the skits sound right out of Enter the Wu-Tang. This album feels a little loose at times, but has enough strong points to keep riding high. I'm going 4.8 rounded down.
Never heard this before, better than I expected. Hill is clearly the star here, but was more hip-hop focused than the singles would indicate. An easy listen
Some classic songs, some 90s NYC rap. Okay.
Not listened to this for years and enjoyed revisiting. The covers are probably the strongest but the rest still holds up as well….
Great melodic hip hop with awesome music
Let down by skits
One of the best hip-hop albums to come out of the 90s.
Not my music at all but was interesting to listen to
Wow! Very soulful, socially aware, and diverse 90s rap album! I loved it!
kinda lost me outside of the singles but i like how accessable it is
I listened to this one twice and it's pretty great. I don't think I'm ready to go 5 here yet, but it's a 4.5 for real.
Reade or Not, Fu-Gee-La och Killing Me...är såna riktiga hits. Övriga låtar är också bra. Det är liksom hip hop som jag kan fatta.
Ready or Not - Track 3, nostalgia at its peak. Zealots --- a layered song, very fun. Fu-Gee-La Lauryn's voice and bars 🔥 It's been like 10 years since I last listened to this album and what a good way to remember where I was and where I am.
Good
Some really amazing tracks. Some have not aged as well. But a very good album. A 3.5-3.75, but I'll round up.
Banger, this is a better rap album than the other one a listened to
Solid album, some of the skits are so-so but the guys are top of their game here.
Ah, The Score, an album I've listened to a handful of times. This album came out when I was in fifth grade, and I remember "Killing Me Softly" being a massive hit. I wasn't really allowed to listen to hip hop when I was a kid, but "Killing Me Softly" was so massive that it got plenty of airplay on the local top 40 station that wasn't barred in our household. I know I listened to this within the last year at some point, but I'm excited to fire it back up today. The Score isn't one of my favorite albums, but I still think it's really good. The lyrics are great (I love all of the references to politicians and pop culture figures), the vocals are fantastic, and the production is out of this world (I would expect nothing less from Lauryn Hill). "Ready Or Not" and "Killing Me Softly" stand head and shoulders above the rest of the album, but the other songs are good too. This album does an excellent job at showcasing hip hop as an art that's just as serious and beautiful as other forms of popular music. Where this album gets weighed down is its pacing. I know skits are a part of hip hop music, but the ones on this album just slow things down to a snail's pace, and I found it difficult to get back into the album after the skits. This album is great because of the music and its dark atmosphere, but the skits bring both of those to a screeching halt. Some of the songs are a tad long as well, and a couple of songs felt a little unnecessary to me, particularly "Cowboys." Still, this album is really good, and it showcases the collaborative talents of Hill, Jean, and Pras. The Score is an achievement, but there are other hip hop albums from the era that I'd rather listen to.
Great album! It got a little weaker for me in the middle and I felt that a few semi tracks didn’t make up for the length, but all in all, I enjoyed this more than any of their solo stuff.
This is almost a 5. I feel like all the songs were great, but not gonna give it a 5 because none of them really stuck with me
Heck yes. Vibes galore
Classic hip hop, I take one star off for the skits that sometimes go on too long
What a coincidence! Reference to Tracy Chapman - yesterday’s album! Great sense of humour- killer flow from Lauren. Great references
Ou la la la!
Really enjoyed this! I had no idea Lauryn Hill originally started with this band. Also that they only had two albums? Also this band includes Wyclef Jean? I learned so much!
An enjoyable album all the way through, with a couple of proper good songs. I'm not sure I would like it as much without Lauren Hill - much better than the rest.
Good stuff. Why had I forgotten the Fugees?
Solid 4
What’s really unique about The Score is the production quality. On top of the super clean production you have Lauryn Hill, who is a master of both rap and singing/melodies and adds to the overall super high quality album. I’m not sure the other aspects of the album are as revolutionary as they appear 30 years later (content of the songs, female rapper/singer). Overall it holds up, and I’m sure at the time pushed the genre forward. The template of creating a 10 second loop and rapping/singing over it for 3 minutes feels tired now, but at the time may not have been played out. I wish they would have explored other structures and arrangements. Skits are also something I could do without, but obviously were/are popular on Rap albums. Would go somewhere between 3.5 and 4.
Overall such a solid album - I loved this. It’s held up a lot better than a lot of 90s hip hop. Lauryn Hill obviously stands out - she elevates some mediocre songs (eg Fu-Gee-La) and makes the good ones even better (eg Ready or Not). Killing Me Softly is a gorgeous combo of understated production and her voice in center stage. Some great production in other spots too - super creative Enya sample on Ready or Not that spawned several remakes since then
Not really into Hip Hop but this is a great album
++: Zealots, Family Business, Killing Me Softly, The Mask, Cowboys +: Red Intro, How Many Mics, Ready or Not, The Beast, Fuu-Gee-Laa, The Score, No Woman, No Cry, Manifest/Outro 8,1/10
Solid album. Ms Lauren Hill, like the Y in CSNY, is making all the real contributions. It kinda sounds like wyclef jean was always corny, with shakira shakira level contributions. Lotsa 90's nostalgia - Judge Ito gets a call out! The beast is a pretty good track.
Fantastic hip-hop/R&B infusion. Unpopular, but I prefer this to The Miseducation
- Ich wusste bis heute nicht, das Wyclef Jean und Lauryn Hill Mitglied bei den Fugees waren - Irgendwie ein geil gesampeltes und düsteres Album. Wesentlich zeitloser und moderne als vieles Andere, was es an HipHop aus dieser Zeit gibt. - Daneben MegaHits wie No Woman no Cry, Ready or not und Killing me Softly. - Wusste ungefähr was kommt, war dann aber doch positiv überrascht 3,75/5
- Banger Album, gefiel mir sehr gut - Hits (sehr viele also) kennt man, davon abgesehen sind aber auch andere coole Tracks dabei
Typical 90s rap album. Solid beats and verses and Lauryn shines the most . Highlights were zealots and obviously killing me soflty
This is pretty slick
I do like my hip hop conscious. So this is right to my alley. Great rhymes, great production. A free misses for me but for the most part a very solid listenable album that gets you both moving and thinking.
Loses a bit of steam after "killing me softly"
Fire production and incredible vocals. Crazy influential and all the melodies were catchy as hell. I knew a lot of them, which is a good sign. Fantastic overall, but some of the skits get repetitive or cringeworthy. Another high 4.
Fugees: one of the more interesting groups of the last century. When the least-in-trouble member of your group has committed tax fraud (and been to jail, if memory serves), it's crazy. But that's Fugees, lightning in a bottle. Some people have wanted another record since, but it just never seems like it's going to happen. Honestly, why should it? You make a statement like this, there's no need to make another. Favorite tracks: "The Mask", "The Beast", "Zealots"
Innovative and real but besides Killing Me Softly, nothing I would listen to twice.
I like!
Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit is a massive thing to follow. Lauren did well. 4.0
Some exceptional songs sprinkled with some interesting speeches
The most important album of 1996 with an elegant mix of hip hop, soul, pop and rock.
Such great smooth story telling.
got a little goofy but i liked it
I'm not really into hip-hop, but I rather enjoyed this. The rhythms are great, the lyrics tend to be witty, the samples are good- overall, an excellent package. The skits unfortunately were constantly pulling me out of the album, perhaps my biggest gripe.
made me feel quite badass, entertaining w/ the bit of storytelling, i think my bf would like this
Solid album. I don't listen to this type of music a lot but it seems innovative with some really great songs.
this was a good album!
Buenosimo
Such a nostalgic hit. Mad that this was the end too. Almost brilliant, wish there wasn't a horrible cover of No Woman, No Cry on there...
Heard it a few times already it's cool
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.