Reviews (page 9 of 14)
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.
Incredible album
They were on some good drugs because some of what they say is bizarre. Funny, but weird. I do love the constant dropping of little musical references. This was so many levels better than the garbage coming from most of their peers.
what an insane group of talented people this is obviously one of the best hip-hop albums ever, it's hard to combine Wyclef Jean and Ms. Lauryn Hill and make anything but the best such an instant classic
Super nice vibes, chill but never boring
Could have gone without the skits but has some great flows
In a lot of ways reminds me of Wu-Tang, this record is characterized by a minimalist dark production with hard beats and some light cool effects like radio static or record scratching, but the focus is always on the multi-layered raps of the trio. They're all talented, but Lauryn Hill is the multifariousness one who always sticks out for her power and emotion. Their flows and rapping styles in some ways have a reggae twist to them, which might just be biased from them literally having a "No Woman No Cry" cover on there. It's a really strong coherent experience with plenty of highlights and smooth transitions. Nothing that obviously stands out as off, but the second half songs don't have as much of an impact.
This is reaaally really goood. Maaan I'm impressed. I am excited to listen to more of the Fugees. Easy 4.5/5
I listened two time
This was better then allot of the mid 90s gangsta rap.
A couple of minutes into the Fugee's second and final album, 1996's widely acclaimed "The Score", Lauryn Hill raps: "You use that loop over and over, claiming that you got a new style, your attempts are futile, ooh child, you puerile, brain waves are sterile, you can't create, you just can't wait to take my tapes". It's a characteristically impressive verse, cramming multiple rhymes into a tight couple of lines. It's also an audacious statement to make on a record primarily built from samples, its biggest hits being covers of Bob Marley and Roberta Flack. Detractors may argue that this gives the Fugees no more merit than their targets in "Zealots", but on balance, while there may not be a huge amount of musical innovation in "The Score", the performances are exemplary. I'd never heard "The Score" before generating it here, even though it receives more praise than most albums in its circle. The Fugees found a perfect space to blend Lauryn Hill's gifted vocals and wordplay, the smooth cool raps of Wyclef Jean, and… whatever Pras brought. The interplay between all three members, as they trade lines, hooks and ad-libs, works to the album's advantage, bringing a nice amount of tonal variation which must have been especially refreshing in the mid-90s (female vocals in rap, whatever next?!). While there are brags a-plenty, this is no gangsta rap: it's much smoother around the edges, much more eloquent, and much more melodic, forming a clear bridge between hard-edged East Coast hip-hop and the neo-soul Hill would diverge into in 1998's "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill". The best cuts foreground an R&B influence, with Hill's triumphant lyrics and stunning singing voice front and centre. "Ready Or Not" is truly great, alchemising two disparate samples (Delfonics and Enya) into an intoxicating, moody jam. "Fu Gee La" is exemplary, with a killer hook and mellow delivery. I also really enjoyed "The Beast"'s ominous tone, and "The Mask"'s catchy hook delivering considered commentary on social attitudes around race. I was conflicted at first about the covers ("No Woman, No Cry" and "Killing Me Softly") but they're both done so well it's hard to be too critical. Both contain excellent vocal performances from the Fugees, and the production refreshes them enough to make them relevant and vital for new generations. "The Score" is overlong, like so many albums of its time, and could easily have trimmed down (or cut altogether) "Manifest/Outro", "The Score" and "Cowboys" as some of the more underwhelming tracks. But in this case, the high points really make up for it. I'm stuck between a 3 and a 4, but relative to the rest of the hip-hop I've heard so far on the list I think this deserves to rank near the top.
4.5
I've known about this album for years now, and after finally hearing it, I understand why this is such a standout part of hip-hop and rap. Lauryn Hill impressed me as an artist earlier in the list with her solo album, so I was looking to enjoy this too, and it delivered. I would even say I enjoyed this more, with the little skits not being as intrusive as in that album. The only thing holding this one back is its overall length, with some of the songs feeling almost like filler, and are obviously lesser compared to some of the others. However, great album and I wish someone had forced Killing Me Softly unto me sooner.
me gustó mucho el álbum uno el cual disfrute mucho hasta cierto punto las ultimas 3 canciones se me hicieron muy pesadas pero en si uno de los mejores álbumes de hip hop que he escuchado, lauryn hill definitivamente carrea el album
Kende fugees niet eens maar nummers en vooral beats heel herkenbaar. De rap is alleen wat minder, maar toch Hefs lentesessie 2009 beat dus dat verdient 4 sterren
Heeeerlijk album!!!!! Echt al meerdere keren geluisterd sindsdien en verbaasde me over hoeveel ik soort van al kende maar nooit echt echt wist dat het van hen was. Een 4,2!!
Classic. Great verses. Dramatic instrumentals with live instruments and unique influences
Lauren Hill the goat
don't like teh genre but I like this one
No nelonenhan tämä oli..
Fugees are a hip hip trio from the 90's that was made up of: Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and his cousin, Pras. This is Fugees second studio album, and is also their last album before breaking up to persue solo careers. I've reviewed a Lauryn Hill record on here before, and her flow is fantastic! It reminds me of Missy Elliott. I am also familiar with some of Wyclef Jean's stuff, and really enjoy it! The one complaint I have, with almost all hip hop records I've reviewed, is with the skits they include on the album. I always find it distracting and feel that it takes a bit from the record. Aside from the skits, the album has a really cohesive flow to it. The cover of Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" is awesome. They did a really good job of making it their own, but not straying too far from the original. Overall, an excellent listen today! Definately something I will listen to again in the future! Favourite songs: Ready or Not, The Beast, "No Woman, No Cry", How Many Mics, Killing Me Softly With His Song, Fu-Gee-La Least favourite songs: Cowboys, The Mask, Mista Mista 4/5
I actually like the singles less now but I like non-singles better now.. Makes no sense I know. The Mask, Cowboy and Score I don't recall but I really like. Killing Me and Ready or Not are not as good as I remember.
I liked this more than expected. Lauren Hill shines for sure, not only does she have a really good singing voice but her raps are strong as are WJ and Pras. The mix of beats and samples are pretty great, but I deduct a star because a few of the songs are basically covers. The gags are a bit much, but ok. Overall, a record that deserves to be here.
When I listened to this in the 90s, I don't remember liking it. Just thinking the singles good. I liked it a lot more on this listen. Too bad they couldn't figure out the third LP.
Very interesting fusion of hip hop and reggae!
I love me some old school hip hop. Missed this in the 90's but worth a follow up to see what else is on offer
Fugees are on it
Ambitious, original, refreshing and powerful
Classic
listen to the beast once again 😭 LOVED IT
A week after I bought this, I woulda told you this was a 5-star album. It hasn't aged terribly well. The conviction that I heard back in '96 I don't hear now. Now it feels more like a put-on for some reason. But I know every word of this. I mean, some of these bars... And my panache will mosh your entourage Squash your squad and hide your body under my garage. And when the cops come lookin' I'll be bookin' to Brooklyn Leave the trails broken flippin' tokens to Hoboken That's worth a couple stars alone.
Smá nostalgía hér. Hlustaði ekki á hip-hop 1996, en Fugees voru svo vinsæl að það var ekki hjá því komist að heyra í þeim. Svo hafði ég líka gaman af, svo það sé skrifað. Eldist barasta ágætlega, og þá sérstaklega hlutur Laurynnar Hill. Hún er æði.
Vraiment bien! Le ton est pas toujours clair (chansons joyeuses, puis sérieuses), mais l'énergie est bien!
I was transported back to 1996 and a Little Chef on the way back from Manchester where I purchased this album. I didn’t understand it then but loved the music. Yay for innocence.
Love the fugees
This was a really fucking good album, it was interesting and held high quality musically. It did include some amazing covers and collaboration with really talented musicians
Red Intro How many mics- one of the many tracks flexing about their rap abilities Ready or not- only really heard the chorus to this before, but very solid track👍 Zealots- Lauryn Hills verse is insanely good here👍 The beast- Poignant social commentary with a random skit at the end Fu-gee-la- very catchy chorus👍 Family business- a bit all over the place, quite fast paced and another skit Killing me softly with his song- Lauryn Hill can truly play both sides👍 The score- this almost seems like the culmination to the album, with the constant samples from other tracks, lots of emphasis on mcing flexing again and A SKIT The mask- The verses are all so good here👍 Cowboys-This is quite a packed song No woman no cry- Classic song, great cover👍 Manifest/Outro- Lauryns verse goes so so hard, last half is weird outro. This album really felt like an event, I’m not sure about the skit interludes but songs really show level of talent and cohesion that is seriously impressive. WOW 4/5
I enjoyed this a lot. Good rhymes and flow to the album.
Lauryn Hill is *chef’s kiss*. This album lyrically and rhythmically is much more my taste when it comes to 90s hip hop. I want to say it’s a more refined, sophisticated album than others at the time.
Very good. Strummin my pain is just so well done, but I was surprised by how good the rapping was in other tracks.
Love this album
Fantastic album here that really elevated the 90s hip hop theme to a different level. The Fugees were able to show that gangster rap wasn’t the only cool way to do hip hop. Lauryn hill is always spectacular and it’s a shame she quit making music. The production on this album is stellar and so many songs are timeless. 8.6/10
A certified hip hop classic.
Killing Me Softly is an obvious banger, but the deeper cuts go just as hard. I wish we'd gotten more collaborations from this crew. Best track: Killing Me Softly
me re gustó lo sentí REFRESCANTE comparando con lo que me venían mandando 8 / 10
Great hip hop r&b Record with great Lyrics flow and singing. Everyone does a great Job.
Kinda slaps all around tbh. Not my fav style but it’s amazing.
I didn't even listen to this on the day, I instead listened to the day before's suggested album (Avalanches - Since I left you) twice more. God that's a brilliant album. Anyway. The Score. I have to admit, I've spent 25 or so years actively trying to avoid the Fugees. I absolutely hated "Ready or not" when it was released. I wouldn't want say I like now either, but I dislike it less intensely. I also disliked Fu-gee-la intensely on release, but that's grown on me. I quite often meow it to my cat. She humours me, although I suspect that she prefers it when I meow the Robocop theme to her. Scanning down the track list, I see we've still got Killing Me Softly With His Song - and guess what, I absolutely detested that back in the 90s too. The odd part of all this is the fact I clearly dislike Lauryn Hill rather than The Fugees, because the rest of this album is really jolly good. The flow is great, the beats mellow, relaxing and expertly constructed. It's hard to rate this album, because the strong dislike I have for the flagship Lauryn Hill tracks really does detract from the actually really bloody good rest of the album. I can skip a couple of tracks and enjoy the rest.
I skipped the filler, enjoyed it.
surprised how consistently good it is, almost a 5 for me tbh
The VARIETY!!! I had heard Killing Me Softly before and had no idea who it was by. I thought the different styles work together well. Zealots had a similar background sound to that one song in Euphoria. I liked the line that there is “Too many MCs and not enough mics.”
did not know that i used to listen to some of these song as a child me: likey
Muy bueno
Very good album that looks a good for multiple listens, but too many covers, no matter how good they are makes the album feel unsure of the song writing
Great album. Making hip-hop a mainstream kind of music. Nothing was the same in black music after this album
74/100: This was a fantastic album that I had never heard before, but had definitely heard of before. This album was a different style of rap than I had ever heard before, it stands at the intersection of R&B, reggae, and rap—which is such a cool fusion of genres. With all of that being said, it’s not my favorite rap album I’ve ever listened to, even within its own era; however, it’s definitely an album I would listen to again.
Great album - it is known
Came for a good time, left with a good time. Particularly liked the cover of No Woman No Cry
Great record
love it
Highlight: How Many Mics, Zealots, Fu-Gee-La
Hadn't listened before I didn't know there were a few classic songs on their album due to not knowing the original artist. My only gripe is the last few songs seemed to drag and the album could have done without as many songs. Will listen again 4/5
listened to again a bona fide classic
Saucy lil album, could be improved here and there, especially the flows on the weaker tracks. Fav track: Zealots Least fav: cant decide on it
Good flow. Good mix of sounds.
Grows with every listen.
Great 90s hip hop
Samples are great, the instrumentals are hypnotizing, and the boom-bap sound is well produced throughout. Rastafarian references and culturally-themed lyrics really fit their refugee image. Lauryn Hill's soulful singing carries certain tracks, especially the singles.
"The Score" is the second and final album from Fugees consisting of Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel. The style of this album is referred to as alternative hip-hop (not conforming to gansta, bass, hardcore, party) which became more popular in the late 90's and was a shift from their first album. The music is primarily composed of samples and has a laid-back feel, sometimes almost a reggae feel. Fugees were given complete artistc control which may be one of the reasons for the sound. Each of the group members takes turn rapping and singing. I'd have to say that Lauryn Hill especially stands out. The album has a great feel to it. There were four singles released with three having huge chart succes. Their first single "Fu-Gee-La" samples " Ooo La La La" from Teena Marie and has great vocals from Lauryn Hill. Speaking of great vocals, she absolutely kills it on the cover of Roberta Flack's version of "Killing Me Softly" which also adds a hip-hop beat, samples A Tribe Called Quest and has great gospel-backing vocals. All sorts of legal stuff going on with the orginal writers. Anyway, a huge success and great song. Probably my favorite song for feeling that laidback vibe is "Ready or Not." Great sampling of Enya, the Delfonics and Bob Marley. Great, great soulful singing by Lauryn. The fourth single and last song on the album is their cover of Bob Marley's "Buffalo Soldier." A decent cover...it didn't take to the last song to hear the reggae influence though. This album was one of the biggest albums of 1996 and listening to it today it's clear why with its feel and great singles.
I had forgotten how smooth the flow of this album was. New Jersey’s finest hip hop.
This is the week of solid hip-hop for me, and this one was so close to a 5. I really liked the beats, and Lauryn Hill is an incredible rapper and vocalist. It loses a point for the skits and the outros that take you out of each song where they're suddenly at a party talking. Just let the music stand out on its own, but it's a product of its time I guess. Lots of great jams on here aside from the filler.
Generally a very good album, but occasionally loses its way with some songs that should have been omitted or pruned in length.
Intelligent hip hop evolution.
Classic album. At times cheesey, at times pop, but I love the hooks and their version of killing me softly. I understand that it was overplayed on Radio 2 for a long time, but I still have love for this album.
A lot of quality tracks here, as well as some good variety in styles to keep it from being stale. Favourites: "How Many Mics", "Ready or Not", "Killing Me Softly With His Song"
They fused hip-hop with jazz, rhythm'n'blues and reggae at a deeper level. Love it (7/10) FT: Ready or Not, Killing Me Softly
Still has topical issues. The Mask is a hit, funny Chinese skit. Classic 90's MC rhymes and beats.
Really good hip-hop production. The singer and the rappers really give a nice mix within the music. They made some nice covers from; "No Woman No Cry" and "Killing me softly with his song".
This was a really wonderful album. I appreciated how musical it was for hip hop, as well as interesting and often clever.
I remember when this came out. For a good year, you could not escape this album. The hit singles "Ready Or Not" and "Killing Me Softly" were played all the time right around the time I was getting ready for my wedding. Hard to believe it's 25 years that that's been around. I really thought Lauryn Hill was going to be such a star. And then she completely flaked out after her first album. But she is just so good her, the rhymes are crisp and really flowing. But it's hard to take Wyclef Jean so seriously as being "gangster." I just don't think of him that way, but that was the image he was trying to pull off, along with the third guy (what happened to him, anyway?) Hill's harmonizing worked so well with the big singles it's no wonder they were played so often. They became so damn catchy. But even the other songs work well, even with the goofy skits in the middle of them (the Chinese Restaurant thing is just silly, taking me completely out of the song). It's just a shame that there was no real follow-up to this album. The big stuff on it did so well. I keep coming back to it in my head. The filler is skippable after a listen. Why do all of these albums have these skits on it? Why does it seem necessary to them? I know I've said it before, it just makes it a track to skip after a while. I mean, now albums seem like suck a thing of the past with the technology available, people will just buy the songs they want and not the whole album. I just don't get it.
It's a good album but could've been way tighter. Other albums provide some cool insights in the interludes or riffing, but I found those sequences in this album to be just a step above nonsense. So the Intro and Outro and other snippets at the ends of songs (e.g., the Beast) were mainly a waste of time. When they actually sing and rap, they're pretty incredible. Lauryn Hill is powerful every time she opens her mouth (singing or rapping). Wyclef is a really soulful singer and a quick rapper. Pras is guttural with a voice you can't ignore. And their messaging in the actual songs can't be ignored. But the best thing about the Fugees is how they combine rapping vocals, singing melodies, and smart beats in their songs. That's why all their big tunes are so great (Ready or Not, Fu-Gee-La, Killing Me Softly, No Woman No Cry). Except for the filler, really easy to listen to over and over.
8/10 melancholy beat, great vocals, lyricism, and flow.
Great album. Not typically what I would listen to but most songs are great. Lasted a little too long but still good.
Never gave this album a full listen before. I knew the hits that were on the radio often. I really enjoy 80/90s rap and this is quite a throwback. I am loving it.
Weak start strong end
3/28/2022 Today's Album: "The Score" by Fugees - It took me a few tracks to really get into this album, but wow this album really turned around and showed me a really nice sonic experience. There is a ton of character in the rap verses on this really consistently great-sounding and well-produced record. They take breaks to explore other sonic routes other than just rapping, but I would say the hip hop tracks are a majority of the track list. I appreciate a lot of the samples they use in this album, 2 of which I think I can pin on Moody Blues Days of Future Passed, but anyways, I like a lot of the production choices on these tracks, having a really groovy bass and African percussion scattered throughout the album and always mixed very highly, which sounds great for this kind of music. The cover of No Woman No Cry was really great, and it just goes to show their versatility between their hip hop tracks and their more stripped back melody-focused songs. There are some mediocre tracks and performances, especially near the beginning, but this album really picks up with a lot of great soul, R&B, African, Hip - Hop, and Reggae music influences and just a ton of great tunes and performances. Overall, this has been the best so far of the 90s hip hop album the generator has been spewing at me over the past week and you should give it a listen if you enjoy this kind of stuff and want a great example of it done well and with tons of character. Score: 8.5/10 Amazingly colorful and charismatic Highlights: Zealots, The Beast, Fu-Gee-La, Killing Me Softly With His Song, The Mask, No Woman No Cry, Manifest / Outro
Qué recuerdos de la MTV, la radio de los 90, nunca me compré este disco pero es como si lo tuviera. Canciones como: Ready or not, The beast, las versiones de "Killing Me Softly" y "No woman, no cry". Este disco si es imprescindible.
I would have given this a 3 bc I hate skits and not every song was good but it moves up to a 4 because of lauryn hill’s rapping alone. She’s so great especially on “Ready or Not”. None of the others are bad but she clearly outshines the other two.
I enjoyed this, my directors mocked me for enjoying it and I'm still not sure why.
Great
Dettta går hårt.
This album is pure vibes. Some of the smoothest riding songs to come out of the era. Unfortunately, it also came out of the skit era, which is the only reason it drops a star. I'm typically not a fan. Just such a jarring thing that pulls me out of the album. Eh, maybe I'm just getting old, I suppose...
alright
Awesome - sounds like it was recorded yesterday - consistently great tracks and Caribbean sounds - in hindsight there has been nothing like it since - a classic
It's easy to forget that Fugees only released two albums. I've always loved The Score. Clever lyrics and beats that still sound fresh. Ready or Not is a moody mutha. Killing Me Softly is far superior to Roberta Flack's original. This was EVERYWHERE back in the day. At a push it would make my top 10 songs of all time. The comeback vocal from Lauryn Hill towards the end is a real moment. Zealots samples Armagideon Time - there's your Clash connection. Plus any album that name checks Chaka Demus and Pliers is a bit special.
4.25
Siis aivan todella fresh hipidihop-levy! Tunnelma on todella hieno tasapainottelu tuskan, kriittisyyden ja huumorin välillä. Jotkut skitit ei kauheesti iskeny, mut kokonaisuus on kyllä ehdottomasti ainakin 4/5.
Crazy in a good way. Some great songs like "Ready or Not", "Fu-Gee-La" and "No Woman, No Cry" which I've heard more times on the radio than I've heard my father's voice. Would be a contender for the best hip hop album of all time, but it's a tad bit too long and dragged down by meaningless skits (what the hell is that Chinese restaurant skit?). Still a big fan, Lauryn Hill is unmatched.
I knew the singles from high school, but I actually like the rest of the album much better. Hill has an awesome voice, but the hip hop tracks are great.
Prefs: How Many Mics, Zealots, The Beast, Family Business, Killing Me Softly, Cowboys Moins pref: Manifest/Outro
Very nice and sets me back to the 90s
this was dope. a nice refreshing album from all the others we've had so far.
Really enjoyed this! Lauryn's vocals for me are just mmmmmmMMMMMMMMMMMM
Chef's kiss
I just found out that Ms Lauryn Hill was only 20 years old when this album came out... absolutely fuck that I've enjoyed this album even more every time I've listened to it, and it feels vital and significant to this day. I'm not a fan of a few of the skits, but there's not a bad song on here and it's a great listen
Made it on my playlist, love the chill vibes, beautiful vocals and smooth flows
Solid interplay between the emcees, Ms. Lauryn Hill absolutely killing it. Timeless classics in songs like Ready or Not and the cover of Killing Me Softly. Always glad to see a good hip hop album on here. Very enjoyable listen. ONE TIME
4 its a bop
Undeniably great and groundbreaking at the time. Even so, it does feel a bit dated and weak at points. The skits? So '90s hiphop and cringey. They're super cheesy but not enough to tank the album. Amazing performances all around. Haters gonna hate but Lauryn Hill is a singularly amazing talent and she absolutely shines on this album.
i didn't think i'd like this album very much. i was wrong - i did like it, and kind of a lot. it must say something about me that the tracks i liked best were both covers, but it's honestly strong start to finish. you don't have to love hiphop to appreciate this album, though i'm sure that helps.
some top 90's Hip-hop/Rap here the Fugees really got how to crossover to mainstream with some great sampling and some original tunes, creativity at it's best. Would have loved to be a "fly On The Wall" on the development of some of these songs. Good use of the Flamingo's "Only Have Eyes For You" on "Zealots" But of course the standouts here are "Ready Or Not" "Killing Me Softly" and "No Woman No Cry" good album rightfully listed.
Super album. ‚ready or not‘ wird nie alt. sehr eingängige lieder, abwechslungsreich und trotzdem stimmig
Das ist echt ein Top Album! Mega Stimmung! Super beats, die können das.
Hab mich gefreut als das kam. Schlanke und minimalistische beats, Lauryn Hill Hammer Stimme (grappt und gesungen), poetisch, die Message steht im Vordergrund. Gelegentlich auch ironisch - aber nie so klamaukig wie die 80er Hip Hop Bands manchmal rüberkommen - 90er waren kälter.
groovy
A good one
Rakt igenom bra album, bra producerat, bra framfört, bra balans, bra sketcher, bra covers, bra individuella framföranden. Bra allt? Hur fan har jag missat denna banger till platta? PS Chinese Resturant Skit var fan klockren
det är ett så bra album! många hits. back in the days när hiphop var bra hihi
Great album. Favorite track is The Beast. Really nice mix of hip hop and chill beats. Singing from Lauryn Hill is great on the hooks. No snoozers anywhere.
Super chill. A few classic songs. Tough to rate the entire album a 5 though.
Lyrically, this was clever as hell and I loved all the cultural references. Hill's delivery was dope and stood out tons. The beats were neat to listen to, and the samples held up throughout the years. A very solid record that I would gladly re-visit. Nearly 5 for me.
Ein Konzept Album, das klingt, als sei man sich noch vorm drop der Wirkung dieser Bombe sicher. Blasting 4.4
J'ai beaucoup aimé cet album. Groovy, avec d'excellents lyrics qui continuent d'être d'actualité en 2021.
I'd never really listened to Fugees before and I now see the error of my ways. I had a great time with this album. Not enough for it to be a 5/5 but it's a solid 4/5.
More albums need intro tracks, I love a good intro track to hit the context. Family Business was a stand out for me, generally a good album, would happily listen to it again, but don't think its a 5/5.
Gg
I've heard a couple songs on this album before, but I wasn't too familiar with Fugees in general. Hell, to be honest, I only knew of these artists as individuals. I had no idea this was even a group. Regardless, I found it mostly enjoyable. Aside from the hit singles, there are some really nice hip-hop tracks on here. It flows well as an album, too. I find skits enjoyable on a first listen, but after that it's just something to skip.
But do I care?
A nice trip down nostalgia lane. Good samples - lots of good samples.
Really enjoyed the album. It is packed with timeless tunes like: Ready or Not and Killing Me Softly with His Song.
Interesting flow and meaningful messages.
3.5. This one was a bit tough for me to decide which side of the fence to fall on. The music is so so good. The skits are distracting though and had me reaching for the next track button each time. I recognize those probably mean more to other people so I don't begrudge their inclusion but it does knock it down from a true 4 to a 3.5 for me personally. It breaks up the flow of great music.
Never listened to the fugees, but a really good album. Smooth rap album
Brilliant album with classic songs on it. I will be listening to this again. First impressions are that it's let down by the fact it's a little on the long side at an 1 hour and 20 mins and I'm not sure the No Woman cover version adds much. Nothing else to fault.
An all-time classic.
Soft 4 stars
Actually very nice, intelligent lyrics and I appreciate the mix of genders. I preferred their own songs to their covers
Fugees will always be the in the top
Very solid album from start to finish. Enjoyed it but there wasn't one track for me that REALLY stood out. 4/5 stars.
Pretty good hip hop and rappin over all
Great album
Solid hip-hop album that clearly serves as the foundation for much of today’s rap and hip hop.
Favs: Killing Me Softly, Fu Gee La, Ready or Not Mehs: Chinese Restaurant Skit. Why does this time period think these dumb skits are so great? Ffs I got very sick of this album the year it came out, but I can't deny that their voices are all fantastic. And there are some incredible hooks here.
pretty good. starts a bit slow.
Incredible listening experience. Felt balanced and want forcing every person to be involved in every moment of every track. Killing Me Softly feels like an otherworldly redo. Wow!
4.1 + Been a few years and this one still holds up. Lauren Hill sounds incredible, both as a rapper and a singer. Supreme talent. Wish they left out the skits, especially the one in the Chinese restaurant.
Very fun album.
Very good album. I loved it in high school. Now I don’t really listen to rap but this was still enjoyable.
Yo this kinda slaps actually
Killing Me Softly in almost enough to get a 4 on its own here. I like the weird little version of it at the end of Family Business that lead straight into the normal version. Some good, some fine across the rest of the album
Good stuff. Hip hop/reggae/pop this band put a mew spin together and influenced a lot of others. Love the covers - esp “No Woman No Cry”. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Real good 90's hip hop r&b. No woman no cry is a fun cover, ready or not and killing me softly the other standouts. Rest of the album holds it up well!
not a fan of hip hop but this stuff is classic. The lyrics are hard-hitting, the beats and hook lines infectious.
Obviously a classic
Some great tracks, the skits add little and are an overall detraction
Some absolute bangers on here. Would be a 5 if it wasn't for all the skits and random outros on the end of otherwise great tracks. If they were separated out properly so you could skip them or something, could easily be a 5*
Solid chill classic beats
I thought the quality singing by the rappers was noteworthy. Love the Chinese restaurant skit.
I enjoyed this. Great beats on some tracks, like Ready or Not. I also like their covers of Killing Me Softly and No Woman. Fu-Gee-La was another stand out.
Great album reminds me of old Wu Tang 36 chambers. Great classic hip hop they don't make them like this anymore.
Great album, heard it before, but not listened this intensely before.
Better than I expected
Very enjoy able, 4.2 stars
Mid 90s classic hip-hop album. Couple of classic tracks on this album warrant multiple relistens: Ready or Not, killing me softly etc. Album itself has some filler tracks that can be skipped (intro, putto).
Best tracks: Ready or Not, Fu-Gee-La, Family Business, Killing Me Softly with His Song The Mask, No Woman No Cry, Manifest/Outro
Love all the samples, and Lauryn's vocals. Gets a little repetitive in the second half.
Liked it!
Already have this album in my library. I love it! Great R&B Album. Too many favorite tracks to name. Unfortunately not a 5 because of a track or two that doesn’t hit as hard, but definitely a 4.5!
Great album
Favourite Songs: Ready or Not & Killing Me Softly With His Song
Sick album. No jokey or throwaway lyrics just serious rap delivered by three distinct but unified voices (apart from the Chinese skit) . There are some bona-fide hit records on this but my favourite is probably the closing 'manifest/outro', 6 minutes of raw and frustrated expression.
Iconic album. Lauren Hill is a boss.
First rap album I ever bought. Great album - as relevant today as it was then, maybe even more so. Best tracks: Fu-Gee-La & Ready or Not.
Nicer groove.
Hip hop, toques de r&b, muy guapo
Still a great album.
Strong album, would've been a 5* had it been cut down slightly to exclude some of the weaker tracks. 4*
Lauryn is a one of a kind talent
Full of bops
This album fuckin bangs but what is up with that Chinese restaurant skit
Excelente voz, buenas melodías
Yea this is good. Ready or Not, Killing Me Softly, lots of good tracks. Cowboys is a good track. NO WOMAN NO CRY!
Great - just great
Woah, this one caught me off guard. I didn't realize ready or not came from this album, nor the cover of killing me softly. Really enjoyed this.
We actually put this on the other week, to share with the kids. It will always hold up.
Classic
Classic rap shit, great production and flows
Eccentric
Nice
Nice album.
The individual members of the Fugees may have all gone on to get mired down in financial irregularities, but here they're all working cohesively together to create a great album! It all sounds so effortlessly confident. Fave track - "The Mask" - takes on a different meaning in 2021, heh.
Good album. I have never listened to Fugees or the individual artists before (aside from Killing Me Softly, but that doesn’t count). Off to a great start.
i really liked this album. i'd heard some of the singles but never the full album. im very happy about this one. 4 stars, but a high 4
Sin ser un fan del genero HipHop creo que es un buen disco. El talento se deja ver en los arreglos y las voces.
Minus one cos it sounds like they defs put onions in the white rice.
Idk why hip hop albums have comedy skits. They're not funny. But it's a great album if you ignore them
8/10 few classics and gorgeous voice, sprinkling of humour but also poignant.
nice bonus at the end!!! Liked even more than the original
Despite the cringey moments with kung-fu skit interstitials, this album crushes. Solid rhymes, unafraid to be patient and laid back in the delivery. This is a regular rotation album.
Funky
Entertaining R&B / reggae album. Ms. Lauryn Hill has a wonderful voice so the singing shines past the great rap.
Hip hop bom!
No sound like this album.
Very good old-school hip-hop type vibes
Very close to a 5. Amazing mix of genres and so much personality from the Fugees. This album was as good as the hype made it out to be. A classic of mid 90’s hip hop. Listen to Ready or Not and Fugee La
One of the best hip-hop/rap albums ever created.
Great album from a great era of hip-hop!
Awesome Hip-Hop
There's a lot of emotion in this record. I feel like Childish Gambino has a some inspiration from this one. It's a great record, I can't imagine how it was received in the 90's when it came out, I don't think there was anything like this. Definitely an outstanding album. It's typically not my style, But I can still appreciate it.
I'm not a huge fan of this genre of hip hop, but I have to admit that some of these songs are absolute fire. The vocal varieties in the group help to keep the tracks engaging, and the incorporation of more melodic, pop-based choruses and beats, not to mention the creative sampling techniques, help to make the stand-outs really stand out. We've all heard 'Killing Me Softly With His Song', but there's a lot to enjoy here - Ready or Not, Zealots, Fu-Gee-La, How Many Mics are all terrific tracks. Closer to 3.5, but I'll give 4.
:)
Better than I expected. Too much talking :)
Tätä tuli luukutettua aikoinaan huolella. Toimii edelleen.