Smart thing about The Score is it does feel just like that - a score, with an overall mood and movements within, which change tempo and style but is cohesive and satisfying. This is, of course, quite common to a lot of albums, but a surprise for hip hop albums which can sometimes struggle as rappers experiment with different producers and guest artists. The production is top notch throughout and takes a different approach from - well from almost any contemporaries out there. No Dre, RZA, Master P or Puffy sound here - a smooth, soulful, guitar heavy sound, leaning on reggae and 70s soul (but with more polish than the Wu). There are times when the group stray into near straight up cover version territory - No Woman No Cry and Killing Me Softly run dangerously close to adding little to the originals - but there is something in the delivery and charisma of Wyclef and Lauryn that they just about get away with it. Let's talk Lauryn for a bit - what an incredible artist. What a voice. What potential? Of course, her first solo record was another classic but after that - not much at all. The potential here could have had us talking about Ms Hill as the Double GOAT - both singing AND rapping. Forget 'best female rapper', one of the best rappers to every do it. If only there was more, though, to burnish that legacy. Her wordplay and flow on Fu Gee La and Ready or Not is on point, hip hop quotable but with such depth you could right a whole thesis on their meaning and construction. This is my favourite Wyclef too - full of rage and fury and politics, kicking against the system, hustling for the next pay cheque and spitting fast and furious. Later laid back, wealthy Wyclef was cool too, but something changed when the hunger died. Also Pras is on this album (LOL). And yet, I might joke, but there's something about the album that wouldn't work with any one of them absent. It's a genuine classic, holds up on later listens and really captures a moment in pop music.