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The Fugees - The Score (2LP)
Vocals: Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel
Guitar: Wyclef Jean
Bass: Jerry "Te Bass" Duplessis
Scratches: DJ Skribble
Arranged by Fugees
Written by Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel (all tracks)
2 LPs, Gatefold jacket
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : Black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : unspecified
Label : Legacy
Original label : Columbia
Recorded June–November 1995
Engineered by Warren Riker
Mixed by Warren Riker
Produced by The Fugees, Jerry "Te Bass" Duplessis, Diamond D, John Forté, Shawn King, Salaam Remi
Originally released in February 1996
Reissued in 2025
Tracks:
Side A:
- Red Intro
- How Many Mics
- Ready or Not
- Zealots
Side B:
- The Beast
- Fu-Gee-La
- Family Business
- Killing Me Softly
Side C:
- The Score
- The Mask
- Cowboys
Side D:
- No Woman, No Cry
- Manifest/Outro
Reviews:
“A breath of fresh air in the gangsta-dominated mid-'90s, the Fugees' breakthrough album, The Score, marked the beginning of a resurgence in alternative hip-hop. Its left-field, multi-platinum success proved there was a substantial untapped audience with an appreciation for rap music but little interest in thug life. The Score's eclecticism, social consciousness, and pop smarts drew millions of latent hip-hop listeners back into the fold, showing just how much the music had grown up. It not only catapulted the Fugees into stardom, but also launched the productive solo careers of Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill, the latter of whom already ranks as one of the top female MCs of all time based on her work here. Not just a collection of individual talents, the Fugees' three MCs all share a crackling chemistry and a wide-ranging taste in music. Their strong fondness for smooth soul and reggae is underscored by the two hit covers given slight hip-hop makeovers (Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly With His Song" and Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry"). Even when they're not relying on easily recognizable tunes, their original material is powered by a raft of indelible hooks, especially the great "Fu-Gee-La"; there are also touches of blues and gospel, and the recognizable samples range from doo wop to Enya. Their protest tracks are often biting, yet tempered with pathos and humanity, whether they're attacking racial profiling among police ("The Beast"), the insecurity behind violent posturing ("Cowboys"), or the inability of many black people in the Western Hemisphere to trace their familial roots ("Family Business"). Yeah, the Chinese restaurant skit is a little dicey, but on the whole, The Score balances intelligence and accessibility with an easy assurance, and ranks as one of the most distinctive hip-hop albums of its era.." AllMusic Review by Steve Huey
Awards:
1997 Grammy Award Winner: Best Rap Album
1997 Grammy Award Winner: Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "Killing Me Softly"
Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time - Ranked 134/500
Ratings :
AllMusic : 5 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.47 / 5