Fugees was the American hip hop trio of Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel, formed in South Orange, New Jersey in 1992. The Score (1996) — with Killing Me Softly with His Song and Ready or Not — sold more than 22 million copies and won the Best Rap Album Grammy. Essential, full stop. Browse Fugees vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Fugees (the name derives from refugees, referencing Wyclef Jean and Pras's Haitian background) formed in South Orange, New Jersey in 1992 around Lauryn Hill (born May 26, 1975), Wyclef Jean (born October 17, 1969), and Pras Michel (born October 19, 1972). Wyclef Jean and Pras are cousins. After the underperforming debut Blunted on Reality (1994), the trio's sophomore album The Score (1996) became one of the best-selling hip hop albums of all time, with extensive crossover singles including Killing Me Softly with His Song and Ready or Not. The group has been inactive since 1997, with each member pursuing extensive solo work. Pras was convicted of multiple federal charges in 2023 (related to lobbying for Malaysian businessman Jho Low and the Chinese government); the conviction has been under appeal.
Fugees' sound combined hip hop, alternative hip hop, conscious hip hop, R&B, and reggae with extensive sample-based production drawing on classic soul and reggae alongside live instrumentation. The Score (1996) is widely cited as one of the defining albums of 1990s alternative and crossover hip hop.
Original Ruffhouse/Columbia pressings of The Score are widely collected. Multiple anniversary editions, including the 20th and 25th anniversary editions, have been released.
Listeners new to Fugees typically start with The Score (1996).
