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If you’ve been a hip-hopper since the 90’s or earlier you undoubtedly know about the Fugees. I’m not writing this review for you. I’m writing it for anyone out there who got into hip hop some time in the past decade and for whatever reason hasn’t gotten around to checking them out yet.

The Fugess consists of Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras. Hill is in my opinion one of the most talented female musicians of the past fifteen years. Not only does she have an amazing voice but she also has a sick flow; she was really the anchor of the Fugees. After they disbanded she went on to record the wildly popular The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Wyclef is also a talented performer and producer. His Haitian/Rastafarian background really comes through in his rhyming and singing styles. Pras has a really unique flow. I’ll describe it as sloppy or lazy… but in a good way. I guess it’s just a more laid-back style than most others you hear; maybe it’s comparable to one of the guys from De La Soul.

They released two albums: Blunted On Reality (1994) and The Score (1996). One thing I like about the Fugees is that they took an active role in the creation of their music beyond just the recording, although I suppose most obnoxious musicians are the same way. Almost every track from their studio albums was produced by the three of them, and most of the remaining ones were at least produced by Wyclef and Pras.

Their debut features steady flows that are indicative of  early 90’s hip hop. Some groups that came to mind to me were Public Enemy, Naughty By Nature, and Salt N Pepa, although I won’t place much emphasis on any of those comparisons. What really sets Blunted on Reality apart from other good hip hop albums of the time is its prevalent reggae influence that gives it a cool Caribbean feel from time to time. This album has a somewhat more raw sound than their follow-up.

The Score is one of those rare albums that is universally praised by true hip hop critics that really know their shit, as well as being extremely successful commercially (18 mil copies sold, 2 Grammy’s, and many other various awards). It has a cleaner, more polished sound than ‘Blunted’ but still carries the quintessential Fugee qualities: conscious lyrics, a trio of different yet complimentary styles, and a reggae influence.

Usually I suggest a starting point for introduction to an artist’s discography. With the Fugees though you should just go ahead and purchase both of them immediately if you don’t already have them. You won’t be disappointed.