Blunted on reality

The Fugees translated an intriguing blend of Jazz-Rap, R&B, and Reggae into huge success during the mid-'90s, when the trio's sophomore album `The Score` hit number one on the pop charts and sold over five million copies. The trio formed in the late '80s in the New Jersey area, where Lauryn Hill and Prakazrel Michel ("Pras") attended a local high school and began working together. Michel's cousin Wyclef Jean ("Clef") joined the group (then called the Tranzlator Crew), and the trio signed to Ruffhouse/Columbia in 1993. After renaming themselves the Fugees (a term of derision, short for refugees, which was usually used to describe Haitian immigrants). Though the group's debut album, `Blunted on Reality`, was quite solid, it reflected a prevailing gangsta stance that may have been forced by the record label. No matter how pigeonholed the Fugees may have sounded on their debut, the group had obviously asserted their control by the time of their second album, `The Score. With just as much intelligence as their Jazz-Rap forebears, the trio also worked with surprisingly straight-ahead R&B on the soulful "Killing Me Softly With His Song," sung by Lauryn Hill. Elsewhere, Clef and Pras sampled Doo Wop and covered Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry," giving the record familiarity for the commercial mainstream, but keeping it real with insightful commentary on their urban surroundings. `The Score` became one of the surprise hits of 1996, reaching number one on the pop charts and making the Fugees one of the most visible rap groups around the world.

(taken from their Myspace)

The first single from `The Score`was called `Fu-Gee-La`. The single entered No.2 in the U.S. Rap Charts and No. 29 U.S. Hot 100 in 1996.

Fugees - Fu-Gee-La

The first sample from the single is `If Loving You Is Wrong, I Don`t Want To Be Right by Ramsey Lewis` and the second sample is by California singer `Teena Marie` and her 1988 hit `Ooo la la la`. Enjoy...

Teena Marie - Ooo La La La