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Fugees - The Score

£25.99

Product variants

Special Edition · VINYL

Pickup available at 12 Bar Music and Social - Exeter

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Fugees' "The Score," released in 1996, is a genre-defining album that merges hip-hop, reggae, and soul with socially conscious lyrics and infectious beats. Featuring Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, and Pras Michel, the album showcases the group's dynamic chemistry and individual talents. From the iconic cover of "Killing Me Softly With His Song" to the politically charged "Ready or Not" and the introspective "Fu-Gee-La," each track on "The Score" resonates with authenticity and depth. The album's production is layered with samples, live instrumentation, and intricate rhythms, creating a sound that is both timeless and relevant. "The Score" remains a cultural touchstone, influencing hip-hop and beyond with its innovative approach and powerful storytelling.

Tracklist

Red Intro
How Many Mics
Ready or Not
Zealots
The Beast
Fu-Gee-La
Family Business
Killing Me Softly With His Song
The Score
The Mask
Cowboys
No Woman, No Cry
Manifest/Outro
Mista Mista
Drop It (Say Something)

Details

Format: VINYL

Release Date: 13th February 1996

Barcode: 0889854345013

Why We Love It

The Score is one of those rare records that works as a party album and a serious one at the same time. Wyclef's restless production jumps from reggae to soul to straight boom-bap without ever losing focus, Pras holds the rhythm down, and Lauryn Hill sounds like a star being born in real time. 'Killing Me Softly' gets all the attention, rightly, but the whole record is packed with ideas and personality. It's warm, funny, political and gorgeous, often within the same song.

Sam's Note

A genuine crowd-pleaser behind the counter — put this on and watch people's heads turn. Fu-Gee-La and Ready or Not still sound massive nearly thirty years on.

Sounds Like

• Lauryn Hill
• A Tribe Called Quest
• Outkast
• Erykah Badu

Mood

• Warm
• Soulful
• Playful
• Conscious

Perfect For

• House parties
• Sunday cooking
• Driving with the windows down

12 Bar Listening Guide

First Listen

Reveals More

Atmosphere

Originality

Why This Album Matters

Released in 1996, The Score sold six million copies and took hip-hop somewhere it hadn't quite been — melodic, political and unashamedly eclectic, pulling in reggae, soul and folk without diluting the group's lyrical edge. Its cover of 'Killing Me Softly' went to number one in twenty countries and introduced Lauryn Hill to the world. The album's success paved the way directly for her solo career, and its genre-blending approach influenced a generation of hip-hop and R&B that followed.

Fugees formed in New Jersey in the early 1990s around Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel and Lauryn Hill, taking their name from 'refugee' in a nod to Wyclef and Pras's Haitian heritage. After a lukewarm debut, The Score turned them into global stars almost overnight. Creative and personal tensions pulled the group apart not long after, but all three went on to notable solo careers — Hill's in particular reshaping what was possible for a woman in hip-hop and R&B.

A star being born in real time, over some of the smartest production of the decade.

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