The tumultuous romantic relationship between a very young Hill and Clef, who was married and six years her senior, reached its peak during the recording of The Score. Internally, though, it was another story. Once the album landed on the Grammys stage in '97, where it took home two awards, it seemed like the Fugees had it all together.

Other behind-the-scenes players like Diamond D, John Forte, and the Jersey battle rap outfit Outsidaz contributed to the piecing together of a classic as well.įrom the group to the label to the producers to the guest stars, no one had predicted the impact The Score would have on the music world. A wide range of talents made this possible: There was Wyclef Jean, the artists’ artist, who would push the creative envelope for the band Pras Michel, the businessman with the finely tuned pop ear Jerry Wonda, the project’s most prominent producer Salaam Remi, the confidant and creative paradigm from the Fugees’ 1994 debut, Blunted on Reality, and the producer of 'Fu-Gee-La' Joe Nicolo and Chris Schwartz, owners of the Fugees’ imprint Ruffhouse Records, who gave the group room to breathe as they found their voice. Reminding the world that rap music could come to life via instruments was a huge part of their success as well, offering in many cases an alternative to gangsta rap’s harder side. Lauryn Hill’s uncanny ability to volley between singing and rapping was a gift that would afford Fugees simultaneous credibility in pop and rap worlds, but it certainly wasn’t the only factor.

Fugees the score songs