United States 
Itzhak Perlman Headlines Great Neck Park District’s Summer Concert Series
3 hours ago
The Fugees, an influential American hip-hop trio, achieved international success known for their unique fusion of hip hop, reggae, R&B, and funk, with socially conscious lyrics and live instrumentation.
Fugees group members Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean have recently partnered with an SA local brand; Entertainment commentator Phil Mphela made this known.
John Forté—best known as a collaborator of multi-platinum hip-hop group The Fugees—is joining agency ONWD Collective as its first director of brand development.
HarbourView Equity Partners bought Michel's stake in the master recordings of the Fugees, the rap group he co-founded more than three decades ago.
The Fugees emerged from South Orange, New Jersey, in 1990, comprising Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel, and Lauryn Hill. The group initially formed as Tranzlator Crew, performing in local clubs and talent shows. Their music stood out in the 1990s hip-hop landscape, often dominated by gangsta rap, by blending diverse genres and incorporating live instrumentation. This approach, coupled with their socially conscious lyrics that often touched on themes of resilience and referenced the members’ Haitian heritage, solidified their place as a significant alternative hip-hop act. They signed with Ruffhouse Records, an imprint of Columbia Records, in 1993.
Their debut album, “Blunted on Reality,” was released in 1994. While initially experiencing modest sales, remixes of their singles “Nappy Heads” and “Vocab” by Salaam Remi helped them gain underground recognition, with “Nappy Heads” charting on the Billboard Hot 100. This early success laid the groundwork for their breakthrough. The Fugees’ second album, “The Score,” released in 1996, proved to be a critical and commercial triumph. It featured hit singles such as “Fu-Gee-La,” “Ready or Not,” and a re-imagined version of “Killing Me Softly,” which topped charts globally across more than 20 countries. “The Score” reached number one on the Billboard 200, achieving 7x Platinum certification from the RIAA and earning a Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year, marking it as only the second rap album to receive this honor. The album’s success propelled the Fugees to the forefront of pop music.
Following the success of “The Score,” the Fugees collaborated with various artists, including Simply Red on “Angel” and Bounty Killer on the rap opera single “Hip-Hopera.” They also released “Rumble in the Jungle” with Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest, and John Forté, both of which reached the top five on the UK Singles Chart. In 1997, they performed the largest staged concert in Haitian history, becoming a significant cultural event for the nation. Despite their monumental achievements and winning two Grammy Awards, a Brit Award for International Group, and the Medal of Honor from Haitian President René Préval, internal conflicts led to the group’s disbandment later that year, with each member pursuing solo careers. The Fugees have since reunited periodically for tours and performances, including their appearance in “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party” in 2005.
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