The Score (Fugees album)

The Score
Studio album by Fugees
Released February 13, 1996
Recorded June–November 1995
Genre Alternative hip hop[1]
Length 60:52
Label Ruffhouse, Columbia
Producer Fugees, Jerry Duplessis, Salaam Remi, John Forté, Diamond D, Shawn King
Fugees chronology

Blunted on Reality
(1994)		 The Score
(1996)
Singles from The Score
  1. "Fu-Gee-La"
    Released: January 9, 1996
  2. "Killing Me Softly"
    Released: May 31, 1996
  3. "Ready or Not"
    Released: September 2, 1996
  4. "No Woman, No Cry"
    Released: December 5, 1996

The Score is the second and final studio album by the hip hop trio Fugees, released worldwide February 13, 1996 on Columbia Records. The album features a wide range of samples and instrumentation, with many aspects of alternative hip hop that would come to dominate the hip hop music scene in the mid-late 1990s. The Score's production was handled mostly by the Fugees themselves and Jerry Duplessis, with additional production from Salaam Remi, John Forté, Diamond D, and Shawn King. The album's guest raps are from Outsidaz' members Rah Digga, Young Zee and Pacewon, as well as Omega, John Forté, and Diamond D. Most versions of the album feature four bonus tracks, including three remixes of "Fu-Gee-La", and a short acoustic Wyclef Jean solo track entitled "Mista Mista."

Upon its release, The Score was a commercial success, peaking at the number one spot on both the Billboard 200, and the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart (it was a number-one album on the latter in 1996 on the year-end chart). The singles "Killing Me Softly," "Fu-Gee-La," and "Ready or Not" also achieved notable chart success, and helped the group achieve worldwide recognition. On October 3, 1997, The Score was certified six times platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In addition to receiving mostly favorable reviews upon its release, the album has garnered a considerable amount of acclaim over the years, with many music critics and publications noting it as one of the greatest albums of the 1990s, as well as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. In 1998, the album was included in The Source's 100 best rap albums list, and in 2003, it was ranked number 477 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Background

Although the Fugees' previous album Blunted on Reality proved to be critically and commercially unsuccessful, Christ Schwartz, head of Ruffhouse Records, decided to give the group another chance. In early 1995, he gave them a $135,000 advance and granted them complete artistic control for a follow-up album.[2] The group used the money for recording equipment and set up a studio in Wyclef's uncle's basement, which they referred to as Booga Basement.[3]

Recording for the album began in June 1995, and extended into November[4] at what Wyclef described as a "relaxed pace" by stating "It was done calmly, almost unconsciously. There wasn't any pressure - it was like "let's make some music," and it just started forming into something amazing. It sounded like a feel-good hip hop record to us, and it was different than what anyone was doing at the time. It was three kids from an urban background expressing themselves."[5]

In regards to The Score's unified themes and production, Lauryn commented "It's an audio film. It's like how radio was back in the 1940s. It tells a story, and there are cuts and breaks in the music. It's almost like a hip hop version of Tommy, like what The Who did for rock music."[6]

Music

The Score was produced by a variety of producers including each member of the Fugees as well as Diamond D, Salaam Remi and Jerry Duplessis. Although most tracks are built on sampled melodies, live instrumentation and DJing are incorporated into multiple tracks. Wyclef Jean plays the guitar on "Family Business," while DJ Scribble scratches on "Manifest/Outro." Nevertheless, samples are the predominant production tool on The Score. "Fu-Gee-La" incorporates a sample of Teena Marie's "Ooh La La La," and is interpolated in the song's chorus. "Ready or Not" also contains a sample that is interpolated; "Ready or Not (Here I Come)" by The Delfonics. "Manifest/Outro" contains a sample from "Rock Dis Funky Joint" by Poor Righteous Teachers, while the title track contains vocal samples from every track on the entire album.

Three official singles were released in promotion of The Score. The first of which was "Fu-Gee-La." The single was released January 9, 1996 and peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 13 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and number 2 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.[7] The song was produced by Salaam Remi and includes elements of "Ooo La La La" as performed by Teena Marie.
"Killing Me Softly"
The Fugees' "Killing Me Softly" from The Score
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The second single, "Killing Me Softly" was released May 31, 1996. Proving to be the most successful single from the album, it instantly reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as number one on the UK Singles Chart.[7] Initially, the song was to be titled "Killing Them Softly," though alluding to Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel's "Killing Me Softly with His Song," it was originally not intended to be a cover, however, the original writers refused permission for the rewrite of their song, but did allow the Fugees to do a cover version.[8] In 1997, "Killing Me Softly" won the Fugees a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by Duo or group.[9]

The third and final single released for the album was "Ready or Not," released September 2, 1996. The song was the least successful of all the singles from the album, only peaking at number 34 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart.[7] The track interpolates "Ready or Not, Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)" as performed by The Delfonics, and also samples Enya's "Boadicea". Initially this sample was uncredited, and Enya was prepared to sue for copyright infringement, however decided not to when she discovered that the Fugees were not gangsta rappers.[10] In a later interview, Fugee member Pras described the recording of "Ready or Not" stating "The three of us was each going through some pain. Lauryn was crying when she did her vocals. It was unbelievable. To see her singing with tears coming out of her eyes, it made me want to cry too."[4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [11]
Chicago Tribune [12]
Robert Christgau A[1]
Entertainment Weekly A[13]
Los Angeles Times [14]
Q [15]
Rolling Stone [16]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide [17]
The Source [18]
Spin 9/10[19]

Upon its release, The Score received positive reviews from most music critics. Entertainment Weekly writer James Bernard commented "What a shock: a smooth, well-produced rap album that doesn't have Dr. Dre's fingerprints on it [...] The Score showcases their acrobatic lyrical techniques and restless intelligence, and unlike much East Coast rap, The Score feels warm and intimate — partly because the instruments are live but also because the Fugees sound so relaxed and casual."[13] Robert Christgau from The Village Voice called it "so beautiful and funny its courage could make you weep", and said the Fugees possess "black humanism" and "the gender-equality formula in which one girl learning equals two guys calling the shots".[1] Steve Huey from Allmusic wrote that "Even when they're not relying on easily recognizable tunes, their original material is powered by a raft of indelible hooks [...] The Score balances intelligence and accessibility with an easy assurance, and ranks as one of the most distinctive hip-hop albums of its era."[11] Cheo Hodari Coker from the Los Angeles Times wrote that "The Score succeeds on all counts", while the Fugees are as fluid a rap group since A Tribe Called Quest: "Their specialty is matching a gymnastic rhyme flow and rock-solid beats with expert crooning."[14] Spin commented "A sense of organic interaction is the hallmark of this album [....] the album's most important factor is its beats; chest-shaking, obscure-texture-having, freestyle-friendly beats."[19] Q described the album as "An impressively panoramic soundscape."[15]

In a mixed review, Rolling Stone writer Ann Powers commented "The Fugees' roots in reggae gives them a solid base in song and a basic philosophy that's richer than the money-or-nothing ethic that dulls much of rap these days. Without being sanctimonious, The Score paints the ghetto as a mythical landscape, one that can inspire pride as well as sorrow. Like Wu-Tang Clan, the Fugees view the world as their movie, complete with stunts and special effects."[16] Jon Pareles of The New York Times found the group's "vision of ghetto life" both eccentric and realistic, although he felt "Killing Me Softly" sounds "out of place amid the hard-nosed surrealism".[20]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Red Intro" (feat. DJ Red Alert, Ras Baraka)Fred Krute, Ras BarakaFugees, Jerry Duplessis 1:51
2. "How Many Mics"  Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, Pras MichelFugees, Shawn King, Jerry Duplessis 4:28
3. "Ready or Not"  Jean, Hill, Michel, William Hart, Thom BellFugees, Jerry Duplessis 3:46
4. "Zealots"  Jean, Hill, MichelFugees, Jerry Duplessis 4:20
5. "The Beast"  Jean, Hill, MichelFugees, Jerry Duplessis 5:37
6. "Fu-Gee-La"  Jean, Hill, Michel, Salaam Remi, Allen McGrier, Teena MarieSalaam Remi 4:20
7. "Family Business" (feat. Omega, John Forté)Jean, Hill, Michel, John Forté, OmegaFugees, John Forté, Jerry Duplessis 5:43
8. "Killing Me Softly"  Norman Gimbel, Charles Fox, Jean, HillFugees, Jerry Duplessis 4:58
9. "The Score" (feat. Diamond D)Jean, Hill, Michel, Joseph KirklandDiamond D, Fugees, Jerry Duplessis 5:01
10. "The Mask"  Jean, Hill, MichelFugees, Jerry Duplessis 4:50
11. "Cowboys" (feat. Pacewon, Rah Digga, Young Zee, John Forté)Jean, Hill, Michel, Forté, Dewayne Battle, Rashia Fisher, Jerome HindsFugees, John Forté, Jerry Duplessis 5:23
12. "No Woman, No Cry"  Vincent Ford, JeanFugees, Jerry Duplessis 4:32
13. "Manifest/Outro"  Jean, Hill, MichelFugees, Jerry Duplessis 5:59
Total length:
 60:52
Sample credits

Personnel

  • Wyclef Jean – vocals, guitar, producer
  • Lauryn Hill – vocals, producer, arranger
  • Pras Michel – vocals, producer
  • John Forté – vocals, producer, drum programming
  • Diamond D – vocals, producer
  • DJ Red Alert – vocals
  • Omega – vocals
  • Pacewon – vocals
  • Rah Digga – vocals
  • Young Zee – vocals
  • Sly Dunbar - drums, drum programming
  • Ras Baraka – vocals
  • Akon – vocals
  • Robbie Shaakespeare - bass
  • Backspin – DJ scratches
  • DJ Scrible – DJ scratches
  • Jerry Duplessis – producer
  • Salaam Remi – producer
  • Shawn King – producer
  • Handel Tucker - producer, keyboards
  • Warren Riker – recorder, engineer
  • Bob Brockman – engineer
  • Gary Noble – engineer
  • Eddie Hudson - engineer, mixing
  • Delroy Pottinger - engineer
  • Courtney Small - engineer

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[21] 5
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[22] 1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[23] 1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[24] 1
Canadian Albums (RPM)[25] 1
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[26] 3
French Albums (SNEP)[27] 1
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[28] 1
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[29] 1
New Zealand Albums (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[31] 1
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 2
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 1
UK Albums (OCC)[34] 2
US Billboard 200[35] 1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[36] 1

End of decade charts

Chart (1990–1999) Position
US Billboard 200[37] 58

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Austria (IFPI Austria)[38] Platinum 50,000x
Canada (Music Canada)[39] 5× Platinum 500,000^
France (SNEP)[40] Diamond 1,000,000*
Germany (BVMI)[41] 3× Gold 750,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[42] Platinum 100,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] 5× Platinum 1,500,000^
United States (RIAA)[44] 6× Platinum 6,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[45] 5× Platinum 5,000,000*

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Preceded by
Fairweather Johnson by Hootie & the Blowfish		 Billboard 200 number-one album
May 25 - June 21, 1996 		Succeeded by
Load by Metallica

Awards

The Score earned the Fugees two Grammy Awards in 1996.[9]

Nomination Award Result
"Killing Me Softly" Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals Won
The Score Best Rap Album Won

Accolades

Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
About.com United States 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums[47] 2008 18
Best Rap Albums of 1996[48] 2008 5
BigO Singapore Albums of the Year 1996 34
Blender United States 500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die 2003 *
Ego Trip Hip Hop's 25 Greatest Albums by Year 1980-98 1999 5
Elvis Costello United Kingdom 500 Albums You Need 2000 *
Expressen Sweden The 100 Best Records Ever 1999 100
Eye Weekly Canada Albums of the Year 1996 15
Face United kingdom Albums of the Year 1996 1
Helsingin Sanomat Finland 50th Anniversary of Rock 2004 *
Hip-Hop Connection United Kingdom The 100 Greatest Rap Albums 1995-2005 2005 15
Juice Australia The 100 (+34) Greatest Albums of the 90s 1999 64
Mixmag United kingdom Albums of the Year 1996 2
Mojo Albums of the Year 1996 15
The Mojo Collection (3rd and/or 4th Edition) 03/07 *
Muzik Albums of the Year 1996 3
The New Nation Top 100 Albums by Black Artists 2005 34
NME United States 1996 Crits Poll 1996 22
United Kingdom Albums of the Year 1996 22
Nude as the News United States The 100 Most Compelling Albums of the 90s 1999 97
OOR Netherlands Albums of the Year 1996 38
Pause & Play United States The 90s Top 100 Essential Albums 1999 11
Plásticos y Decibelios Spain The 80 Best Albums of All Time 2000 68
Pop Sweden Albums of the Year 1996 1
Pure Pop Mexico Albums of the Year 1996 10
Q United Kingdom Albums of the Year 1996 *
90 best Albums of the 90s 1999 *
Record Collector 10 Classic Albums from 21 Genres for the 21st Century 2000 *
Robert Dimery United States 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005 *
Rock Sound France Albums of the Year 1996 24
Rolling Stone United States Albums of the Year 1996 10
The Essential Recordings of the 90s 1999 *
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time 2003 477
100 Best Albums of the Nineties[49] 2011 44
The Source 100 Best Rap Albums[50] 1998 *
The Critics Top 100 Black Music Albums of All Time[51] 2006 34
Spex Germany Albums of the Year 1996 41
Spin United States 20 Best Albums of '96 1996 2
Top 90 Albums of the 90s 1999 17
Tom Moon 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die[52] 2008 *
Various Writers Albums: 50 Years of Great Recordings 2005 *
Vibe 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century 1999 *
The Village Voice Albums of the Year 1996 2
Vox United Kingdom Albums of the Year 1996 15
VPRO Netherlands 299 Nominations of the Best Album of All Time 2006 *
Yediot Ahonot Israel Top 99 Albums of All Time 1999 74

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Christgau, Robert (April 9, 1996). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
  2. ↑ Coleman, Brian. 2008. P.213-214
  3. ↑ Coleman, Brian. 2008. P.214
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Furman; Leah, Elina. 1999. P.86
  5. ↑ Coleman, Brian. 2008. P.215
  6. ↑ Furman; Leah, Elina. 1999. P.78
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 The Score Singles Billboard Peak Positions. Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
  8. ↑ Nickson, Chris, 1999. P.74-75
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Score Grammy Awards. Allmusic. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Irish Voice article at archive.org". February 18, 1997. Archived from the original on April 7, 2005. Retrieved March 26, 2007.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Huey, Steve. Review: The Score. Allmusic. Retrieved on September 21, 2009.
  12. ↑ Kot, Greg (1996). "The Score (Ruffhouse)". Chicago Tribune (March 14). Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Bernard, James. Review: The Score. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on September 21, 2009.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Coker, Cheo-Hodari. Review: The Score. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2009-09-21.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Columnist. Review: The Score. Q: 109. April 1996.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Powers, Ann. Review: The Score. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.
  17. ↑ Christian, Hoard. Ranking: The Score. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on September 21, 2009.
  18. ↑ Kazeem (August 4, 2010). The Complete List Of 5 Mic Hip-Hop Classics. The Source.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Hinds, Selwyn Seyfu (1996). "Spins". Spin (London) (March): 113. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  20. ↑ Pareles, John. Review: The Score. The New York Times. Retrieved on September 21, 2009.
  21. ↑ "Fugees – The Score". Australiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  22. ↑ "Fugees – The Score" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  23. ↑ "Fugees – The Score" (in Dutch). Ultratop.be. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  24. ↑ "Fugees – The Score" (in French). Ultratop.be. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  25. ↑ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 63, No. 19, June 24 1996". RPM. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Fugees: The Score" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  27. ↑ "Fugees – The Score". Lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  28. ↑ "Top 100 Longplay". Officialcharts.de. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  29. ↑ "Fugees – The Score" (in Dutch). Dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  30. ↑ "Fugees – The Score". Charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  31. ↑ "Fugees – The Score". Norwegiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  32. ↑ "Fugees – The Score". Swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  33. ↑ "Fugees – The Score". Swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  34. ↑ "Fugees | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  35. ↑ "Fugees Album & Song Chart History" Billboard 200 for Fugees. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  36. ↑ "Fugees Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Fugees. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  37. ↑ Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1998). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade - The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  38. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Fugees – The Score" (in German). IFPI Austria. Enter Fugees in the field Interpret. Enter The Score in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
  39. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Fugees – The Score". Music Canada.
  40. ↑ "French album certifications – Fugees – The Score" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  41. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Fugees; 'The Score')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  42. ↑ "Polish album certifications – Fugees – The Score" (in Polish). Polish Producers of Audio and Video (ZPAV).
  43. ↑ "British album certifications – Fugees – The Score". British Phonographic Industry. Enter The Score in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  44. ↑ "American album certifications – Fugees – The Score". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  45. ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1998". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
  46. ↑ The Score album accolades. acclaimedmusic.net. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
  47. ↑ Adaso, Henry. About.com's 100 Greatest Rap Albums. About.com. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
  48. ↑ Adaso, Henry. About.com's Best Rap Albums of 1996. About.com. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
  49. ↑ 100 Best Albums of the Nineties. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  50. ↑ Columnist. The Sources 100 Best Rap Albums. The Source. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
  51. ↑ Columnist. The Critics Top 100 Black Music Albums of All Time. The Source. Retrieved 2010-04-16.
  52. ↑ Moon, Tom. 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die. Tom Moon. Retrieved 2010-04-16.

References

External links