Fugees

Fugees () are an American hip-hop group formed in South Orange, New Jersey, in 1990. The trio of Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel, and Lauryn Hill became known for their fusion of hip-hop, reggae, R&B, and funk, socially conscious lyrics, and use of live instrumentation. Their sound stood apart during the gangsta rap-dominated era, establishing them as one of the most significant alternative hip-hop acts. Their name, derived from "refugees", referenced Jean's immigrant background, Michel's Haitian heritage, and recurring themes of resilience.

After signing with Ruffhouse Records, an imprint of Columbia, the group released Blunted on Reality (1994). Though modest at first, the album gained traction through local shows and remixes of "Nappy Heads" and "Vocab" by Salaam Remi, with the former reaching the Billboard Hot 100. Their second album, The Score (1996), brought commercial success, spawning the hit singles "Fu-Gee-La", "Ready or Not", and a reimagined "Killing Me Softly", which topped the charts in more than 20 countries. The album peaked atop the Billboard 200, was certified 7× Platinum by the RIAA and became the second rap album to earn a Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year. Its success placed the Fugees "at the forefront of pop music", according to The New York Times.