The Legacy of L. Boogie, 'Clef, and Praz

While watching “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party” this evening, I fast-forwarded to the final scene, where the surprise guest, The Fugees, re-unite on stage and perform “Mona Lisa (Nappy Heads)” and the prettiest version of “Killing Me Softly” I’ve ever heard. While watching it, I began to think about the great influence the Fugees have had on music.

I think only Public Enemy or 2Pac could stake a claim in being more revolutionary/ahead of their time than the Fugees. They were like nothing before them and nothing since. A rap group with a front-woman who could SING and RAP as good as anyone wasunheard of. The fact that they came out with their album, “The Score” at the height of the gangsta rap era also showed how different and progressive they were. And on top of everything, the Fugees have become so critically acclaimed and influenced so many on basically one album.

The entire “neo-soul” genre that developed in the second half on the 90’s stems from the Fugees. Artists such as Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Common, Talib, Mos Def, and The Roots all show signs in their music of being influenced by the Fugees. Arguably the most important artist the Fugees inspired is Lauryn Hill, the solo artist. One of the few albums I like and respect as much as “The Score” is “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”. It’s a piece of art, and like “The Score”, unlike anything else that was out at the time.

The Fugees, despite their limited discography, will stand the test of time. Their legacy will last partly because of their epic album, “The Score” and partly because it serves as a clear turning point in hip hop music history. Hip hop was forever changed, for the better, once The Fugees came out on the scene and their influence is still felt today.