Continuing a look at notable albums of 1996…
The hip-hop group Fugees released only two albums before splitting up, but the second release — 1996’s The Score — was a groundbreaking international smash. The album helped define the alternative hip-hop sound of the 90s.
Combining socially conscious rap with soulful R&B, the album skips between genres so deftly that it ended up creating a new one.
The Score‘s most successful single was a cover of ‘Killing Me Softly,’ which singer Lauryn Hill delivers with aching sincerity over subtle hip-hop beats. The track went to #1 in more than 20 countries. ‘Ready Or Not,’ which blended Hill’s vocals with Wyclef Jean’s rapping, became a big hit in its own right.
The album’s other cover is a rendition of Bob Marley’s ‘No Woman No Cry,’ again performed (this time by Wyclef) over a hip-hop rhythm track. The style and spirit of those covers infuses the original tracks as well, even when they lead more into rap territory.
The Fugees broke up the following year to pursue solo projects, and though they have reunited to tour in subsequent years, The Score remains their last album.
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
[Verse 1]
I heard he sang a good song
I heard he had a style
And so I came to see him
And listen for a while
And there he was
This young boy, stranger to my eyes
[Chorus]
Strumming my pain with his fingers (One time, one time)
Singing my life with his words (Two times, two times)
Killing me softly with this song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
[Verse 2]
I felt all flushed with fever
Embarrassed by the crowd
I felt he found my letters
Then read each one out loud
I prayed that he would finish
But he just kept right on
[Chorus]
Strumming my pain with his fingers (One time, one time)
Singing my life with his words (Two times, two times)
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
[Chorus]
Strumming my pain with his fingers (Yes, he was singing)
Yes he was singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Strumming my pain, yeah (Strumming my pain)
[Outro]
Yo, put your hands together for L-Boogie from the Refugee Camp (Yeah, yeah)
(Singing my life)
Up in here, you know how we do, L-Boogie up in here
Wyclef, Pra’zrel, said L-Boogie up in here
Wyclef up in here
My man Lil’ Base (Pra’zrel up in here)
Jerry one time (T Rocks up in here, we got Warren up in here)
This is how we— (Warren up, up in here, Outsiders up here)
Refugee Camp, Refugee Camp (We got Fallon up in here, Mulaney, Mulaney’s up in here, we got Val’ up in here)
Meet Me In Montauk 