Fu-Gee-La : Again , combining multiple samples worked wonders for this track . Fu-Gee-La still stands as my favorite track from the album . Aside from the obvious mainstream appeal , and the fact they sampled one of soul music ’ s biggest singles ever in “ Ooh La La La ” from Teena Marie , as well as Ramsey Lewis ’ “ If Loving You Is Wrong I Don ’ t Want To Be Right ” and “ Shakiyia ” from Poor Righteous Teachers , there still was a certain rarity in the overall sound . Lauryn grabbed me right away as she led the tracks chorus ; “ Ooh la la la , it ’ s he way that we rock when we doing our thing …” Hearing this tune , everyone knew there was something special about Lauryn . When you listen to it today , it ’ s clear that each member was on point , yet , at the time when it was released , Pras & Clef were easily overlooked . Lauryn brought an entirely different element to the table that made people listen , and ultimately realize the magic they were making together .
Family Business : Family Business was one of the very tracks on this album that allowed Lauryn to truly showcase her crazy flow . She could be a lady when the time required , and she could get downright hood at other times . She feverishly spit like her life depended on it : “ my circle it can ’ t be broken , open cut , throatin , provokin , record promotin ’, tokin ’, chokin ’ on their words like smokin ’, cause we ’ re soft-spoken doesn ’ t mean that we forgotten , your booty smell rotten , and one day you will be gotten , see jokers is scatter-brained , their focus is unrestrained , my army is trained , you ’ ll never find us beefin in vain ..” Honestly , they all spit venom on this track . Omega & John Fortè also stepped in for a verse here . Samples here included tunes from Bob Marley , James Taylor , John Williams , and Joe Bataan .
Killing Me Softly : Anyone who wasn ’ t already a believer in the power of Lauryn hill before this single had definitely changed their minds by the time it dropped . Her spin on the song made classic by Roberta Flack was nothing short of amazing . Not often does someone cover a classic tune , and totally blow it out the park to the point where it ’ s damned bear better than the original . Obviously , there ’ s a number of remakes of this track , but the Fugees really took it to the next level . It was definitely an opportunity to spotlight Lauryn ’ s vocal prowess .
The Score : Definitely another one of the album ’ s heavy hitters , The Score featured a collaboration with Diamond D , and boasted samples of Eric B & Rakim , Cymande , and Afrika Bambaataa . The way this track was put together was pure magic , and it lends to the credibility they built as emcees and budding producers .
The Mask : This was always one of my favorite tracks on the album , featuring a sample from The Moody Blues ’ Nights in White Satin . Clearly , the average person of this generation , or at least at the time this was released , wouldn ’ t have known much about The Moody Blues , but this was really a dope track .
Cowboys : hands down one of the dopest tracks on the album , partly because they were trading bars with none other than John Fortè and the Outsidaz ! Zee , Pacewon , and Rah Digga undoubtedly did their thing , and John added the extra fire . With Cowboys , the group pulled samples from Mad Cobra , Kenny Rogers , The Intruders , Raekwon , The Main Ingredient , and Manu Dibango .
No Woman , No Cry : Another amazing remake of a classic tune , this time from Bob Marley & the Wailers . When you think back now , it would seem inevitable that this would be a tune they ’ d cover , given Lauryn ’ s connection with the Marleys , but of course , no one really knew clearly what that connection would grow to be at that time . Nevertheless , No Woman , No Cry did very well for the Fugees upon its release as a single .
Manifest Outro : combined with the album outro , Manifest represents another highlight for The Score . Sampling Poor Righteous Teachers ’ Rock Dis Funky Joint and Big Daddy Kane ’ s Ain ’ t No Half Stepping , each member definitely gave us something to be happy about in their flows . It was the perfect joint to round out an album filled with certified classics .
Also included were 4 additional bonus tracks , 3 of which were remixes to the smash hit Fu-Gee-La with one featuring a then-Unknown rapper by the name of Akon . No one knew at the time how big he would come to be years later . The final bonus was the Wyclef solo Mista Mista .
All in all , this album went down in history as the classic it is because of what it covered , and how it was ultimately delivered . They covered ground that no other rapper or group w covered in hip-hop , and they were unapologetic about it . There was no shame in the fact they were different . The fact they were a far cry from all else in hip-hop was likely the reasoning in the somewhat disappoint performance of their debut . Nonetheless , their charisma and natural talent shined for The Score . It ’ s no wonder they each ultimately blew up to become even larger than the group . No one could have ever been prepared for how bright their stars would shine as solo artists . They were proof that you could deliver straight from your heart with honesty , and still be accepted in what many label an artificial society . They ’ re originality was the forefront , even with the many samples they blew through on The Score . It ’ s one thing to outright steal someone else ’ s music , and it ’ s another to properly blend it all in a way that it becomes brand new . No question , they knew what they were doing .
Despite the trouble we ’ ve seen with the group on the years to follow , including a short-lived reunion , I like to think there ’ s still hope . That reunion was proof that miracles do happen , and hey , lightening has been known to strike twice on occasion . The world , I believe , is still hoping for that miracle . +
Fu-Gee-La: Again, combining multiple
samples worked wonders for this track.
Fu-Gee-La still stands as my favorite track
from the album. Aside from the obvious
mainstream appeal, and the fact they sampled one of soul music’s biggest singles
ever in “Ooh La La La” from Teena Marie,
as well as Ramsey Lewis’ “If Loving You
Is Wrong I Don’t Want To Be Right” and
“Shakiyia” from Poor Righteous Teachers,
there still was a certain rarity in the overall
sound. Lauryn grabbed me right away as
she led the tracks chorus; “Ooh la la la, it’s
he way that we rock when we doing our
thing…” Hearing this tune, everyone knew
there was something special about Lauryn. When you listen to it today, it’s clear
that each member was on point, yet, at
the time when it was released, Pras & Clef
were easily overlooked. Lauryn brought an
entirely different element to the table that
made people listen, and ultimately realize
the magic they were making together.
Family Business: Family Business was one
of the very tracks on this album that allowed Lauryn to truly showcase her crazy
flow. She could be a lady when the time
required, and she could get downright
hood at other times. She feverishly spit
like her life depended on it: “my circle it
can’t be broken, open cut, throatin, provokin, record promotin’, tokin’, chokin’
on their words like smokin’, cause we’re
soft-spoken doesn’t mean that we forgotten, your booty smell rotten, and one
day you will be gotten, see jokers is scatter-brained, their focus is unrestrained, my
army is trained, you’ll never find us beefin
in vain..” Honestly, they all spit venom
on this track. Omega & John Fortè also
stepped in for a verse here. Samples here
included tunes from Bob Marley, James
Taylor, John Williams, and Joe Bataan.
Killing Me Softly: Anyone who wasn’t already a believer in the power of Lauryn hill
before this single had definitely changed
their minds by the time it dropped. Her
spin on the song made classic by Roberta
Flack was nothing short of amazing. Not
often does someone cover a classic tune,
and totally blow it out the park to the point
where it’s damned bear better than the
original. Obviously, there’s a number of remakes of this track, but the Fugees really
took it to the next level. It was definitely
an opportunity to spotlight Lauryn’s vocal
prowess.
The Score: Definitely another one of the
album’s heavy hitters, The Score featured
a collaboration with Diamond D, and
boasted samples of Eric B & Rakim, Cymande, and Afrika Bambaataa. The way
this track was put together was pure mag-
ic, and it lends to the credibility they built
as emcees and budding producers.
The Mask: This was always one of my
favorite tracks on the album, featuring a
sample from The Moody Blues’ Nights in
White Satin. Clearly, the average person of
this generation, or at least at the time this
was released, wouldn’t have known much
about The Moody Blues, but this was really a dope track.
Cowboys: hands down one of the dopest
tracks on the album, partly because they
were trading bars with none other than
John Fortè and the Outsidaz! Zee, Pacewon, and Rah Digga undoubtedly did their
thing, and John added the extra fire. With
Cowboys, the group pulled samples from
Mad Cobra, Kenny Rogers, The Intruders,
Raekwon, The Main Ingredient, and Manu
Dibango.
No Woman, No Cry: Another amazing
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