Music 10K: 46. The Score

The Score by Fugees
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Not a huge fan of rap, but I will say this is an excellent album. It's a socially conscious album where each song tells a story. An album like this doesn't come around very often, and I have hoped many times that the Fugees would reunite and make more music together, however, that will probably never happen.

Lauryn Hill is incredible. She has an amazing voice and she can rap. Her lyrics are intelligent, intellectual, and all her own. She has a mind to go with the music. "How Many Mics" is such a cool track with a mystique that includes some humor and pop cultural references to make a statement, as many of their tracks do.

"Ready or Not" includes a sampling of Enya's "Boadicea" creating a cooler sound that is slick and smart. Plus, you get to hear Lauryn both rap and sing. "Zealots" samples the classic "I Only Have Eyes for You" by The Flamingos to create a really smooth, new sound out of the song.

"The Beast" is hilarious. While it's highly political, it also mocks that arena with the lyric "Warn the town, the beast is loose" and a human vocalization of what sounds like a pterodactyl in the background of the chorus. Plus, the little skit at the end of the track featuring the "French-Chinese joint" is too funny. Obviously they were having a good time with their album.

"Fu-Gee-La" is sonically, a very powerful song. Its heavy bass coupled with the springiness of the electronic theme and Lauryn's voice make for an immediate hit. If I were to have a favorite rap song, "Fu-Gee-La" would either be it or at least definitely one of them.

There's no doubt a camaraderie, loyalty, chemistry, and strength among these MCs. The members of the Fugees aren't merely lyrical artists. Lauryn and Wyclef are musicians who both sing and play guitar. Pras has had experience as a producer and most certainly has a strong musical sensibility.

"Killing Me Softly" is a classic originally by Roberta Flack and covered by the Fugees. I would guess only Lauryn could bring this track back and make it a hit once again. I couldn't imagine it covered by anyone else as she does with grace and soul.

"The Score" has a certain dignity and toughness that merits taking the position of title track for the album. It musically encapsulates the cleverness of this group. "No Woman, No Cry" is beautifully uplifting and a great Bob Marley cover.

"Mista Mista" is serious on one hand, but then really hilarious, mainly out of frustration in dealing with a drug addict. You can hear the joke in Wyclef's exaggerated emotional crooning, but you can also hear an undertone of seriousness regarding the whole issue. It isn't just a joke. It's a social commentary.

What's so great about this album is that it does play like a score incorporating different styles of music ("The Mask" taking elements of 20s jazz and "Cowboys" borrowing from old school Western soundtracks). All the songs blend into each other with comical breaks, skits, and interludes. It's one of the more epic hip hop albums you could listen to.