Wyclef Jean Reflects On The Fugees’ ‘Blunted On Reality’ Album On 30th Anniversary
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
The Fugees’ breakout 1996 album The Score catapulted the group to superstardom, as the trio – comprised of Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, and Pras – were anointed musical vanguards on the strength of their genre-traversing sound.
At a time when coastal beefs were dominating the headlines, the New Jersey-based group allowed their music to do the talking, with much of the conversations surrounding them focused on records sold and hit singles produced.
While seismic anthems “Ready or Not,” “Fu-Gee-La,” and the Grammy Award winning “Killing Me Softly” made their voices seemingly inescapable upon their sophomore release, unbeknownst to most, the Fugees had narrowly escaped tipping over the cliff of obscurity.
Two years prior, the Fugees released their debut album, Blunted on Reality, on Ruffhouse Records. The project was a dismal, commercial failure, peaking at No. 62 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and not appearing on the Billboard 200 at all.
However, despite receiving mixed reviews, Blunted on Reality was critically well-received on the strength of standout tracks like “Nappy Heads” and its Salaam Remi-produced remix, which reached No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Fugees member Wyclef Jean spoke with VIBE about Blunted on Reality being initially rejected by rap fans, forcing the trio to first plant their flag abroad.
“What’s amazing about Blunted on Reality was it gave us the ability to take our time and learn and to adjust and grow from where we was at,” the legendary rapper and producer said of the group’s debut.
“It gave us a chance to perform all over Europe when the Hip-Hop heads was killing us in America; they was like ‘This is trash.’ And while they’re saying that, we’re somewhere in Germany, still planting that seed. We wasn’t looking at Blunted on Reality, we were looking at it as an introduction of where we wanted to go. “
Wyclef also attributed the contrast in sound on The Score and Blunted on Reality to the contributions of Kool & the Gang member Ronald Bell, also known as Khalis Bayyan, who took the fledgling Fugees under his wing and helmed production on the latter.
“This is what a lot of people don’t know,” the hitmaker added. “The Fugees did not produce Blunted on Reality. We was signed to Khalis Bayyan from Kool & the Gang [at the time]. Khalis – R.I.P. to one of the greatest – he’s the one who wrote “Jungle Boogie,” “She’s Fresh,” all of that, so that’s who we was sounding like.”
However, Wyclef says when the group was tasked with taking control of the wheel creatively, The Fugees truly began to hit their stride. “Me and Lauryn got a pass and we did two songs on Blunted on Reality, one was called “Vocab,” the proud Haitian recalls.
“I wanted to produce the first acoustic Hip-Hop record in history, with just a guitar and vocal. People thought I was crazy. The second one, Lauryn did, was “Some Seek Stardom [Then They Forget Harlem],” which was a fusion of jazz and Hip-Hop.”
Yet, despite Blunted on Reality often being overshadowed by The Score – which has sold over 20 million units worldwide, while its predecessor has yet to reach Gold certification – Wyclef remains adamant about the pivotal role the album played in the Fugees’ development and overall journey.
“Again, that album, we celebrate it and we play it back. We smile, we laugh and when we look back at Blunted on Reality, it put us in a stadium to play baseball. It was a bunt. And we needed that bunt to get to first base to complete the game.”
Listen to Fugees Blunted on Reality below.
More from VIBE.com
Sara Marley, Lauryn Hill's Daughter, Celebrates 'Gatsby' Sweet Sixteen
Wyclef Jean Debuts New Single "Paper Right" On 'The Tonight Show'
Lauryn Hill Reschedules Remainder Of 'Miseducation' Anniversary Tour Until 2024
Best of VIBE.com
