It has been three decades since The Fugees released their landmark album The Score. The hip-hop classic, which featured timeless tracks like “Killing Me Softly,” “Fu-Gee-La,” and “Ready or Not,” fundamentally changed the genre before the group went on a long hiatus. Now, as the anniversary of their masterpiece arrives, there is renewed hope for a reunion.
Lauryn Hill famously released her only solo studio album, the Grammy-winning The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, in 1998 and has since maintained a sporadic touring schedule, often performing alongside her former bandmate Wyclef Jean. While Jean has remained prolific with nine solo albums and numerous collaborations, the third member of the trio, Pras Michel, has been absent from recent musical endeavors due to ongoing legal challenges.
Despite the years of discord that followed the group’s initial breakup, recent comments suggest a significant shift in their dynamic. Speaking to the BBC ahead of a concert in the U.K., Wyclef Jean noted that he and Hill are currently in an “amazing place.” When asked directly about the potential for new music, Hill was brief but optimistic, simply stating, “Absolutely.”
Jean expanded on this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of their current energy. “All I can tell you is, man, we’re in God’s hands,” he said. “I’m back with my bandmate! So we’re in an amazing place. I think the energy is very important.”
This potential for a creative revival follows a period of “incredible healing” between the two artists. Earlier this year, Jean also hinted at the existence of unreleased material from the original The Score sessions. “One of the things I think that’s cool is some of the unreleased Fugees material. We have a lot of outtakes and at times we went in and tried a few records and I think fans will enjoy some of the outtakes and some of the freestyles that happened,” he shared during an appearance on the Jennifer Hudson Show.
While the group has not recorded a full-length album in 30 years, they have reunited for several high-profile performances, including a 2021 appearance for Global Citizen Live and a 2023 tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hill’s solo debut. As fans look back on the legacy of The Score, the prospect of a new chapter for the legendary trio remains a tantalizing possibility.