20 years later and The Fugees' 'The Score' is still relevant

The Score is the second album from the rap group The Fugees. Hailing from New Jersey, The Fugees became a prominent rap group with the release of The Score. Their debut album, Blunted on Reality, was not critically accepted as much as their second. Recording The Score was described by the group as organic and relaxed, which translates through the flow of the album. The Score is the last album the group released before breaking up, but it is one of the most significant albums to come out in 1996. Twenty years later, The Score is still relevant. Many of the songs touched on social issues that still affect us today.

From the very first track, issues like black on black crime and police brutality were the topics of discussion. Songs like “The Beast” refer to crooked cops who run through inner-cities like a demonic entity. A song that still reflects on the current strife of black citizens caused by the police. The album also encourages black people to uplift and protect each other on the various skits in between the tracks. The album has a cinematic feel to it starting with the cover art, which is a play on the films The Godfather and Goodfellas. The Score paints a picture of the bleak reality of living in a low-income neighborhood.

 Although the album is heavy with social commentary, The Fugees made it aware that they are true emcees. Lauryn Hill stood out by showing her immense talent when it came to constructing solid rap verses on tracks like”Ready or Not” and “How Many Mics.” She seamlessly stops rapping and displays vocals that rival R&B singers on the remake of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly.”