Fugees

Lauryn Hill released her 1998 smash hit "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill." Two years later, Clef released his second solo effort, "The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book." Clef, the rhyming guitarist, has vocally brought more substance to the genre. "We want to show that there's much more to hip hop than what people think." Lauryn is the African-American rapster whose voice carries with clarity and soul. The trio is rounded out by Pras Michel who is a verbal master, the son of a church deacon. Together the three concentrate their talent, not in competition or duplication, but enhancement of the whole. Their artistic blend has sent the hip hop movement in new directions, giving it what hip hop was severely lacking at the time. Lauryn initially spent time in a variety of theatrical productions, including the heralded "Sister Act II" alongside Whoopi Goldberg. She helped complete the group's studio, comparing their resources to their in-house basement production center to Bob Marley's sacred recording place. It's the heart of their soulful creations. The group found an International following as they toured the world, honing their skills. Their second album has been compared to a form of ghetto theater, bringing the art form to a new level and leaving many of their peers gasping and unable to keep up. While equivalent shows are repetitive and limited, the Fugees have included a blend of instrumentation and style that knows no boundaries. They have embodied everything that hip hop is supposed to be, from funky and original to fresh and fearless.

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