What makes The Score by Fugees notable?

The Score received widespread critical acclaim and commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and selling over six million copies in the U.S. alone. Its innovative blend of genres and socially conscious lyrics influenced a generation of artists and contributed to the resurgence of hip-hop's mainstream appeal. The Score was the Fugees' second album, released on February 13, 1996, following their debut, Blunted on Reality. At this point in their career, they were transitioning from underground acclaim to mainstream success, ultimately shaping their identity as one of the defining acts of the decade.

Who is The Score for?

The Score works well if you're into dynamic emotional journeys, wave-like pacing experiences and immersive storytelling elements.

How many songs are on The Score?

The Score has 17 tracks, running approximately 77 minutes.

Released 30 years ago

The Score

Fugees · 1996

77 min · 17 tracks · hip-hop

A genre-blending tapestry of hip-hop, reggae, and soul that redefined the sound of the 90s urban landscape.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Ready or Not — This track showcases the Fugees’ ability to fuse a haunting sample with confident lyricism, setting a standard for future hip-hop collaborations.
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Killing Me Softly — The group's rendition transforms Roberta Flack's classic into a soulful hip-hop anthem, highlighting Lauryn Hill’s vocal prowess and emotional depth.
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Fu-Gee-La — With its infectious hook and playful energy, this track epitomizes the fusion of hip-hop with Caribbean influences while cementing the Fugees' signature sound.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

79 /100

Summit

Higher than 99% of albums we've rated

The Score blends genres with strong writing and production, making it a standout in hip-hop history.

What we noticed

Tracks like 'Killing Me Softly' incorporate live instrumentation and vocal harmonies, contrasting with the more beat-driven songs.
The sequencing alternates between high-energy tracks and slower, reflective pieces, maintaining listener engagement throughout.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 9/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 8/10

Defined its genre or moment. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

dynamic emotional journeys
wave-like pacing experiences
immersive storytelling elements
contemplative late-night vibes
layered sonic explorations

Where this album fits

Career context: The Score was the Fugees' second album, released on February 13, 1996, following their debut, Blunted on Reality. At this point in their career, they were transitioning from underground acclaim to mainstream success, ultimately shaping their identity as one of the defining acts of the decade.
Stylistic neighbors: A Tribe Called Quest· The Roots· Lauryn Hill

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Red Intro 1:52
2 How Many Mics 4:28
3 Ready or Not 3:47
4 Zealots 4:20
5 The Beast 5:37
6 Fu-Gee-La 4:20
7 Family Business 5:43
8 Killing Me Softly 4:58
9 The Score 5:02
10 The Mask 4:50
11 Cowboys 5:23
12 No Woman, No Cry 4:33
13 Manifest/Outro 5:59
14 Fu-Gee-La (Refugee Camp remix) 4:23
15 Fu-Gee-La (Sly & Robbie mix) 5:27
16 Mista Mista 2:42
17 Fu-Gee-La (Refugee Camp Global remix) 4:21

What to play next

Listen next

Bootleg Versions

1996

Go back to

Blunted on Reality

1994

Full Fugees discography Artists like Fugees

hip-hop rapping reggae

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata