The Fugees

Nas, Lauryn Hill, Wu-Tang Thrill Fans At Rock The Bells

04 Sep 2011 04:53:16 EDT

Mobb Deep, Slaughterhouse, Erykah Badu and more revisit classic material for a day of hip-hop celebration on New York stop.
By Rob Markman

NEW YORK — Thousands of rap fans gathered in hip-hop's birth city for a daylong celebration of the genre's classics. Nas, Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon and Ghostface Killah all performed at the Rock the Bells 2011 festival on Governor's Island in New York City on Saturday (September 3).

The musical tour was comprised of four stages, including the main Rock the Bells stage, the Wu-inspired 36 Chambers stage and the underground-themed Paid Dues stage. More than 20 acts, including Mobb Deep, Slaughterhouse, Black Moon, Big K.R.I.T., the Immortal Technique and GZA, performed, with some dedicating their sets to their own classic albums; others devoted their shows to just a gang of fan-favorites.

The festivities kicked off at approximately 2 p.m. ET, and started off slow. Wu-Tang Clan's GZA fumbled through his 1995 sophomore album, Liquid Swords, as concertgoers ping-ponged back and forth between stages. Cypress Hill ran through selections from their Black Sunday LP. Marijuana anthems like "I Wanna Get High" and "Hits From the Bong" set the tone for a smoke-filled set that mixed equal parts rap, rock and Latin soul.

Mobb Deep didn't disappoint. Although they were advertised to perform only their 1995 breakout album, The Infamous, the Queens, New York, duo did so much more. In addition to tracks like "Shook Ones Pt. II," "Survival of the Fittest" and "Give Up the Goods," the Mobb dove into their catalog of street bangers, including "G.O.D. Pt. III" and "Quiet Storm," as well.

MTV Jams' 2011 Fab 5 inductee Big K.R.I.T. found his set overlapping with that of the Mobb's Havoc and Prodigy, but he was still able to draw a sizable crowd on the Paid Dues stage. The gatherers bounced energetically to Southern-fried selections like "Glass House" and "Country Sh--," proving that it wasn't just a day for rap veterans.

After drawing fan criticism about her previous live shows, Lauryn Hill promised at the beginning of her set to perform the songs from her The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album as they were recorded. Unfortunately, the plan was thrown out the window pretty quickly as she rapped to a ridiculously sped-up version of "Lost Ones." In fact, many of Ms. Hill's classics were performed quite differently from how fans may have remembered. Still, she did thrill audiences with almost-flawless renditions of "Doo Wop (That Thing)" and "To Zion." There was also a Fugees reunion of sorts when Pras joined his former partner to rock "Ready or Not," but the warring Wyclef was nowhere to be found.

Before Hill could finish her set, Raekwon and Ghostface took to the 36 Chambers stage on the other side of the field. They opened with "Striving for Perfection," the opening skit from Rae's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx ... , and then tore into "Incarcerated Scarfaces," "Criminology" and "Ice Cream." It was a '90s-era dream come true, but unfortunately hip-hop's faithful were forced to choose, because halfway through Rae and Ghost's set, the night's headliner Nas, started his show on the main stage.

At around 10:30 p.m., the crowd gathered at Nas' stage, which was decorated with props made to mirror his native Queensbridge, New York, housing project. There was a backdrop with buildings, a real lamppost, project benches and a gate that stood as the entrance. It was 17 years ago that Nasir Jones dropped his highly regarded debut, Illmatic, and on Saturday night he maneuvered through the 10-track masterpiece starting with its opener, "Genesis." With DJ Premier backing him, Nas rapped the words to "N.Y. State of Mind" and "It Ain't Hard to Tell" with a ferocity that recalled the young MC in 1994.

Nas did, at times, depart from the Illmatic theme, treating his day-one fans to something special. First, he brought out MC Serch to perform their 1992 underground banger "Back to the Grill." Next up, he invited Joe Fatal, Akinyele and Large Professor to do "Live at the Barbeque," the 1991 song that gave Nas his rap debut.

From there, it was a full-on party as the Braveheart MC did his new single "Nasty," invited Lauryn back out for their collabo "If I Ruled the World" and closed with the hyped-up "Made Ya Look."

Before he left closed out the night, Nas shouted, "I love you New York City," and it was apparent that NYC loves him back.

Did you catch the Rock the Bells tour this year? Tell us your thoughts!

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Pras Helping Haitian Consulate In New York With Relief Efforts

14 Jan 2010 20:53:00 EST

'What I'm doing, mobilizing up here — what we're doing is a joint effort,' he says of his combined efforts with Wyclef.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway

While Wyclef has dispatched to Haiti to help his countrymen with aid, his former Fugees bandmate Pras has chosen to hold the home fort down via New York's Haitian Consulate.

The "Ghetto Superstar" lyricist is among the many Haitian-Americans in the Tri-State Area who have ventured to the local consulate to volunteer.

"We've been through a lot," Pras told MTV News on Thursday (January 14). "But I'm confident with what Wyclef is doing in Haiti — I mean, he got on a plane the following day. He's going guerrilla-style. What I'm doing, mobilizing up here — what we're doing is a joint effort."

Pras is urging assistance in the form of supplies in the immediate term, whether it be water, food or clothing.

The Brooklyn native has been overwhelmed by the support pledged by President Barack Obama and the individual donations from citizens across the country.

"America has been so gracious," he said. "We've been going through our own economic crisis and people still find money to donate to Haiti."

In the long term, however, Pras hoped all the money and supplies being donated actually make it to his native country. He cited past issues with the government where aid had not been distributed fully to residents of the island. He said an independent watchdog organization should be launched to coordinate the financial efforts of the Red Cross, Yele and Care.org.

"When the dust settles, Haiti just went back to the Ice Age," he said, citing the damage to hospitals, schools and homes.

Molaine Milfert, the communautaire at the Haitian Consulate in New York, echoed Pras' point.

"Our headquarters in Haiti was flattened out," she explained. "We lost six employees [at that location]. So it's very difficult to contact any of the executive staff over there. But we are working on our own. We're working with whatever source to provide information, help people get the aid they need and the help they need in Haiti. We have a team of health-care professionals being coordinated. We're being assisted by Jet Blue and they can start transporting groups of doctors and nurses, up to 30 of them, on Friday and Saturday.

"What just happened activated the community part of the consulate," she added.

Head here to learn more about what you can do to help with earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti, and for more information, see THINK mtv.

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Fugees Aimed To 'Make A Change' At 1997 Haiti Concert

13 Jan 2010 18:39:00 EST

'The message I bring is for the people,' Wyclef Jean told MTV News at the time.
By Steven Roberts

Wyclef Jean has been one of the loudest voices in encouraging aid to Haiti following the catastrophic 7.0 earthquake that hit near Port-au-Prince late Tuesday afternoon. On his Web site, the artist pleaded with people to donate to his devastated homeland.

Wyclef has long worked to help the island nation garner international attention and build itself up. In 2004, he started the nonprofit Yele Haiti foundation to provide scholarships for the country's children. He's also worked with the United Nations World Food Programme to send assistance to the island. And, back in 1997, 'Clef and the Fugees took MTV News to Haiti for a concert for the people.

MTV News followed the group — which was riding the success of their hit album The Score — to Wyclef and Pras' home country and visited everything from orphanages to the presidential palace, where they were given the VIP treatment. The musicians were well aware of the access their celebrity afforded them.

"We couldn't have been here if it had not been for the people — in the homes, in the streets, in the cars, in their jeep — supporting us first," Lauryn Hill said. "Wyclef said something really powerful. He said that on a normal day when we hadn't sold 15 million records, he wouldn't have been in the palace."

MTV News also followed the group to former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's Lafanmi Seavi Orphanage. After his tumultuous presidency, Aristide returned to the orphanage he once ran. Despite his country's incredible poverty, he said its people still have great pride.

"Haiti is one of the 20 poorest countries in the world, but first of all, we care about our dignity," he said. "Wyclef is a star showing the dignity of the country amongst the artists of the world."

During their visit, the Fugees made a direct appeal to the more fortunate people in Haiti and performed an exclusive benefit at a Club Med in Montrouis, in order to subsidize their goodwill efforts.

"I have to find a way through my music to make people aware: 'Can we find a middle class? Can we get jobs?' Because there is money," Wyclef said. "How can we get some of that money to make things work?"

Wyclef said their Club Med performance went well but that he wasn't there for the upper class: "It's cool, but I came to play for the people. The message I bring is for the people."

The final, much bigger concert was in Port-au-Prince, where the Fugees performed in front of a reported 75,000 Haitians. They were joined onstage by Boukman Eksperyans, a very popular Haitian band named after Dutty Boukman, the vodou priest whose death was widely believed to have sparked the Haitian Revolution in 1791.

"For us, it's about raising money to do something, to make a change, because this is our way of action," 'Clef said.

Head to Think.MTV.com to find a community where you, your friends and your favorite celebrities can get informed, get heard and take action on the issues that matter to you most.

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Wyclef Jean Froze Up When Meeting Michael Jackson

04 Aug 2009 06:50:00 EDT

'I go to shake his hand -- and my whole voice box goes out," former Fugees frontman recalls.
By Kyle Anderson

Michael Jackson possessed the sort of fame that was so sweeping and intense that it defied comprehension. Even when he was out of the spotlight, he still commanded fawning, sometimes aggressive crowds whenever he went out in public. That mania wasn't limited to just normal everyday fans, either — even other famous people, who are accustomed to fame being in the public eye, still swooned and stammered when Jackson was in the room.

In an interview that ended up not being included in MTV's "Michael Jackson's Human Nature" special, which aired over the weekend, former Fugees frontman Wyclef Jean admitted as much when he recalled meeting Jackson in 1997. The two worked together briefly on a recording session for the remix album Blood on the Dance Floor (the track never saw the light of day) and Wyclef admitted that the prospect of meeting Jackson was overwhelming.

"When I knew he was coming, I went to the bathroom, put some water on my face and I was rehearsing how I would be talking to Mike," he said. "When I was in the presence of Michael Jackson, I go to shake his hand — and my whole voice box goes out. This is the kind of effect that this man had on me!"

Jean said that even his bodyguards, who tended to shrug off everything, got wound up once Jackson was in the room. But as he explained, Jackson's music was such a huge part of everybody's development that they couldn't help but get excited.

"When somebody is the soundtrack of your life, you can just imagine," he said. "Michael Jackson and Bob Marley — those were the soundtracks of my life."

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Rapper John Forte, Whose Sentence Was Commuted By Bush, Plans To Continue Music

26 Nov 2008 12:14:00 EST

Former Fugees producer wants to 'justify' the support he's received while in prison for drug charges.
By Gil Kaufman

John Forté plans to make the most of his second chance. Following the announcement earlier this week that the former Fugees collaborator and solo hip-hop artist was one of 16 people to be pardoned or have their sentences commuted by outgoing President Bush, Forté is preparing to re-enter society after serving seven years of a 14-year sentence for possession of 31 pounds of liquid cocaine with intent to distribute.

One of Forté's lawyers, Aarti Tandon, told MTV News that contrary to earlier reports, her client had not been pardoned but had his sentence commuted, which means he does not have to serve the rest of it. Though Forté cannot currently be reached by phone or e-mail to discuss his feelings about the commutation, Tandon said he is elated and looking forward to getting back in the music game.

"I have spoken with him, and he is pleased and very grateful to President Bush for commuting his sentence," Tandon wrote. "Mr. Forté is humbled by his life experiences. He will use his early release to return to his family, re-enter the world of music, work with at-risk youth to deter them from drugs and crime, and continue his educational program at the London School of Economics."

Forté — who studied violin at the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire as a youth — co-wrote and produced two songs on the Fugees' Grammy-winning 1996 smash, The Score. Two years later, he released his debut, Poly Sci, on which Fugees member Wyclef Jean has an executive-producer credit. He released his second album, I, John, while in prison in 2002.

Tandon said that Forté's commutation came as a result of more than five years of campaigning by his lawyer, Michael Nussbaum, herself and a number of others, including singer Carly Simon. Forté is a friend of Simon's son, singer/songwriter Ben Taylor.

Tandon said Forté understands the lengths those who support him have gone to secure his release, and "he intends to justify fully the confidence shown in him." While in prison, Forté has been organizing music groups and Save Our Youth events; working as a G.E.D. tutor; leading classes in philosophy, writing and re-entry into society; taking correspondence courses and writing music that he intends to record upon his release. He was also admitted to a correspondence program with the London School of Economics for a degree in politics and international relations.

Forté is slated to be released on December 22.

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Fugees Producer And Rapper John Forte Granted Pardon By President Bush

25 Nov 2008 13:37:00 EST

Halfway through a 14-year conviction for drug trafficking, musician is one of 14 people to receive pardons.
By Gil Kaufman

Rapper and former FugeesFugees producer John Forté was one of 14 people pardoned by President Bush on Monday, according to Reuters. He had been serving a sentence of 14 years in prison since 2001, after being found guilty of possession of 31 pounds of liquid cocaine with intent to distribute.

The presidential pardons, which were for offenses ranging from distribution of marijuana to unauthorized use of a pesticide, cannot be overruled and can help the recipients find jobs, live in public housing and vote. Bush has received more than 2,000 requests for pardons, which typically come fast and furious near the end of a president's term.

Forté — who studied violin at the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire as a youth — co-wrote and produced two songs on the Fugees' Grammy-winning 1996 smash, The Score. Two years later, he released his debut, Poly Sci, on which Fugees member Wyclef JeanWyclef Jean has an executive-producer credit.

Forté was arrested in 2000 at Newark International Airport after accepting a briefcase containing $1.4 million worth of cocaine. He released his confessional second album, 2002's I, John, while already serving his sentence at Pennsylvania's Lorreto Federal Penitentiary.

I, John featured an unexpected duet with '70s legend Carly SimonCarly Simon on "Been There, Done That," which came about through Forté's friendship with Simon's son, Ben Taylor. Simon and Taylor have long advocated on Forté's behalf, arguing that the MC did not receive a fair trial and that his sentence was unfair considering it was his first offense and he was a nonviolent offender.

According to TMZ, Simon has been lobbying a number of politicians, including Senators Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch, "religiously" on Forté's behalf. He will leave federal prison next month, TMZ said. A spokesperson for Forté had not returned requests for comment at press time.

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Greatest Hip-Hop Groups Of All Time

23 Feb 2007 20:11:47 EST

The Greatest Hip-Hop Groups of All Time are tackled by MTV's hip-hop brain trust in the latest installment of this bare-knuckled debate series.
By

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For The Record: Quick News On Ludacris, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Death Cab For Cutie & More

01 Jun 2006 21:00:00 EDT

Luda, Kanye score courtroom victory; Timberlake film gets nearer to theaters; Carey won't say she's a 'goddess.'
By MTV News staff report

Ludacris and Kanye West scored a courtroom victory Thursday (June 1) when a jury decided they did not copy another group's material for "Stand Up," the 2003 Luda track they co-wrote, according to The Associated Press. After less than a day of deliberating, the jury concluded that "Stand Up" did not sound like "Straight Like That," an obscure song by New Jersey's I.O.F. Luda capped off the two-week trial by signing autographs outside the courthouse; West did not appear in court. ...

The long-awaited Justin Timberlake film "Alpha Dog" has a new studio (Universal Pictures is taking over for New Line), release date (early 2007) and a line on the Oscars. Whether it's Timberlake's performance or something else about the film that has Universal thinking about gold statues, Variety reports that the studio may give "Alpha Dog" a limited run in December so that it qualifies for the next Academy Awards. ...

Mariah Carey is proud of her legs — even if she won't admit whether she's insured them for $1 billion, as rumored, to protect her stake as Gillette's new celebrity spokesperson. The razor company honored the singer on Tuesday at New York's Radio City Music Hall for having "Celebrity Legs of a Goddess," unveiling a 16-foot replica of Carey's stems. (Click to see Mariah with her giant likeness). "It's a little overwhelming," Carey told MTV News. "I'm not saying that I have [legs of a goddess], Gillette said it." She attributes her leg appeal to genetics, dieting, and working out. Though she was a fast runner in school ("I beat everybody but a boy named Ricky in my sixth-grade class"), Carey said that she prefers to work out in the water. "Other than that, exercise is not my favorite. It is what it is." ...

After trekking through Europe and Australia this summer, Death Cab for Cutie will return to the States for an August stint. The tour begins August 3 at the Kuyahoga Festival in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and ends August 15 in San Diego. ... Courtney Love has signed up for a new human-rights exhibition from Amnesty International, which features 100 celebrities posing with placards printed with messages including "Protect the Human," "Torture Is Terror," "Control the Arms Trade," and "Stop Violence Against Women." Patrick Stewart, Christian Slater, Billy Zane, Dougray Scott, John Hurt, Alex Kingston, director Anthony Minghella and producer Harvey Weinstein are among those featured in the photographs. Instead of being incorporated into an advertising campaign, the photos will be on display at London's Covent Garden until Tuesday. ...

Pete Doherty was searched for drugs and cleared for release at an airport in Spain on Thursday, according to The Associated Press. Doherty and his band Babyshambles were en route from London to Barcelona when their easyJet captain noticed the troubled British rocker was spending too much time in the bathroom and alerted police in Barcelona. An easyJet spokesperson said the airline had found a bloody syringe in the bathroom — recalling Doherty's incident with MTV News Germany last week; see video of the incident on MTV Overdrive) — but the Spanish authorities denied that claim. Regardless, Babyshambles have been banned from flying on easyJet. ...

The brothers Jonas — or the Jonas Brothers, as they prefer to be called — have at long last confirmed August 1 as the release date for their debut record, It's About Time. Originally scheduled for the spring, the record was delayed so the group could swap in an acoustic version of "Please Be Mine," "Year 3000" and "What I Go to School For" and swap out "Dear God" and "Hey We're Gonna Be Alright." The Brothers hit the road with another set of siblings, Aly & AJ, Wednesday in Westbury, New York. They'll wrap up the 15-date trek July 8 in Arlington, Texas. ... Swedish neo-new-wavers the Sounds released a four-song live EP featuring tracks from their current album, Dying to Say This to You, this week. The band hits the festival circuit this summer and joins the Vans Warped Tour July 17 in Vancouver, British Columbia. ...

Hip-hop oral history tome "Rakim Told Me" is about to get the remix treatment. Though a self-published version, covering the most influential albums from the 1980s, came out last year, the book will be updated with new chapters on albums from the 1990s. Hip-hop journalist and XXL scribe Brian Coleman is including interviews from artists such as the Fugees, De La Soul, Ice-T, Cypress Hill, the Roots, the Wu-Tang Clan, Digable Planets, A Tribe Called Quest and Naughty by Nature, which he says will make it the "definitive" version of the book, with more than 30 all-new chapters. "It may or may not have the same title when it comes out," Coleman said. Villard, a division of Random House, said the company is aiming to put out the new version by next June, by which point the previous version will be withdrawn from the market, Coleman said. ...

Boxing legend Bernard Hopkins is stepping into the ring for the last time on June 10, and he'll have Houston rap heavyweight Bun B by his side as he steps through the ropes at Atlantic City, New Jersey's Boardwalk Hall. "It's an honor to be able to be part of a legend's career in this way," Bun B said in a statement. "I'm honored to be able to walk with him." Bun B is currently putting together a performance for the 12-round, light heavyweight "Fight to the Finish" match, which will air live on HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

More dates have been revealed for the resurrected Family Values Tour, which will feature Korn, the Deftones, Stone Sour, Flyleaf and Dir En Grey. The tour will hit Noblesville, Indiana (August 29); Holmdel, New Jersey (September 1); Hartford, Connecticut (September 3); Cleveland (September 6); Pittsburgh (September 8); Clarkston, Michigan (September 9); Darien Center, New York (September 10); Cincinnati (September 12); and Columbus, Ohio (September 13). ... Coheed and Cambria will be heading out with Dillinger Escape Plan, Chiodos, and 3 in August for a brief U.S. tour. Only four dates have been revealed for the trek: August 3 in Columbus, Ohio; August 4 in Indianapolis; August 7 in Grand Rapids, Michigan; and August 8 in Toledo, Ohio. Additional dates will be announced in the coming weeks. ...

Hopesfall have parted ways with drummer Adam Baker, replacing him with Jason Trabue. The band has offered no official statement on the lineup shift, but a spokesperson for the band confirmed the moves. ... Baseball writer and ESPN "Baseball Tonight" analyst Peter Gammons will release his debut LP, Never Slow Down, Never Grow Old, on July 4. The album will feature Gammons, who sings and plays guitar, doing covers of Warren Zevon's "Model Citizen" and the Clash's "Death or Glory." George Thorogood, Juliana Hatfield, former Letters to Cleo vocalist Kay Hanley, Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and big leaguers Bronson Arroyo, Trot Nixon, Tim Wakefield and Jonathan Papelbon will be making guest appearances on the disc.

05.31.2006

The owners and creators of "American Idol" are being sued by a fan who says the show stole his idea for a Web game based on the singing competition. Adam Pick claims in a lawsuit filed last week in Los Angeles Superior Court that he invented an interactive fantasy game called "Idol Go Home," in which people could reverse the voting process by picking who should get booted instead of who should win. "It's fantasy football with a reality-TV twist," Pick said of the game, which would let users post blogs and photos as well. But after pitching the idea and giving "Idol" a prototype of the site, Pick claims show representatives said they weren't interested, but that Pick could launch his own site. Once he did so, Pick says, "Idol" demanded that he shut down the site, while at the same time, according to his lawsuit, "Idol" modified its site to incorporate Pick's ideas. Pick is seeking monetary damages and an injunction restraining the show from using his idea. Fox had no comment. ...

Prince will be presented with lifetime-achievement honors at the 10th annual Webby Awards, set for June 12 in New York. One of the first artists to release a Web-only album (1997's Crystal Ball), Prince is being recognized for his innovative use of the Internet to distribute music and connect with fans. "Besides being a musical genius, Prince is a visionary who recognized early on that the Web would completely change how we experience music," Webby Awards founder Tiffany Shlain said. Previously announced special-achievement honorees include Gorillaz and the founders of MySpace. ...

Hilary Duff's dog Lola now has her very own blog, hosted in the fan-club-only section of the singer/actress' official site, HilaryDuff.com. And what does the pampered pet of a pop star have to say? So far the Chihuahua has posted her endorsement of a dog-care book written by the owner of a Maltese pal. ... Black Eyed Peas are starring as superheroes who spend their days making candy and their nights defending hip-hop in a series of digital films — a.k.a. online commercials — promoting Snickers. The "digi-sodes" launch Monday on InstantDef.com. ...

When AFI's new album, Decemberunderground, hits stores Tuesday, the most devoted fans might want to pick up four copies. The

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Fugees Kick Off Grammy Week With Street-Party Concert

07 Feb 2006 14:32:00 EST

The serious Lauryn makes way for the return of L. Boogie — for one night, at least.
By Shaheem Reid

HOLLYWOOD — Lauryn Hill may not be winning any Grammys this year, but she is absolutely the hands-down favorite for bizarre quote of the year: "I'm crazy, blood clot!"

Hill joined her Fugee teammates Wyclef Jean and Pras on Monday night for the group's first full-on concert in almost 10 years. The Fugees kicked off Grammy week with a free outdoor show that, owing to its location smack in the middle of the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, shut down part of Hollywood on Monday night.

And the biggest story coming out of the show is the redefinition, if you will, of Lauryn Hill. Onstage, she didn't seem to be the post-Miseducation Lauryn we've come to know: the serious and detached Hill that many, from 50 Cent to barbershop observers, might have deemed a little odd.

The Hill onstage last night was definitely L. Boogie: The Lauryn who, years ago, was not only one of music's most captivating singers but also one its most dynamic lyricists, standing right behind the likes of Jay-Z and Nas as one of the best MCs of the then-new millennium. But then she disappeared on us, popping up briefly and erratically over the last six or so years.

Thus, even though the Fugees have performed together several over the last couple of years (see "Fugees — Yes, Even Lauryn — Reunite For Dave Chappelle's Block Party" and "Destiny's Child Give Lap Dances, Fugees End Feud At BET Awards"), it seemed surreal to see all three onstage. For the first time in years, it felt like there wasn't a wall around Hill: She really seemed to be enjoying the music, being in front of the crowd and being onstage with her bandmates. L. Boogie danced, rapped and sang — and the only person saying the word "crazy" was her.




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"I'm not crazy," she insisted during a between-song break. "I'm super-smart. I can't be bought. I can't be bribed. I am not a machine and I give my people the truth. If that defines crazy, then I'm crazy, blood clot!"

Hill then started pointing to her heart and told the crowd that life started getting very serious for her around the time a particular song came out. The Fugees' band then started playing the lead-off track from Miseducation, "Lost Ones," as the crowd jumped.

"It's funny how money change a situation," she rapped. "Miscommunication leads to complication/ My emancipation don't fit your equation/ I was on the humble/ You on every station."

The show kicked off with Wyclef onstage by himself, telling the crowd that "California will never be the same." He launched into some freestyle raps and reggae chants before being joined by Hill and Pras. The Refugees commenced with "Nappy Heads" and "How Many Mics," before Clef announced, "The Fugees don't do the same thing twice!" — and the band launched into a reggae groove to finish off the song.

Throughout the night, the Fugees showed just how much a DJ can add to a live band, frequently improving upon and changing up their classic material by integrating the beats from Freeway's "Flipside," Tony Yayo's "So Seductive" and even a reggaetón rhythm reminiscent of Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina" (wheeled out during "Guantanamera") at various times during their set. The energy level barely dipped all night.

"This is legendary!" Clef told the crowd. He informed everyone that he would be as tame as he could be and stay onstage — then jumped offstage and climbed onto a bodyguard's shoulders shortly after. The two waded into the crowd as "Fu-Gee-La" began. As the enormous bodyguard began to bring Clef back to the stage, Jean yelled "Pull up!" and told the group to start the song over. Still on the bodyguard's shoulders, he jokingly told Hill he wasn't coming back onstage — but soon did.

"We used to be number 10," he rapped. "Now we're permanent one/ In the battle, lost my finger/ Mic became my arm."

The show's highlight came toward the end, when Hill started singing "Doo Wop (That Thing.)" The scene resembled the one from her video, with people dancing in the street as her soulfully pure voice rang into the night air. The band then eased into the beat from Amerie's "1 Thing" before bringing it back to "Doo Wop."

If you still can't believe the Fugees are back together, you'd better get used to it. The group is in the studio now working on a new album slated for release later this year (see "New Fugees Song Leaks; Group Has Been Working On LP For Months").

The show's over, but there's still plenty of Grammy goodness right here on MTVNews.com. Check out photos of the hottest green-carpet and onstage moments, find out what went down at the celeb-packed parties, and share your thoughts on the performers, winners and losers.

Plus watch videos of all the nominees on MTV.com and check out exclusive video footage from the big night on Overdrive.




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	The Fugees Wyclef Jean Lauryn Hill New Fugees Song Leaks; Group Has Been Working On LP For Months 23 Sep 2005 18:13:00 EDT Album from reunited group tentatively scheduled for December 27. By Shaheem Reid It's taken just about a decade, but the Fugees reunion that fans begged for, gave up on and then started asking for again is official. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Prakazrel Michel have been in the studio for two months, according to their label, and have just leaked a new song called "Be Easy." The reunion album is still untitled, but a tentative release date of December 27 has been scheduled. There's no word yet on who the group has been working with. On "Be Easy," the three exchange verses, with Hill employing a speedy, spoken-word-type of flow, while Clef and Pras use a more traditional delivery. "I got moxie, I'm so damn cocky/ Industry tried to block me like cops and paparazzi," Hill raps. Later she says, "We 'bout to reconcile." "I see you looking, but you better take it easy," Clef advises during the chorus. He comes a little harder in his verse: "I ain't rhyme in a minute, but y'all ain't catch up/ And that ain't blood on your shirt, it's ketchup." The Fugees stunned the crowd with a surprise performance at Dave Chappelle's block party in Brooklyn, New York, last summer (see "Fugees — Yes, Even Lauryn — Reunite For Dave Chappelle's Block Party"), and their most recent show was in June at the BET Awards (see "Destiny's Child Give Lap Dances, Fugees End Feud At BET Awards"). Hill had been cutting records for a solo album, however details on the project remain sketchy (see "Kanye West Collaborating With Lauryn Hill On New LP"). Pras just released his latest solo LP, Win, Lose or Draw, a few weeks ago. Clef released a Caribbean-flavored LP called Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101 last year. Related Artists The Fugees Lauryn Hill Wyclef Jean The Fugees - Vocab 04 Mar 2008 00:00:00 EST Vocab Artist: The Fugees Label: Columbia Records/Ruffhouse Director: Max Malkin Album: Parlez-Nous á Boire & More The Fugees - Killing Me Softly With His Song 09 Apr 1996 00:00:00 EDT Killing Me Softly With His Song Artist: The Fugees Label: Ruffhouse Director: Album: Further The Fugees - Ready or Not 13 Feb 1996 00:00:00 EST Ready or Not Artist: The Fugees Label: Sony Director: Album: Live at Carlos 1 Photos \| Performances From Pre-Grammy Parties 03 Feb 2006 00:00:00 EST Performances From Pre-Grammy Parties Related Artists Kanye West The Fugees John Legend Alicia Keys Fantasia

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