Here at the Hip Hop ABCs, we ask readers who consider themselves passionate hip hop fans which emcee or group they feel is the best in the game as driven by the letters of the alphabet. The winner of the alphabetical rap battle for the Letter F is our second repeat champion. Joining the Beastie Boys as two-time winners of our journey through the alphabet is another triumphant trio.
The Fugees, short for refugees, is made up of Wyclef Jean (rapper/singer/producer), Lauryn Hill (emcee/singer), and Pras. As a collective, they were nowhere near as prolific as our first twice-victorious threesome. The Fugees, aka the Tranzlator Crew, gave us Blunted On Reality in 1994 before forever solidifying their place in the hip hop pantheon two years later with The Score. I am not being hyperbolic when I tell you that this album is perfect (okay, maybe a little). Almost 20 years later it still holds up, just as easy to listen to from start to finish as when it dropped, and is a certified classic.
Solo efforts by the group's members began dropping two years later with Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and Jean focusing on producing for other artists. The group didn’t officially disband until after a 2005 reunion tour. As contentious as things got between them, fans prefer to remember happier times.
The Fugees now have as many Hip Hop ABCs wins as they do albums. Who do you have winning the Letter G?
Infinite Skillz is a Hip Hop fan and emcee. Click here to find out more about his music.
This article appears in Apr 2-8, 2015.