The Fugees thrilled their fans last September when they announced they were going on tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Score. But after just one performance in New York City, Lauryn Hill, Pras and Wyclef Jean postponed the international run due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, the celebrated Hip Hop trio has officially canceled all remaining 11 dates. The Fugees issued a statement on Friday (January 21) explaining they were forced to make the difficult decision as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the globe.
“We anticipate and understand disappointment but our anniversary tour will not be able to happen,” the statement reads. “The continued Covid pandemic has made touring conditions difficult, and we want to make sure we keep our fans and ourselves healthy and safe. An idea sparked to honor and celebrate this 25th anniversary of The Score, but we see now it may not currently be our time for revisiting this past work.
“We’re grateful for the special night we did get to share with some of you in New York, with that rare live moment. If opportunity, public safety and scheduling allow, we hope to be able to revisit this again sometime soon. THANK YOU for all your love and support throughout the years.”
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The Score celebrated its 25th anniversary last February. Initially released in 1996, the album featured multiple hit singles, including “Ready or Not” and “Killing Me Softly.” The project landed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has since been certified 7x-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
It was also the first rap album to receive a Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year, and the first for a Hip Hop group. Despite losing to singer Celine Dion, they ended up winning Best Rap Album at the 1997 Grammy Awards.
The fact The Fugees were even able to reunite for one show was a miracle in itself. Wyclef admittedly had an affair with Ms. Hill while he was married to designer Marie Claudinette, which led to their demise in 1997.
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According to Jean’s autobiography Purpose, Hill lied about the paternity of her son Zion and led him to think the child was his, when it reality the baby belonged to Bob Marley’s son Rohan.
“In that moment something died between us,” Wyclef wrote at the time. “I was married and Lauryn and I were having an affair, but she led me to believe that the baby was mine, and I couldn’t forgive that … She could no longer be my muse. Our love spell was broken.”
Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean Talk 'Peaceful Platform' Needed For Fugees Reunion To Happen
But in a statement sent to HipHopDX, Hill and Wyclef revealed enough healing had taken place to move forward with the reunion.
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“The Fugees have a complex but impactful history,” she said in September 2021. “I wasn’t even aware the 25th anniversary had arrived until someone brought it to my attention. I decided to honor this significant project, its anniversary and the fans who appreciated the music by creating a peaceful platform where we could unite, perform the music we loved, and set an example of reconciliation for the world.”
Wyclef added, “As I celebrate 25 years with the Fugees, my first memory was that we vowed, from the gate, we would not just do music we would be a movement. We would be a voice for the unheard, and in these challenging times, I am grateful once again, that God has brought us together.”
