Fugees (Tranzlator Crew): Wyclef, Lauryn (rap vocals); Prakazrel (rap vocals, guitar, bass).
Additional personnel: Levi, Mad Spider (vocals); Larry Stokes (guitar); Khalis Bayyan (saxophone, keyboards); Rashad Muhammad (bass, programming); Derrick Darling (drums); DJ Boy Wonder (scratches); Deejay Doc 4 (programming).
Producers include: Rashad Muhammad, Le Jam Productions, Inc., Brand X, Wyclef, Prakazrel, Khalis Bayyan.
Engineers: Paul Higgins, Ron London, Alvin Lewis.
Recorded at House of Music, Inc., West Orange, New Jersey.
What the critics say...
Q (11/96, p.150) - 4 Stars (out of 5) - "...singalongs like `Nappy Head' and `Giggles' contrast spitting raps with mischievous humor, illustrating that the Fugee crew aren't scared of debunking the expected macho values. Muthafuckas and bitches are not an overriding obsession; the word content is more thoughtful..."
Vibe (2/94, p.107) - "...Descendants of the `hip hop, you don't stop' rhyming of Sugarhill days, the Fugees celebrate words, wordplay, and MC battles settled with lyrical beatdowns, not literal ones....The Fugees are talented songwriters and gifted rappers who...don't take themselves too seriously...."
The Source (3/94, p.71) - "...Good ideas abound on the album, from progressive production techniques to inter-song segues to some inventive lyrics....Lauryn possesses much of the trio's lyrical muscle...she steals the show again and again on every track she appears on....Not since Ladybug from Dig Plans has a female MC emerged with such grace and style...."
Melody Maker (3/5/94, p.42) - "...The most fully-realised rap album since The Goats' TRICKS OF THE SHADE....A perfect microcosm of 25 years of inspirational music and a fine point at which to recapture the time when black Americans didn't have to act like fucking criminals to turn whitey on..."
New York Times (Publisher) (1/5/95, p.C15) - Included on Jon Pareles' list of the Top 10 Albums Of '94 - "...Brash, smart raps, drawing on Jamaican dancehall rhythms as well as American hip-hop..."
