The Fugees, one of the more enigmatic rap groups of the 1990s, brought a compelling blend of street and gangsta rap, Third World influences and pop sensibilities that helped rap gain acceptance in Middle America. Their albums, 1994's Blunted on Reality and 1996's multiplatinum The Score, established the group as a force to be reckoned with.
Amid reports of infighting during the height of the latter album's success, the group took a hiatus in 1997; the official excuse was the birth of group member Lauryn Hill's first child. Hill scored hugely with 1998's multiple Grammy winner The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, while Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel achieved modest acclaim for their individual efforts.
Rumors abounded as to whether the Fugees would ever reunite, but the prospects looked dim over the years. While the Fugees officially regrouped at the 2005 BET Awards in Los Angeles and later played several European rehearsal dates, their show Monday in Hollywood was their first American concert in 10 years.
A massive radio giveaway of 8,000 free tickets for the show at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street created a huge parking problem in a 12-block area leading into Hollywood. But all traffic worries were quickly banished as Wyclef opened with a 10-minute freestyle rap that included several lines in French and Spanish. Hill, adorned in a waist-length fur jacket, and Pras, in a peach summer jacket, followed onstage. Backed by a potent band, the Fugees threw themselves into the concert with abandon to roiling waves of rock and hardcore beats.
A dizzying 20-minute "Zealot" was aimed squarely at fake MC's, followed by "Ready or Not," "Fu-Gee-La" and their new single "Take It Easy." A sing-along to the Spanish pop staple "Guantanamera" and Mya's "Ghetto Superstar" were bridges to their biggest hit, "Killing Me Softly."
The night clearly belonged to Wyclef, who jumped offstage to engage the audience and climbed up a light tower to rap. Although Hill is the most beloved of the three performers, it is Wyclef's energy that fuels this ship. The Fugees have not lost a step and are a welcome re-addition to a genre dominated too long by gangsta rap.
Amid reports of infighting during the height of the latter album's success, the group took a hiatus in 1997; the official excuse was the birth of group member Lauryn Hill's first child. Hill scored hugely with 1998's multiple Grammy winner The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, while Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel achieved modest acclaim for their individual efforts.
Rumors abounded as to whether the Fugees would ever reunite, but the prospects looked dim over the years. While the Fugees officially regrouped at the 2005 BET Awards in Los Angeles and later played several European rehearsal dates, their show Monday in Hollywood was their first American concert in 10 years.
A massive radio giveaway of 8,000 free tickets for the show at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street created a huge parking problem in a 12-block area leading into Hollywood. But all traffic worries were quickly banished as Wyclef opened with a 10-minute freestyle rap that included several lines in French and Spanish. Hill, adorned in a waist-length fur jacket, and Pras, in a peach summer jacket, followed onstage. Backed by a potent band, the Fugees threw themselves into the concert with abandon to roiling waves of rock and hardcore beats.
A dizzying 20-minute "Zealot" was aimed squarely at fake MC's, followed by "Ready or Not," "Fu-Gee-La" and their new single "Take It Easy." A sing-along to the Spanish pop staple "Guantanamera" and Mya's "Ghetto Superstar" were bridges to their biggest hit, "Killing Me Softly."
The night clearly belonged to Wyclef, who jumped offstage to engage the audience and climbed up a light tower to rap. Although Hill is the most beloved of the three performers, it is Wyclef's energy that fuels this ship. The Fugees have not lost a step and are a welcome re-addition to a genre dominated too long by gangsta rap.
