Legendary trio The Fugees recently reunited for a surprise reunion for an impromptu Philadelphia performance. The get-together happened following Lauryn Hill’s live rendition of her 1998 debut album, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, at The Roots Festival.
The 1990s outfit performed some of their most well-known hits, including, ‘Killing Me Softly’, ‘Ready Or Not’ and ‘Zealots’.
Last year the trio were set to perform for the 25th anniversary of Lauryn Hill’s first project. However, the reunion was cancelled because member Pras Michel was found guilty of money laundering. Philadelphia collective The Roots, who hosted the festival, served as the group’s backing band as they delivered their hits.
It was a shock to fans when bandmates Pras Michel and Wyclef Jean suddenly joined Hill on stage following 2022’s tribulations. The verdict concerning Pras resulted from a billion-dollar Malaysian money laundering scheme, and he was convicted in April.
The Fugees announced the cancellation was due to the “continued Covid pandemic.” Concerning their decision to abort the tour due to Covid, their statement continued, “it has made touring conditions difficult, and we want to make sure we keep our fans and ourselves healthy and safe.” However, fans were later privy to Department of Justice reports that later confirmed the abandonment of the plans was due to Pras.
The reports revealed that Pras was unable to travel as the case involved his passport being confiscated. The last Fugees reunion was when the group hit the stage at the 2005 BET Awards to perform a medley of their greatest hits. The Fugees still remain an iconic hip-hop, reggae, and neo-soul trio, and their second album, The Score, is revered within the culture and one of the highest-selling hip-hop albums of all time.
The Roots picnic in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, also saw the likes of Ari Lennox, Busta Rhymes, The Isley Brothers and Roy Ayers give fantastic performances, and the event was a testament to the exceptional talent of African-Americans. You can watch their Philadelphia performance in the video below.
