Vinyl Me, Please, the "best damn record club out there," in association with Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, announce that a special 20th Anniversary 2LP 12" vinyl edition of Fugees / The Score will be available exclusively to VMP members as the club's "Record of the Month" for April 2016.

VMP's 20th Anniversary Edition of The Score includes the original album (pressed on 2LP split-color black and gold vinyl and housed in a gatefold sleeve) along with a bonus 7" gold vinyl single featuring three bonus tracks (previously unavailable on vinyl): "Fu-Gee-La" (Refugee Camp Remix), "Mista Mista" and "Fu-Gee-La" (Sly & Robbie Mix).

Originally released on February 13, 1996 (on Ruffhouse/Columbia Records), The Score was the second (and final) studio album from Fugees, a revolutionary alternative hip-hop group comprised of rapper/singer/producer Lauryn Hill, rapper/singer/producer Wyclef Jean and rapper/producer Pras Michel.

The follow-up to Blunted on Reality, the Fugees' moderately successful 1994 debut album, The Score - with its visionary mix of hip-hop, soul, reggae, audacious sampling and cinematic aural textures - became an indomitable force in pop music and culture, a landmark of hip-hop and a soundtrack for the decade.

Regardless of certain tax issues that overshadowed the band in later years, the Fugees are (still) one of Hip Hop's gems in the entire genre. No other group was as spiritually uplifting, and no other group before or after the era of the Fugees was creating this kind of blend of funk, reggae, R&B and hip hop all at once.

All three members with the de facto Wyclef Jean, Pras and of course the impeccable Lauryn Hill have incredible chemistry together that is undeniably captivating. As much as I give praise to the lyricism of Wyclef and Pras, the star of the album is without a doubt Lauryn Hill. With her cunning lyrical ability filled with swagger, tenacity and demand for attention; not to mention her distinct soulful singing.

With this album, we see the upcoming of a star that would be Lauryn Hill, with female emcees on the decline since the late 80's and early 90's along with MC Lyte and Queen Latifah, I would consider Lauryn Hill the top Female MC of all time with incredible talent. This album was created as a listenable movie filled with skits that tie the entire album together.

The overall sound of the album is diverse but has an undertone of a hardcore New York backdrop that is similar to many of the mafioso-themed Hip Hop albums that were released during the times such as Biggie's Ready to Die or Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, etc.

The album as a whole is filled with social commentary of the human conscious, going through life with contemplation of their surroundings and finding one self. My personal favorites would have to be "Ready or Not", "The Mask", "Fu-gee-la" and, of course, the massive hit single "Killing Me Softly". The production is rich of colorful instrumentation mixed with 90's boom bap, jazzy samples, funk and reggae. This is one of Hip Hop's best that any music fan should own. And definitely should now own THIS 20th Anniversary album, mainly because they already own a record player!

Exclusive VMP-Edition features:
Gatefold, 2LP Split-Color Black & Gold Vinyl
Bonus Gold 7″ with 3 Tracks Never Before on Vinyl
12″ x 24″ Fold-Out Poster
12×12 Original Art Print by Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle

2LP split-color black and gold vinyl Purchase Link

www.LegacyRecordings.com