Funkmaster Flex Hints At Possible Fugees Reunion.

Lauryn Hill


Hot 97 personality and New York City DJ Funkmaster Flex recently hinted at a possible Fugees reunion in an interview with Hip Hop Wired.

Given the group’s rocky history, many fans are skeptical at the possibility of a reunion. After scoring two Grammy wins in 1997 for what would be their last collaborative studio album, The Score, the members went on to pursue solo projects. Lauryn Hill released the critically acclaimed album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in the summer of 1998; fans and music media speculated that some of the emotionally charged songs were directed at former bandmate Wyclef Jean. For years rumors persisted that their affair was the real cause of the band’s apparent break-up.

The group appeared and performed together in 2004 at Dave Chappelle’s Block Party. In 2005, they embarked on a European tour, which was plagued by production issues and mixed reviews. In 2006 the Fugees performed at a free concert together in Hollywood. But the group’s relationship seemed to deteriorate even further after Pras Michel stated in an August 2007 interview with Allhiphop.com,

Before I work with Lauryn Hill again, you will have a better chance of seeing Osama Bin Laden and [George W.] Bush in Starbucks having a latte, discussing foreign policies, before there will be a Fugees reunion.

A month later, Wyclef Jean also placed the blame on Lauryn Hill, alluding to her mental health issues as the source of conflict, stating in an interview with Blues and Soul,

I feel the first issue that needs to be addressed is that Lauryn needs help… In my personal opinion, those Fugees reunion shows shouldn’t have been done, because we wasn’t ready. I really felt we shoulda first all gone into a room with Lauryn and a psychiatrist… But, you know, I do believe Lauryn can get help. And, once she does work things out, hopefully a proper and enduring Fugees reunion will happen.

Jean was notably absent during the group’s 2011 reunion at the “Rock the Bells,” tour, claiming that a scheduling conflict had prevented him from attending.

In 2012, Jean released an autobiography, Purpose. He claimed that his relationship, and subsequent affair with Lauryn Hill caused the group to break-up years earlier. He also claimed that Hill had deceived him during her pregnancy by leading him to think that he was the father of her child, when Rohan Marley, son of Bob Marley was actually the father of her son.

Marley slammed Jean in the press, openly calling him a liar.

Since then, Lauryn Hill has continued to perform live and even tour. She also released some new music last year and in 2013. Given the group’s tumultuous history, I’m thinking that Funkmaster Flex might have to work some serious miracles.