Lauryn Hill surprises NYC fans with Fugees reunion

Despite the unrelenting rainy weather this Saturday, New York City’s Global Citizens Festival crowd enjoyed a surprise appearance from the Fugees, who joined Ms. Lauryn Hill for her live set.

Before bringing out Pras Michel and Wyclef Jean, Hill charmed her crowd with songs off her iconic Grammy-winning album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. She performed rich renditions of ‘Everything Is Everything,’ ‘Ex-Factor,’ and ‘Doo Wop (That Thing),’ and then invited her band mates onstage to deliver fan-favourite tracks by her side.

Lauryn Hill back with Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel, The Fugees, at the Global Citizen Festival tonight!! Killing Me Softly, I never thought I would hear this live 😭 and @MsLaurynHill was SO AMAZING! @GlblCtzn #GlobalCitizenFestival pic.twitter.com/rg1BkYiAt8

— Annie Tan on the 3rd draft! ✍🏼 (@AnnieTangent) September 24, 2023

The rap trio sang ‘How Many Mics’ and ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song,’ as well as ‘Ready or Not.’ This weekend marks the second time the Fugees have made waves at Global Citizen, as they reunited for the first time in 15 years during Hill’s 2021 set at the festival.

The 2023 Global Citizens Fest was ultra-sustainable, with a stage made of entirely recycled material and 100% vegetarian food offerings equipped with compostable utensils and packaging. The festival began in 2012 with the aim to bring awareness to extreme poverty, impact the climate crisis, and promote equity. Its free, ticketed events have now broadened internationally, with the company putting on the Power Our Planet concert in June, held in Paris.

This weekend’s festival is part of Hill’s current North American Tour, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The twelve shows will also host the Fugees, to make up for the trio’s cancellation of their 2022 planned tour.

Initially planned for last year, the Fugees’ reunion tour was cancelled at the time, according to a statement from the group which blamed Covid-related safety issues. It was later revealed that the cancellation had more to do with Michel’s involvement in a Malaysian money laundering scheme. The rapper is currently facing up to twenty years in federal prison, but has yet to be sentenced.

The Fugees are one of the foremost, staple ‘90s bands who defined an era of burgeoning hip-hop, namely with their second and final album, The Score. The 1996 record earned the group two Grammy awards, before they separated to work on their respective solo careers.

Some tickets for Ms. Lauryn Hill’s North American tour are still available via Ticketmaster.