Blunted on Reality
| Blunted on Reality | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Fugees | ||||
| Released | February 1, 1994 | |||
| Recorded | 1992–1993 | |||
| Genre | Reggae fusion, Hip hop soul, jazz rap | |||
| Length | 74:01 | |||
| Label | Ruffhouse | |||
| Producer |
Pras, Wyclef Jean, Khalis Bayyan, Salaam Remi, Brand X, Stephen Walker, Rashad Muhammad [Additional personnel: Levi, Mad Spider (vocals); Larry Stokes (guitar); Khalis Bayyan (saxophone, keyboards); Rashad Muhammad (bass, programming); Derrick Darling (drums); DJ Boy Wonder (scratches); Deejay Doc 4 (programming) | |||
| Fugees chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Blunted on Reality | ||||
|
||||
Blunted on Reality is the debut studio album released by American hip hop group Fugees.
Background
The album was written and recorded by the group in 1992. However, following a long dispute with their record company, the album was not released until February 1, 1994. Most versions of the album contain eighteen tracks, with the addition of a remix of "Nappy Heads" on the majority of these versions. Prior to the album's release, "Boof Baf" was released as the album's lead single. Commercially, the single was unsuccessful. The album's highest charting single is "Nappy Heads", peaking at number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Vocab" was released as the album's third and final single. It failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
The album was recorded at the House of Music Studios in West Orange, New Jersey.[2] The Fugees have said that they allowed the producers too much control over the album's content and form.[3]
Themes
Although the album did not contain as many lyrics with overtly politically messages as songs from The Score, there were still political intentions. Wyclef Jean describes the meaning of the title of their first album in a 1990 interview on the television program Lorna’s Corner: “when the cop is messing around with somebody for something that the person didn’t do and they try to set ‘em up, that makes me blunted on reality. When the government is taking money on arms…and that money could be going back to the community it makes me blunted on reality. It’s just awareness of what’s going on…that’s what blunted on reality means…It don’t mean that I smoke weed…cause I’m too paranoid as it is.”[4]
Reception
Before the release of their critically acclaimed sophomore album, The Score in 1996, the album sold an estimated 12 copies. Since then, it has sold 130,000 copies.
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [5] |
| Melody Maker | (favorable)[6] |
| New York Times | (favorable)[7] |
| Q | [6] |
| Rhapsody | (favorable)[8] |
| Robert Christgau |  [9] |
| Rolling Stone | [10] |
| Vibe | (favorable)[6] |
| Yahoo! Music | (favorable)[11] |
Track listing
| # | Title | Producer(s) | Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Introduction" | Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel | |
| 2 | "Nappy Heads" | Brand X, Pras, Rashad Muhammad & Wyclef Jean | Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel |
| 3 | "Blunted" (Interlude)/"Blunted On Reality [unlisted]" | Pras & Wyclef Jean; Co-Producer: Khalis Bayyan | Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel |
| 4 | "Recharge" | Khalis Bayyan, Pras & Wyclef Jean | Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel |
| 5 | "Freestyle" (Interlude) | Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel | |
| 6 | "Vocab" | Pras & Wyclef Jean | Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel |
| 7 | "Special News Bulletin" (Interlude) | Khalis Bayyan, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel | |
| 8 | "Boof Baf" | Khalis Bayyan, Pras & Wyclef Jean | Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel & Mad Spida |
| 9 | "Temple" | Pras & Wyclef Jean; Co-Producer: Khalis Bayyan | Lauryn Hill,Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel |
| 10 | "How Hard Is It?" | Khalis Bayyan, Pras & Wyclef Jean | Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel & Lauryn Hill |
| 11 | "Harlem Chit Chat" (Interlude) | Rashad Muhammad | |
| 12 | "Some Seek Stardom" | Rashad Muhammad & Stephen Walker | Lauryn Hill |
| 13 | "Giggles" | Pras & Wyclef Jean; Co-Producers: Khalis Bayyan & Rashad Muhammad | Pras Michel; chorus: Lauryn Hill |
| 14 | "Da Kid from Haiti" (Interlude) | Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel | |
| 15 | "Refugees on the Mic" | Pras & Wyclef Jean; Co-Producer: Khalis Bayyan | Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel |
| 16 | "Living Like There Ain't No Tomorrow" | Pras & Wyclef Jean | Wyclef Jean |
| 17 | "Shout Outs from the Block" | Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, Pras Michel & uncredited guests | |
| 18 | "Nappy Heads" (Remix) | Salaam Remi | Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel |
Charts
Albums
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Album Charts[12] | 122 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[13] | 62 |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [14] |
US R&B [15] |
UK [12] | |||||||||
| "Boof Baf"[16] | 1993 | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Nappy Heads" | 1994 | 49 | 52 | 172 | |||||||
| "Vocab"[A] | 108 | 91 | — | ||||||||
Sales
Certifications
Notes
- A ^ "Vocab" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 8 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as an extension to the Hot 100.[19]
References
- ↑ "Amazon.com: Boof Baf [Vinyl]: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
- ↑ Coleman, Brian (2007). p. 213.
- ↑ Ebony. November 1996. p. 72. Accessed from May 31, 2013.
- ↑ "The Fugees". Lorna's Corner. 1990. Hartford Public Access TV.
- ↑ Birchmeier, Jason (1994-02-01). "Blunted on Reality - Fugees : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-14.
- 1 2 3 "Music: Blunted on Reality (1st Album) (CD) by Fugees (Tranzlator Crew)". Tower.com. 1996-07-01. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ↑ "The Pop Life - New York Times". Nytimes.com. 1995-01-05. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ↑ Bwinning (1994-02-01). "Blunted on Reality : Fugees". Rhapsody. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ↑ "Robert Christgau: CG: Fugees". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2012-06-14.
- ↑ The new Rolling Stone album guide - Nathan Brackett, Christian David Hoard - Google Boeken. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
- ↑ http://ca.music.yahoo.com/release/179576[]
- 1 2 Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: Adam F. – FYA". Zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Fugees – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Fugees. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ↑ "Fugees – Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Fugees – Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Boof Baf [Vinyl Single] – Fugees > Overview". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ↑ Vibe. Vol. 4, No. 5. June–July 1996. p. 75. Accessed from May 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Certifications Albums Or – année 1997" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
- ↑ "Fugees – Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
Further reading
- Brian Coleman (2007). Check the Technique. Random House. ISBN 978-0-8129-7775-2.