Watch Fugees’ Surprise Roots Picnic Performance Return

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On a chilly Saturday night in Philadelphia, Ms. Lauryn Hill took the stage at this year’s Roots Picnic to deliver a memorable headlining set to the crowd gathered before her. But what started as an already exciting night took a turn for the historic when Hill brought out her former Fugees bandmates Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel for a surprise reunion.

The trio played a six-song set that was a nostalgic trip down memory lane for hip-hop fans. Songs like “How Many Mics,” “Ready or Not,” and “Fu-Gee-La” had the crowd pumping their fists and singing along. Perhaps the most memorable moment of the night came during their rendition of “Killing Me Softly” when Hill flipped the lyrics to include a tribute to late rapper DMX, who had passed away earlier this year.

The Fugees’ reunion was particularly poignant given the tumultuous year the group has had. Plans for a reunion tour were announced last year but were postponed due to the pandemic. Then, earlier this year, Pras Michel was found guilty on several charges and now faces the possibility of spending the next 20 years in prison.

Despite the challenges, the group soldiered on and managed to play a single reunion show earlier this year. And now, fans lucky enough to be in the audience for Ms. Lauryn Hill’s Roots Picnic set were treated to an unexpected encore that will surely go down in hip-hop history.

As Pitchfork noted in their coverage of the reunion, “The Fugees’ reunion show felt like a miracle.” And indeed, it’s hard not to feel a sense of awe and reverence when watching the footage of Hill, Jean, and Michel taking the stage together again after so many years apart.

But for fans in attendance, it was more than just a moment of nostalgia or a chance to witness a piece of hip-hop history. It was a reminder of the enduring power of music to bring people together, to transcend differences, and to create moments of pure joy and connection. And in a year filled with so much uncertainty and division, that’s a gift we could all use a little more of.