Blunted on Reality

Blunted on Reality is the debut studio album released by the American hip-hop group Fugees. The album was released in February 1994 through the Ruffhouse Records label. Three singles were released from the album, including ”Boof Baf”, ”Nappy Heads” and ”Vocab”. Blunted on Reality received mixed to favorable reviews, and was followed up with the critically acclaimed second and final album, The Score in 1996.

Blunted on Reality
Studio album by
Fugees
ReleasedFebruary 1, 1994
RecordedJune 1992–June 1993
GenreHip-hop
Length74:01
LabelRuffhouse
ProducerPras, Wyclef Jean, Khalis Bayyan, Salaam Remi, Brand X, Stephen Walker, Rashad Muhammad
Fugees chronology
Blunted on Reality
(1994)		 The Score
(1996)
Singles from Blunted on Reality
  1. "Boof Baf"
    Released: October 19, 1993[1]
  2. "Nappy Heads"
    Released: February 1, 1994
  3. "Vocab"
    Released: October 18, 1994

Background

Blunted on Reality was written and subsequently recorded by the group in 1992. However, following a long dispute with their record label, 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". Prior to the release of the album, "Boof Baf" was released as the album's lead single. Commercially, the single was unsuccessful, The album's highest charting single is "Nappy Heads", which peaked at number 49 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Vocab" was released as the album's third and final single. However, the song was not successful on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The album was recorded at the House of Music Studios in West Orange, New Jersey.[2] The Fugees have said of the album, that they allowed the producers to have too much control over the album's content and form.[3]

Themes

While Blunted on Reality does not contain nearly as many overtly political lyrics as The Score, the album is still political. Wyclef Jean described the meaning of the title of the album in a 1994 interview on the topical talk show 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 12,000 copies. Since then, the album has sold roughly 130,000 copies in the United States.[5]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Christgau's Consumer Guide[7]
Melody Maker(favorable)[8]
New York Times(favorable)[9]
Q [8]
Rhapsody(favorable)[10]
Rolling Stone[11]
Vibe(favorable)[8]
Yahoo! Music(favorable)[12]

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

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
France (SNEP)[18] Gold 100,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[19] Silver 60,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

References
  1. "Amazon.com: Boof Baf [Vinyl]: Music". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-29. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  2. Coleman, Brian (2007). p. 213.
  3. Ebony. November 1996. p. 72. Accessed from May 31, 2013.
  4. "The Fugees". Lorna's Corner. 1990. Hartford Public Access TV. Archived from the original on 2016-05-11.
  5. Vibe. Vol. 4, No. 5. June–July 1996. p. 75. Accessed from May 31, 2013.
  6. Birchmeier, Jason (1994-02-01). "Blunted on Reality - Fugees : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-14.
  7. "Robert Christgau: CG: Fugees". Robertchristgau.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2012-06-14.
  8. "Music: Blunted on Reality (1st Album) (CD) by Fugees (Tranzlator Crew)". Tower.com. 1996-07-01. Archived from the original on 2009-02-12. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  9. "The Pop Life - New York Times". Nytimes.com. 1995-01-05. Archived from the original on 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  10. Bwinning (1994-02-01). "Blunted on Reality : Fugees". Rhapsody. Archived from the original on 2010-11-25. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  11. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The new Rolling Stone album guide - Nathan Brackett, Christian David Hoard - Google Boeken. ISBN 9780743201698. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  13. Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: Adam F. – FYA". Zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. Archived from the original on 2012-07-17. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  14. "Fugees Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  15. "Fugees – Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  16. "Fugees – Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  17. "Boof Baf [Vinyl Single] – Fugees > Overview". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 2016-01-14. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  18. "French album certifications – Fugees – Blunted on Reality" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  19. "British album certifications – Fugees – Blunted on Reality". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Blunted on Reality in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  20. "Fugees – Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 20, 2013.

Further reading
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