The Fugees

Wyclef Jean Froze Up When Meeting Michael Jackson

4 Aug 2009 06:50:00 EDT

'I go to shake his hand -- and my whole voice box goes out," former Fugees frontman recalls.
By Kyle Anderson

Wyclef Jean
Photo: MTV News

Michael Jackson possessed the sort of fame that was so sweeping and intense that it defied comprehension. Even when he was out of the spotlight, he still commanded fawning, sometimes aggressive crowds whenever he went out in public. That mania wasn't limited to just normal everyday fans, either — even other famous people, who are accustomed to fame being in the public eye, still swooned and stammered when Jackson was in the room.

In an interview that ended up not being included in MTV's "Michael Jackson's Human Nature" special, which aired over the weekend, former Fugees frontman Wyclef Jean admitted as much when he recalled meeting Jackson in 1997. The two worked together briefly on a recording session for the remix album Blood on the Dance Floor (the track never saw the light of day) and Wyclef admitted that the prospect of meeting Jackson was overwhelming.

"When I knew he was coming, I went to the bathroom, put some water on my face and I was rehearsing how I would be talking to Mike," he said. "When I was in the presence of Michael Jackson, I go to shake his hand — and my whole voice box goes out. This is the kind of effect that this man had on me!"

Jean said that even his bodyguards, who tended to shrug off everything, got wound up once Jackson was in the room. But as he explained, Jackson's music was such a huge part of everybody's development that they couldn't help but get excited.

"When somebody is the soundtrack of your life, you can just imagine," he said. "Michael Jackson and Bob Marley — those were the soundtracks of my life."

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Rapper John Forte, Whose Sentence Was Commuted By Bush, Plans To Continue Music

26 Nov 2008 12:14:00 EST

Former Fugees producer wants to 'justify' the support he's received while in prison for drug charges.
By Gil Kaufman

John Forte
Photo: Transparent

John Forté plans to make the most of his second chance. Following the announcement earlier this week that the former Fugees collaborator and solo hip-hop artist was one of 16 people to be pardoned or have their sentences commuted by outgoing President Bush, Forté is preparing to re-enter society after serving seven years of a 14-year sentence for possession of 31 pounds of liquid cocaine with intent to distribute.

One of Forté's lawyers, Aarti Tandon, told MTV News that contrary to earlier reports, her client had not been pardoned but had his sentence commuted, which means he does not have to serve the rest of it. Though Forté cannot currently be reached by phone or e-mail to discuss his feelings about the commutation, Tandon said he is elated and looking forward to getting back in the music game.

"I have spoken with him, and he is pleased and very grateful to President Bush for commuting his sentence," Tandon wrote. "Mr. Forté is humbled by his life experiences. He will use his early release to return to his family, re-enter the world of music, work with at-risk youth to deter them from drugs and crime, and continue his educational program at the London School of Economics."

Forté — who studied violin at the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire as a youth — co-wrote and produced two songs on the Fugees' Grammy-winning 1996 smash, The Score. Two years later, he released his debut, Poly Sci, on which Fugees member Wyclef Jean has an executive-producer credit. He released his second album, I, John, while in prison in 2002.

Tandon said that Forté's commutation came as a result of more than five years of campaigning by his lawyer, Michael Nussbaum, herself and a number of others, including singer Carly Simon. Forté is a friend of Simon's son, singer/songwriter Ben Taylor.

Tandon said Forté understands the lengths those who support him have gone to secure his release, and "he intends to justify fully the confidence shown in him." While in prison, Forté has been organizing music groups and Save Our Youth events; working as a G.E.D. tutor; leading classes in philosophy, writing and re-entry into society; taking correspondence courses and writing music that he intends to record upon his release. He was also admitted to a correspondence program with the London School of Economics for a degree in politics and international relations.

Forté is slated to be released on December 22.

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Fugees Producer And Rapper John Forte Granted Pardon By President Bush

25 Nov 2008 01:37:00 EST

Halfway through a 14-year conviction for drug trafficking, musician is one of 14 people to receive pardons.
By Gil Kaufman

John Forte
Photo: Transparent

Rapper and former Fugees producer John Forté was one of 14 people pardoned by President Bush on Monday, according to Reuters. He had been serving a sentence of 14 years in prison since 2001, after being found guilty of possession of 31 pounds of liquid cocaine with intent to distribute.

The presidential pardons, which were for offenses ranging from distribution of marijuana to unauthorized use of a pesticide, cannot be overruled and can help the recipients find jobs, live in public housing and vote. Bush has received more than 2,000 requests for pardons, which typically come fast and furious near the end of a president's term.

Forté — who studied violin at the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire as a youth — co-wrote and produced two songs on the Fugees' Grammy-winning 1996 smash, The Score. Two years later, he released his debut, Poly Sci, on which Fugees member Wyclef Jean has an executive-producer credit.

Forté was arrested in 2000 at Newark International Airport after accepting a briefcase containing $1.4 million worth of cocaine. He released his confessional second album, 2002's I, John, while already serving his sentence at Pennsylvania's Lorreto Federal Penitentiary.

I, John featured an unexpected duet with '70s legend Carly Simon on "Been There, Done That," which came about through Forté's friendship with Simon's son, Ben Taylor. Simon and Taylor have long advocated on Forté's behalf, arguing that the MC did not receive a fair trial and that his sentence was unfair considering it was his first offense and he was a nonviolent offender.

According to TMZ, Simon has been lobbying a number of politicians, including Senators Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch, "religiously" on Forté's behalf. He will leave federal prison next month, TMZ said. A spokesperson for Forté had not returned requests for comment at press time.

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23 Feb 2007 08:11:47 EST

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Run DMC
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For The Record: Quick News On Ludacris, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Death Cab For Cutie & More

1 Jun 2006 09:00:00 EDT

Luda, Kanye score courtroom victory; Timberlake film gets nearer to theaters; Carey won't say she's a 'goddess.'
By MTV News staff report

Ludacris
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

Ludacris and Kanye West scored a courtroom victory Thursday (June 1) when a jury decided they did not copy another group's material for "Stand Up," the 2003 Luda track they co-wrote, according to The Associated Press. After less than a day of deliberating, the jury concluded that "Stand Up" did not sound like "Straight Like That," an obscure song by New Jersey's I.O.F. Luda capped off the two-week trial by signing autographs outside the courthouse; West did not appear in court. ...

The long-awaited Justin Timberlake film "Alpha Dog" has a new studio (Universal Pictures is taking over for New Line), release date (early 2007) and a line on the Oscars. Whether it's Timberlake's performance or something else about the film that has Universal thinking about gold statues, Variety reports that the studio may give "Alpha Dog" a limited run in December so that it qualifies for the next Academy Awards. ...

Mariah Carey is proud of her legs — even if she won't admit whether she's insured them for $1 billion, as rumored, to protect her stake as Gillette's new celebrity spokesperson. The razor company honored the singer on Tuesday at New York's Radio City Music Hall for having "Celebrity Legs of a Goddess," unveiling a 16-foot replica of Carey's stems. (Click to see Mariah with her giant likeness). "It's a little overwhelming," Carey told MTV News. "I'm not saying that I have [legs of a goddess], Gillette said it." She attributes her leg appeal to genetics, dieting, and working out. Though she was a fast runner in school ("I beat everybody but a boy named Ricky in my sixth-grade class"), Carey said that she prefers to work out in the water. "Other than that, exercise is not my favorite. It is what it is." ...

After trekking through Europe and Australia this summer, Death Cab for Cutie will return to the States for an August stint. The tour begins August 3 at the Kuyahoga Festival in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and ends August 15 in San Diego. ... Courtney Love has signed up for a new human-rights exhibition from Amnesty International, which features 100 celebrities posing with placards printed with messages including "Protect the Human," "Torture Is Terror," "Control the Arms Trade," and "Stop Violence Against Women." Patrick Stewart, Christian Slater, Billy Zane, Dougray Scott, John Hurt, Alex Kingston, director Anthony Minghella and producer Harvey Weinstein are among those featured in the photographs. Instead of being incorporated into an advertising campaign, the photos will be on display at London's Covent Garden until Tuesday. ...

Pete Doherty was searched for drugs and cleared for release at an airport in Spain on Thursday, according to The Associated Press. Doherty and his band Babyshambles were en route from London to Barcelona when their easyJet captain noticed the troubled British rocker was spending too much time in the bathroom and alerted police in Barcelona. An easyJet spokesperson said the airline had found a bloody syringe in the bathroom — recalling Doherty's incident with MTV News Germany last week; ) — but the Spanish authorities denied that claim. Regardless, Babyshambles have been banned from flying on easyJet. ...

The brothers Jonas — or the Jonas Brothers, as they prefer to be called — have at long last confirmed August 1 as the release date for their debut record, It's About Time. Originally scheduled for the spring, the record was delayed so the group could swap in an acoustic version of "Please Be Mine," "Year 3000" and "What I Go to School For" and swap out "Dear God" and "Hey We're Gonna Be Alright." The Brothers hit the road with another set of siblings, Aly & AJ, Wednesday in Westbury, New York. They'll wrap up the 15-date trek July 8 in Arlington, Texas. ... Swedish neo-new-wavers the Sounds released a four-song live EP featuring tracks from their current album, Dying to Say This to You, this week. The band hits the festival circuit this summer and joins the Vans Warped Tour July 17 in Vancouver, British Columbia. ...

Hip-hop oral history tome "Rakim Told Me" is about to get the remix treatment. Though a self-published version, covering the most influential albums from the 1980s, came out last year, the book will be updated with new chapters on albums from the 1990s. Hip-hop journalist and XXL scribe Brian Coleman is including interviews from artists such as the Fugees, De La Soul, Ice-T, Cypress Hill, the Roots, the Wu-Tang Clan, Digable Planets, A Tribe Called Quest and Naughty by Nature, which he says will make it the "definitive" version of the book, with more than 30 all-new chapters. "It may or may not have the same title when it comes out," Coleman said. Villard, a division of Random House, said the company is aiming to put out the new version by next June, by which point the previous version will be withdrawn from the market, Coleman said. ...

Boxing legend Bernard Hopkins is stepping into the ring for the last time on June 10, and he'll have Houston rap heavyweight Bun B by his side as he steps through the ropes at Atlantic City, New Jersey's Boardwalk Hall. "It's an honor to be able to be part of a legend's career in this way," Bun B said in a statement. "I'm honored to be able to walk with him." Bun B is currently putting together a performance for the 12-round, light heavyweight "Fight to the Finish" match, which will air live on HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

More dates have been revealed for the resurrected Family Values Tour, which will feature Korn, the Deftones, Stone Sour, Flyleaf and Dir En Grey. The tour will hit Noblesville, Indiana (August 29); Holmdel, New Jersey (September 1); Hartford, Connecticut (September 3); Cleveland (September 6); Pittsburgh (September 8); Clarkston, Michigan (September 9); Darien Center, New York (September 10); Cincinnati (September 12); and Columbus, Ohio (September 13). ... Coheed and Cambria will be heading out with Dillinger Escape Plan, Chiodos, and 3 in August for a brief U.S. tour. Only four dates have been revealed for the trek: August 3 in Columbus, Ohio; August 4 in Indianapolis; August 7 in Grand Rapids, Michigan; and August 8 in Toledo, Ohio. Additional dates will be announced in the coming weeks. ...

Hopesfall have parted ways with drummer Adam Baker, replacing him with Jason Trabue. The band has offered no official statement on the lineup shift, but a spokesperson for the band confirmed the moves. ... Baseball writer and ESPN "Baseball Tonight" analyst Peter Gammons will release his debut LP, Never Slow Down, Never Grow Old, on July 4. The album will feature Gammons, who sings and plays guitar, doing covers of Warren Zevon's "Model Citizen" and the Clash's "Death or Glory." George Thorogood, Juliana Hatfield, former Letters to Cleo vocalist Kay Hanley, Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and big leaguers Bronson Arroyo, Trot Nixon, Tim Wakefield and Jonathan Papelbon will be making guest appearances on the disc.

05.31.2006

The owners and creators of "American Idol" are being sued by a fan who says the show stole his idea for a Web game based on the singing competition. Adam Pick claims in a lawsuit filed last week in Los Angeles Superior Court that he invented an interactive fantasy game called "Idol Go Home," in which people could reverse the voting process by picking who should get booted instead of who should win. "It's fantasy football with a reality-TV twist," Pick said of the game, which would let users post blogs and photos as well. But after pitching the idea and giving "Idol" a prototype of the site, Pick claims show representatives said they weren't interested, but that Pick could launch his own site. Once he did so, Pick says, "Idol" demanded that he shut down the site, while at the same time, according to his lawsuit, "Idol" modified its site to incorporate Pick's ideas. Pick is seeking monetary damages and an injunction restraining the show from using his idea. Fox had no comment. ...

Prince will be presented with lifetime-achievement honors at the 10th annual Webby Awards, set for June 12 in New York. One of the first artists to release a Web-only album (1997's Crystal Ball), Prince is being recognized for his innovative use of the Internet to distribute music and connect with fans. "Besides being a musical genius, Prince is a visionary who recognized early on that the Web would completely change how we experience music," Webby Awards founder Tiffany Shlain said. Previously announced special-achievement honorees include Gorillaz and the founders of MySpace. ...

Hilary Duff's dog Lola now has her very own blog, hosted in the fan-club-only section of the singer/actress' official site, HilaryDuff.com. And what does the pampered pet of a pop star have to say? So far the Chihuahua has posted her endorsement of a dog-care book written by the owner of a Maltese pal. ... Black Eyed Peas are starring as superheroes who spend their days making candy and their nights defending hip-hop in a series of digital films — a.k.a. online commercials — promoting Snickers. The "digi-sodes" launch Monday on InstantDef.com. ...

When AFI's new album, Decemberunderground, hits stores Tuesday, the most devoted fans might want to pick up four copies. The band has placed one of four different collectible booklets behind the disc's cover insert, each featuring the face of a group member. The limited-edition booklets will be available exclusively in the album's first pressing. ... Rob Thomas and Matchbox Twenty have donated $200,000 to the Consortium for Worker Education, a resettlement agency aiding music education in Gulf Coast high schools affected by Hurricane Katrina, The Associated Press reports. Thomas will also raise money for the fund during his current tour with Jewel, which hits Portsmouth, Virginia, on Wednesday (May 31). Music instruction in school will "groom generations of musicians who are so vital to rebuilding New Orleans, its infrastructure and its culture," Thomas said in a statement. ... Now that he's through sending off ousted "American Idol" contestants, Daniel Powter is hitting the road. The "Bad Day" singer will launch a U.S. tour beginning July 17 at Philadelphia's Theatre of the Living Arts. The trek wraps up with a two-night stand at West Hollywood's Roxy Theater on August 4 and 5. ...

Foo Fighters have added two more dates to their upcoming acoustic jaunt, which the band has nicknamed its "Afoostic" tour. But that's become something of a misnomer, now that the Foos have announced that one of the just-announced shows will be performed electric. That performance will be held August 18 at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa's Event Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, while the band will play a proper stripped-down set August 15 at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. ... Tegan and Sara will release their first DVD, "It's Not Fun. Don't Do It!," August 8. Content includes a full concert shot at the Phoenix in Toronto, a tour documentary filmed by the twin sisters, the making of 2004's So Jealous and all the duo's videos. ...

A National Guardsman who lost his right arm near the shoulder and left arm above the wrist in Iraq filed suit Friday in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, against filmmaker Michael Moore for allegedly including him in "Fahrenheit 9/11" without his permission, claiming defamation and invasion of privacy. Sergeant Peter Damon, who was injured in October 2003, was featured in a 10-second clip in Moore's documentary that depicted him awaiting surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. But those 10 seconds of footage were from an interview with NBC News' Brian Williams, and Damon claims that he was never asked, nor did he consent, for the interview to be used elsewhere. Damon says he disagrees politically with Moore and that the interview made it appear as if he were complaining about the war effort instead of talking about the pain he felt when he lost his arms. (Moore has denied any intention to demean the service of U.S. troops through the film.) Damon's seeking $100 million and also named Harvey and Robert Weinstein, Miramax, Lionsgate and NBC in the suit. The Weinsteins, NBC and Lionsgate had no comment. ...

Former Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros frontman Perry Farrell will deliver the keynote address at the upcoming CMJ Rock Hall Music Fest, to be held June 14 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Farrell's DJ alter ego, Peretz, will man the ones and twos along with Mike Boogie and Prince Paul during the festival's opening-night shindig. ... Original Black Flag singer Keith Morris and onetime Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke joined L.A. punks the Bronx onstage for the last show of the band's monthlong residency at Los Angeles' Spaceland Monday night. Clarke produced the Bronx's 2003 self-titled debut. ...

Third Eye Blind's hits have been compiled for a CD/DVD set aptly titled Third Eye Blind: A Collection. The 19-track CD includes "Semi-Charmed Life," "How's It Gonna Be" and "Jumper," along with B-sides and bonus tracks. The DVD features all seven of Third Eye Blind's videos as well as two clips for the previously unreleased "Losing a Whole Year." ... Canadian indie rock veterans Sloan are lining up festival dates in the U.S. and Canada, but they don't plan to kick off a full-fledged tour until the fall. According to a post on the band's Web site, Sloan continue to work on their next album, which is due in September. But fans won't have to wait that long to hear something fresh from the foursome. "Look to criticize the new single in July," the update notes.

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Fugees Kick Off Grammy Week With Street-Party Concert

7 Feb 2006 02:32:00 EST

The serious Lauryn makes way for the return of L. Boogie — for one night, at least.
By Shaheem Reid

Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill
Photo: Jason Squires/WireImage.com

HOLLYWOOD — Lauryn Hill may not be winning any Grammys this year, but she is absolutely the hands-down favorite for bizarre quote of the year: "I'm crazy, blood clot!"

Hill joined her Fugee teammates Wyclef Jean and Pras on Monday night for the group's first full-on concert in almost 10 years. The Fugees kicked off Grammy week with a free outdoor show that, owing to its location smack in the middle of the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, shut down part of Hollywood on Monday night.

And the biggest story coming out of the show is the redefinition, if you will, of Lauryn Hill. Onstage, she didn't seem to be the post-Miseducation Lauryn we've come to know: the serious and detached Hill that many, from 50 Cent to barbershop observers, might have deemed a little odd.

The Hill onstage last night was definitely L. Boogie: The Lauryn who, years ago, was not only one of music's most captivating singers but also one its most dynamic lyricists, standing right behind the likes of Jay-Z and Nas as one of the best MCs of the then-new millennium. But then she disappeared on us, popping up briefly and erratically over the last six or so years.

Thus, even though the Fugees have performed together several over the last couple of years (see "Fugees — Yes, Even Lauryn — Reunite For Dave Chappelle's Block Party" and "Destiny's Child Give Lap Dances, Fugees End Feud At BET Awards"), it seemed surreal to see all three onstage. For the first time in years, it felt like there wasn't a wall around Hill: She really seemed to be enjoying the music, being in front of the crowd and being onstage with her bandmates. L. Boogie danced, rapped and sang — and the only person saying the word "crazy" was her.




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"I'm not crazy," she insisted during a between-song break. "I'm super-smart. I can't be bought. I can't be bribed. I am not a machine and I give my people the truth. If that defines crazy, then I'm crazy, blood clot!"

Hill then started pointing to her heart and told the crowd that life started getting very serious for her around the time a particular song came out. The Fugees' band then started playing the lead-off track from Miseducation, "Lost Ones," as the crowd jumped.

"It's funny how money change a situation," she rapped. "Miscommunication leads to complication/ My emancipation don't fit your equation/ I was on the humble/ You on every station."

The show kicked off with Wyclef onstage by himself, telling the crowd that "California will never be the same." He launched into some freestyle raps and reggae chants before being joined by Hill and Pras. The Refugees commenced with "Nappy Heads" and "How Many Mics," before Clef announced, "The Fugees don't do the same thing twice!" — and the band launched into a reggae groove to finish off the song.

Throughout the night, the Fugees showed just how much a DJ can add to a live band, frequently improving upon and changing up their classic material by integrating the beats from Freeway's "Flipside," Tony Yayo's "So Seductive" and even a reggaetón rhythm reminiscent of Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina" (wheeled out during "Guantanamera") at various times during their set. The energy level barely dipped all night.

"This is legendary!" Clef told the crowd. He informed everyone that he would be as tame as he could be and stay onstage — then jumped offstage and climbed onto a bodyguard's shoulders shortly after. The two waded into the crowd as "Fu-Gee-La" began. As the enormous bodyguard began to bring Clef back to the stage, Jean yelled "Pull up!" and told the group to start the song over. Still on the bodyguard's shoulders, he jokingly told Hill he wasn't coming back onstage — but soon did.

"We used to be number 10," he rapped. "Now we're permanent one/ In the battle, lost my finger/ Mic became my arm."

The show's highlight came toward the end, when Hill started singing "Doo Wop (That Thing.)" The scene resembled the one from her video, with people dancing in the street as her soulfully pure voice rang into the night air. The band then eased into the beat from Amerie's "1 Thing" before bringing it back to "Doo Wop."

If you still can't believe the Fugees are back together, you'd better get used to it. The group is in the studio now working on a new album slated for release later this year (see "New Fugees Song Leaks; Group Has Been Working On LP For Months").

The show's over, but there's still plenty of Grammy goodness right here on MTVNews.com. Check out photos of the hottest green-carpet and onstage moments, find out what went down at the celeb-packed parties, and share your thoughts on the performers, winners and losers.

Plus watch videos of all the nominees on MTV.com and check out exclusive video footage from the big night on Overdrive.




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New Fugees Song Leaks; Group Has Been Working On LP For Months

23 Sep 2005 06:13:00 EDT

Album from reunited group tentatively scheduled for December 27.
By Shaheem Reid

Fugees at the 2005 BET Awards
Photo: Getty Images

It's taken just about a decade, but the Fugees reunion that fans begged for, gave up on and then started asking for again is official. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Prakazrel Michel have been in the studio for two months, according to their label, and have just leaked a new song called "Be Easy."

The reunion album is still untitled, but a tentative release date of December 27 has been scheduled. There's no word yet on who the group has been working with.

On "Be Easy," the three exchange verses, with Hill employing a speedy, spoken-word-type of flow, while Clef and Pras use a more traditional delivery. "I got moxie, I'm so damn cocky/ Industry tried to block me like cops and paparazzi," Hill raps. Later she says, "We 'bout to reconcile."

"I see you looking, but you better take it easy," Clef advises during the chorus. He comes a little harder in his verse: "I ain't rhyme in a minute, but y'all ain't catch up/ And that ain't blood on your shirt, it's ketchup."

The Fugees stunned the crowd with a surprise performance at Dave Chappelle's block party in Brooklyn, New York, last summer (see "Fugees — Yes, Even Lauryn — Reunite For Dave Chappelle's Block Party"), and their most recent show was in June at the BET Awards (see "Destiny's Child Give Lap Dances, Fugees End Feud At BET Awards"). Hill had been cutting records for a solo album, however details on the project remain sketchy (see "Kanye West Collaborating With Lauryn Hill On New LP"). Pras just released his latest solo LP, Win, Lose or Draw, a few weeks ago. Clef released a Caribbean-flavored LP called Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101 last year.

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Destiny's Child Give Lap Dances, Fugees End Feud At BET Awards

29 Jun 2005 07:44:00 EDT

Winners Kanye West and Usher didn't show, but the focus was on the performances.
By Corey Moss

The Fugees' Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill onstage at the 2005 BET Awards Tuesday
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

HOLLYWOOD — The reunited Fugees gave a surprise performance, Destiny's Child gave surprise lap dances and BET gave some, well, not-so-surprising awards on Tuesday at the fifth-annual BET Awards.

As has become an awards-show ritual over the past 12 months, Kanye West was the top winner, taking home Best Male Hip-Hop Artist and Video of the Year for "Jesus Walks."

West, like Best Male R&B Artist winner Usher, Best Actor winner Jamie Foxx and six other victors, was not in attendance at the Kodak Theatre, shifting the focus off the awards and on to the show's performances.

The once-feuding Fugees kicked off the show with an unannounced medley of "Ready or Not," "Fu-Gee-La" and "Killing Me Softly." "We've been in the studio," Pras said before the show. "We're trying to figure out how we gonna do it."

Perhaps even more memorable were Destiny's Child, who ended their rendition of "Cater 2 U" by randomly pulling Terrence Howard ("Crash," "Ray," "Hustle & Flow"), Nelly and Magic Johnson onstage for steamy lap dances. While Nelly and Johnson simply sat stunned, Howard played along, fanning himself and staring deeply into Beyoncé's eyes.

"She touched me!" an excited Howard said backstage. "She touched my face! She touched my hair. I'm thrilled. My wife can't be too happy, but baby, she came and got me. ... I tried to say no."

Along with performing, Destiny's Child also won Best Group. Other winners included Alicia Keys for Best Female R&B Artist, Remy Martin for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and John Legend for Best New Artist. Legend also marked the evening by performing with his musical hero Stevie Wonder.

"I've never won an award before, and so this was it for me," said Legend, who performed "My Cherie Amour" with Wonder after singing "Ordinary People" solo. "I was nervous, man; you could tell."

"Usher, Outkast, Jay-Z, Beyonce Clean Up At BET Awards"), Ol' Dirty Bastard and Johnnie Cochran were also honored with special tributes.

The night was not without the ubiquitous Tom Cruise, who called Foxx on his cell phone to present him with his award.

"I'm jumping up and down on the couch right now in my room," Foxx responded, mocking Cruise's now-infamous "Oprah" appearance.

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Fugees Members Reunite For Tsunami Benefit In Malaysia

21 Mar 2005 08:08:00 EST

Seven-hour show also featured Backstreet Boys, Black Eyed Peas and Jackie Chan.
By Gil Kaufman

Lauren Hill and Wyclef Jean at the Force of Nature show in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Photo: Getty Images

Three months after a massive tsunami devastated the region, 15,000 fans gathered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday for a seven-hour benefit show to raise money for the victims of December's disaster.

The highlight of the gig was a performance by former Fugees leaders Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, who shared the stage for the first time since their surprise live reunion in September (see "Fugees — Yes, Even Lauryn — Reunite For Dave Chappelle's Block Party"). The Force of Nature show at the Stadium Putra raised more than $2.6 million to help rebuild communities in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India, according to an Associated Press report.

"This is history in the making," Jean said during the concert. "Do you all understand what's happening on this stage? I'm too emotional right now." The pair performed a trio of songs from their smash 1996 album The Score, including "Killing Me Softly," "Ready or Not" and "Fu-Gee-La."

In addition to his own emotion at reuniting with his former musical partner — third member Pras was not on hand — Jean provided one of the evening's emotional highlights when he asked that the stadium lights go dim in honor of the more than 270,000 who died in the region. As he chanted, "We'll never forget the tsunami victims," thousands of fans raised candles and glowing cell phones.

Also on the bill were the Black Eyed Peas, Boyz II Men and the Backstreet Boys, who drew a huge reaction during their brief set, which included their upcoming single, "Incomplete."

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Among a group of Asian pop and jazz singers on the bill, martial-arts comedian Jackie Chan performed a sweet Mandarin-language love song. Actresses Bai Ling and Michelle Yeoh also appeared, according to a BBC News report, as did Carmen Electra, 'NSYNC's Joey Fatone, magician David Blaine, Clay Aiken, Paula Abdul and actors Ken Watanabe and Alan Cumming.

For MTV's firsthand coverage of the aftermath of the tsunamis, see "MTV News Presents: After The Tsunami."

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Fugees To Reunite In The Studio Once Hill Finishes Solo LP

27 Oct 2004 05:30:00 EDT

Band took the stage together in New York last month.
By Rashaun Hall

The Fugees (file)
Photo: Soulbrother

Hip-hop fans may receive a Christmas miracle a little ahead of schedule. The Fugees are back in the studio recording ... sort of.

Wyclef and Pras, two-thirds of the Grammy-winning group, recently reunited to remix Wyclef’s cover of Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba." The song, which also features Beenie Man, is the latest offering from Clef’s recently released Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101.

According to a representative for Wyclef, he, Pras and Lauryn Hill will enter the studio together once Hill finishes her equally anticipated solo album, due next year.

This isn't the first time members of the group have gotten together since their split. The whole trio reunited on



	Click for photos from Dave Chappelle's block party

September 18 at Dave Chappelle’s block party (see "Fugees — Yes, Even Lauryn — Reunite For Dave Chappelle's Block Party"). While Wyclef has been hesitant to call that outing an "official" reunion, all signs point to one in the near future.

In the meantime, Wyclef continues to promote Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101, which celebrates Haiti's 200 years of independence.

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