Blunted on Reality is the debut studio album released by the American hip-hop group Fugees. The album was released in January 1994 through the Ruffhouse Records label. Three singles were released from the album, including ”Boof Baf”, ”Nappy Heads” and ”Vocab”.

Blunted on Reality received generally favorable reviews from music critics. In the United Kingdom the album has been certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry. It was followed up with the critically acclaimed second and final album, The Score in 1996.

Background Blunted on Reality was written and subsequently recorded by the group in 1992-93. However, following a long dispute with their record label, the album was not released until January 25, 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.Coleman, Brian (2007). p. 213. The Fugees have subsequently said that they allowed the producers to have too much control over the album's content and form.Ebony. November 1996. p. 72. Accessed from May 31, 2013.

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.”

Reception

Before the release of their critically acclaimed second album, The Score in 1996, the album had sold an estimated 12,000 copies. Since then, the album has sold roughly 130,000 copies in the United States.Vibe. Vol. 4, No. 5. June–July 1996. p. 75. Accessed from May 31, 2013.

Track listing # Title Producer(s) Performer(s)1"Introduction"Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel2"Nappy Heads"Brand X, Pras, Rashad Muhammad & Wyclef JeanLauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel3"Blunted" (Interlude)/"Blunted On Reality" (unlisted)Pras & Wyclef Jean; Co-Producer: Khalis BayyanLauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel4"Recharge"Khalis Bayyan, Pras & Wyclef JeanLauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel5"Freestyle" (Interlude)Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel6"Vocab"Pras & Wyclef JeanLauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel7"Special News Bulletin" (Interlude)Khalis Bayyan, Wyclef Jean & Pras MichelLauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel8"Boof Baf"Khalis Bayyan, Pras & Wyclef JeanLauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel & Mad Spida9"Temple"Pras & Wyclef Jean; Co-Producer: Khalis BayyanLauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel10"How Hard Is It?"Khalis Bayyan, Pras & Wyclef JeanWyclef Jean, Pras Michel & Lauryn Hill11"Harlem Chit Chat" (Interlude)Rashad Muhammad12"Some Seek Stardom"Rashad Muhammad & Stephen WalkerLauryn Hill13"Giggles"Pras & Wyclef Jean; Co-Producers: Khalis Bayyan & Rashad MuhammadPras Michel; chorus: Lauryn Hill14"Da Kid from Haiti" (Interlude)Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel15"Refugees on the Mic"Pras & Wyclef Jean; Co-Producer: Khalis BayyanLauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel16"Living Like There Ain't No Tomorrow"Pras & Wyclef JeanWyclef Jean17"Shout Outs from the Block"Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill, Pras Michel & uncredited guests18"Nappy Heads" (Remix)Salaam RemiLauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean & Pras Michel

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1994)PeakpositionUK Album Charts122

Singles + List of chart performances of all singles from album Title Year Peak chart positions US USR&B UK "Boof Baf" 1993 — — — "Nappy Heads" 1994 49 52 172 "Vocab" 108 91 —

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.

References

Further reading