Alternative rap trio the Fugees began in the late 1980s in northern New Jersey, where Lauryn Hill met "Pras" Michel in high school. Together with Pras's cousin, Haitian-born Wyclef "Clef" Jean, the young rappers formed the Fugees, taking their name from the word "refugee." The Fugees landed a deal with Ruffhouse/Columbia and made their debut with 1994's folk-tinged alternative, Blunted on Reality, which won them a devoted underground following. In 1996, their new album, The Score, made them superstars. They sold more than four million copies and reached No. 1 on the Pop and R&B charts. The album was a cross-cultural tour de force, offering a little of everything that rap really needed: instrumentalism, spirituality, and honesty. Among the album's hits were "Fugeelaa," "Ready Or Not" (a remake of Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry") and a remake of Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly," featuring Hill's hypnotic vocals.

In 1997 Wyclef became the first Fugee to go solo with his gold-selling album, The Carnival Featuring the Refugee All Stars. In 1998 Hill released her solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and Pras dropped his, Ghetto Superstar. Other members of the Refugee Camp include DJ Skribble, who DJs for Hot 97, John Forte, who released his debut album, Poly-Sci on Ruffhouse/Columbia and Spyder, who released his first solo single on 3-2-1 Records.