Why are The Fugees called The Fugees? Sheryl Lee Ralph warned Lauryn Hill about her band's name

In the tapestry of 90's hip-hop bands, the Fugees stood firm and laid the foundation of Lauryn Hill's illustrious musical career. Formed by Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel, the band rose to prominence for its unique concoction of reggae, funk, R&B, hip-hop, and many other forms of music.

Originally named Tyme, the members changed the name to Fugees after signing a contract with Ruffhouse Records. The name was deliberately derived from a derogatory word used to describe Haitian-American refugee camps (shortened from refugee). The Fugees were also known for incorporating Haitian music in their repertoire, especially Haitian Creole.

The controversial source of the name once forced actress Sheryl Lee Ralph to warn Hill against using it for her band. Despite not following Ralph's words, Hill ended up being a part of one of the most successful musical trios during that time.

Fugees became one of the best-selling hip-hop bands of all time, receiving two Grammys, a Brit Award for International Group, and a Medal of Honor from Haitian President René Preval for their achievements.

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When Sheryl Lee Ralph advised Lauryn Hill to rethink her band's name

Critics Choice Celebration Of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television - Arrivals - Source: Getty (Photo by Amy Sussman/WireImage)

Sheryl Lee Ralph opened up about her conversation with Lauryn Hill in a 2023 appearance on Good Morning America. Besides talking about the art of making the hit musical comedy, Lee Ralph spoke about her interaction with Hill.

"When I tell you, I look at Lauryn Hill, I remember Lauryn Hill telling me, 'Ms. Ralph, I'm going to have a band, and the name is going to be the Fugees,' and I was like, 'Baby you will definitely have a band, but you may need to rethink that name.' And she said, 'Ms. Ralph, you oughta get it, Fugees. Re-fugees,' and I was like, 'Okay, I get it, but, rethink it,' she recalled.

Fugees dropped their first album called Blunted on Reality in 1994, a year after the interaction between Hill and Sheryl Lee Ralph. Although the album performed modestly, Fugees' second album established their stature in the industry.

Fugees And Ms Lauryn Hill Perform At Scotiabank Arena - Source: Getty (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Getty Images)

Titled The Score, the band's second album peaked at the pinnacle of the US Billboard 200 and was atop the R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart for a record eight weeks. The album also became the third bestselling album in the United States in 1996. Fugees' second album won big at the 39th Grammy Awards, bagging the Grammy for Best Rap Album and getting nominated for Album of the Year.

After the success of The Score, Fugees released a few singles before getting disbanded in 1997. One of the most iconic moments of the Fugees was their 1997 performance in Haiti, which was hailed as the largest staged concert in the history of the country.

Lauryn Hill Performs At Zenith - Source: Getty (Photo by David Wolff - Patrick/Redferns via Getty Images)

Hill started her solo career by releasing 1998's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The album won a plethora of accolades and became one of the most critically acclaimed pieces of that year. It debuted at the pinnacle of Billboard 200 and received Album of the Year and Best R&B Album at the Grammys.