''Blunted on Reality'' is the debut studio album released by the American hip-hop group

Fugees Fugees (; sometimes The Fugees) is an American hip hop group formed in the early 1990s. Deriving its name from a shortening of the word "refugees", the group consists of Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel, and Lauryn Hill. The group rose to fame with i ...

. 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 generally favorable reviews from music critics. In the United Kingdom the album has been certified silver by the

British Phonographic Industry British Phonographic Industry (BPI) is the British recorded music industry's Trade association. It runs the BRIT Awards, the Classic BRIT Awards, National Album Day, is home to the Mercury Prize, and co-owns the Official Charts Company with ...

. 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. 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 The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streamin ...

. " 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 West Orange is a suburban township in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States Census, its population was 48,843, an increase of 2,636 (+5.7%) from the 46,207 counted in the 2010 Census.

. The Fugees have subsequently said that they allowed the producers to have too much control over the album's content and form.

Ebony Ebony is a dense black/brown hardwood, coming from several species in the genus '' Diospyros'', which also contains the persimmons. Unlike most woods, ebony is dense enough to sink in water. It is finely textured and has a mirror finish when ...

. 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 Nel Ust Wyclef Jean (; born October 17, 1969) is a Haitian rapper, musician, and actor. At the age of nine, Jean immigrated to the United States with his family. He first achieved fame as a member of the New Jersey hip hop group the Fugees, a ...

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 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 The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

Vibe ''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down producti ...

. Vol. 4, No. 5. June–July 1996. p. 75. Accessed from May 31, 2013.

Track listing

Charts

Weekly charts

Singles

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.