Blunted on Reality

Blunted on Reality is the debut album released by hip hop group The Fugees. The album was written and recorded by the group in 1992, however, following a long dispute with their record company, the album was not released until February 1, 1994. Most versions of the album contain eighteen tracks, with the addition of a "Nappy Heads" remix on the majority of these versions. Three singles were released from the album: "Boof Baf", "Nappy Heads" and "Vocab". The album was recorded at the House of Music Studios in West Orange, New Jersey. The Fugees has said that they allowed the producers too much control over the album's content and form. Although the album did not contain as many lyrics with overtly politically messages as songs from The Score, there were still political intentions. Wyclef Jean describes the meaning of the title of their first album in a 1990 interview on the television 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.” The album spawned two underground hits, "Nappy Heads (Mona Lisa)" and "Vocab", but gained little mainstream attention, despite earning plaudits for its artistic quality and innovative use of samples. Critical reviews for the album were also mixed.