Fu-Gee-La

"Fu-Gee-La" is a song by American hip-hop trio, Fugees, released on December 13, 1995, as the lead single from their second and final album, The Score (1996). Produced by Salaam Remi, it contains a sample of "If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don't Want to Be Right)" by Ramsey Lewis, while its chorus contains an interpolation of "Ooo La La La" by Teena Marie. Immediately following this is a sample of "Shakiyla (JRH)" by the Poor Righteous Teachers.

"Fu-Gee-La"
Single by Fugees
from the album The Score
ReleasedDecember 13, 1995
Recorded1995
GenreEast Coast hip hop[1][2][3][4]
Length4:20
LabelRuffhouse
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Salaam Remi
Fugees singles chronology
"Refugees on the Mic"
(1994)		 "Fu-Gee-La"
(1995)		 "Killing Me Softly"
(1996)
Music video
"Fu-Gee-La" on YouTube

Several remixes of the song, including the "Refugee Camp Remix" and the "Sly & Robbie Remix", which features a young Akon, also appear on The Score. The song peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the Fugees' highest position on the chart, and peaked at #1 on the Billboard Dance chart. "Fu-Gee-La" has been certified platinum by the RIAA.[5] In 2016, the Weeknd sampled it on the song "Sidewalks"(featuring Kendrick Lamar),[6] additionally Jay-Z sampled it on his song "Moonlight" on his 4:44 album.[7] Trey Songz also interpolates the song on his single "Na Na".

Background

Producer Salaam Remi discussed the song's conception: "We actually were working on a song for Spike Lee’s Clockers movie that actually, that song never came out. So we had a song that we did for Clockers, and then during that session, Wyclef was like, 'Yo, play that beat you did for Fat Joe!' And Lauryn was like, 'Yo, play the Fat Joe beat' and then when I played it, Clef jumped up and spit the first verse to 'Fu-Gee-La.' He had the verse, but it just fell all together and then we worked on it. That song was actually done prior to The Score, so a lot of The Score’s vibe was based around what that song was."[8]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard stated that "Fu-Gee-La" "delivers the dope and then some: The Fugees' trademark tight, creative lyrics find a perfect home in the recycled hook from Teena Marie's 1988 No. 1 R&B hit, "Ooo La La La"." He added that it "should be a no-brainer for urban programmers".[9] Michael Hill from Cash Box picked it as one of the "memorable tracks" of The Score album.[10] David Fricke from Rolling Stone complimented "the sweet heat of Lauryn Hill's alto".[11]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Fu-Gee-La" was filmed in Jamaica. The Fugees wanted to recreate Jimmy Cliff's film The Harder They Come (1972).[12] It follows a robbery-related concept, with each band member taking on a particular role.

Track listing
  • UK CD1
  1. "Fu-Gee-La" (Album Version) – 4:15
  2. "Fu-Gee-La" (North Side Mix) – 4:15
  3. "Fu-Gee-La" (Refugee Camp Remix) – 4:24
  4. "Fu-Gee-La" (Sly & Robbie Mix) – 5:33
  5. "Fu-Gee-La" (Wyclef's Global Acoustic Mix) – 4:18
  6. "Fu-Gee-La" (Fugi Acapella) – 4:08
  • UK CD2
  1. "Fu-Gee-La" (Album Version) – 4:15
  2. "Fu-Gee-La" (Album Instrumental) – 4:15
  3. "Fu-Gee-La" (Refugee Camp Remix) – 4:24
  4. "Fu-Gee-La" (Refugee Camp Instrumental) – 4:22
  5. "Fu-Gee-La" (North Side Mix) – 4:15
  6. "Fu-Gee-La" (Sly & Robbie Mix) – 5:33
  7. "How Many Mics" – 4:22

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[41] Gold 250,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[43] Platinum 1,000,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Fu-Gee-La". Rate Your Music. 1996.
  2. "Fu-Gee-La". Who Sampled. 1995.
  3. "Fu-Gee-La". All Music. 1995.
  4. "Fu-Gee-La". Amazon Music. 1996.
  5. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  6. "The Solid Score of Fu-Gee-La". Romel Lherisson. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  7. "Tracing The History Of The Fugees Sample On JAY-Z's "Moonlight"". Genius. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  8. "The Fugees & Salaam Remi - The Inspiration Behind "Fu-Gee-La"". HipHopDX. February 13, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  9. Flick, Larry (January 20, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 70. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  10. Hill, Michael (February 17, 1996). "Urban" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 11. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  11. Fricke, David (December 26, 1996-January 9, 1997). "The year in recordings". Rolling Stone. Issue 750/751.
  12. Coleman, Brian (March 12, 2009). Check the Technique: Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies. New York: Random House Publishing Group. p. 218. ISBN 9780307494429. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  13. "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  14. "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  15. "Fugees – Fu-Gee-la" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  16. "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  17. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 26. June 29, 1996. p. 20. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  18. "Fugees: Fu-Gee-La" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  19. "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La" (in French). Les classement single.
  20. "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  21. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Fugees" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  22. "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  23. "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La". Top 40 Singles.
  24. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  25. "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La". Singles Top 100.
  26. "Fugees – Fu-Gee-La". Swiss Singles Chart.
  27. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  28. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  29. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  30. "Fugees Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  31. "Fugees Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  32. "Fugees Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  33. "Fugees Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  34. "Jaaroverzichten 1996". Ultratop. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  35. "Rapports Annuels 1996". Ultratop. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  36. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  37. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1996". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  38. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1996". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  39. "Årslista Singlar – År 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  40. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  41. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Fugees; 'Fu-Gee-La')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  42. "British single certifications – Fugees – Fu-Gee-La". British Phonographic Industry.
  43. "American single certifications – Fugees – Fu-Gee-La". Recording Industry Association of America.
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