Lauryn Hill joins Wyclef Jean onstage to perform Fugees tracks at Essence Festival: Watch

Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean reunited to perform several Fugees songs live last week.

Midway through Jean’s set at New Orlean’s Essence Festival on Friday night (July 1st), Hill emerged to perform four songs by the acclaimed U.S. hip-hop trio. 

As well as a version of their hit cover of Lori Lieberman’s ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song,’ Hill, Jean, and the latter’s band performed ‘How Many Mics’, ‘Fu-Gee-La’ and ‘Ready Or Not’. Check out clips from the surprise reunion below.

Following Hill’s appearance during his set on Friday night, Wyclef Jean tweeted a video, with the caption: “This is what it sounds like when a true G.O.A.T enters the arena!”

It comes a few months after Fugees – which was founded by Hill, Jean, and Pras Michel in 1992 – cancelled their 12-date world tour, which had been scheduled to celebrate 25 years since the release of their 1996 album, ‘The Score’.

In a statement at the time, the group said: “The continued Covid pandemic has made touring conditions difficult, and we want to make sure we keep our fans and ourselves healthy and safe. An idea sparked to honor and celebrate this 25th anniversary of ‘The Score’ but we see now it may not currently be our time for revisiting this past work.”

“We’re grateful for the special night we did get to share with some of you in New York, with that rare live moment,” the statement continued. “If opportunity, public safety, and scheduling allow, we hope to be able to revisit this again sometime soon. Thank you for all of your love and support throughout the years.”