Thirty years after redefining what a hip-hop album could sound like, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean are bringing that legacy back to the stage.
The Fugees duo will headline this year’s Global Citizen Festival, returning to New York’s Central Park Great Lawn on Saturday, Sept. 26, with a special anniversary celebration of The Score, the group’s landmark second and final studio album. Released in 1996, the record became an instant classic not just for its hits, but for how boldly it blended reggae, R&B, and soul into something entirely its own. A shift audible from track to track, with each member bringing a distinct style to the mix. That approach helped tracks like their iconic cover of Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly,” along with singles “Ready or Not” and “Fu-Gee-La,” feel just as fresh decades later.
The milestone carries extra weight given the group’s complicated recent history. The Fugees last reunited as a trio in 2021 for The Score‘s 25th anniversary, but a planned tour ultimately didn’t happen. Their third member, Pras Michel, is currently serving a 14-year prison sentence following his federal conviction.
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Beyond the Fugees’ headlining set, this year’s lineup includes Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Lainey Wilson, Shaboozey, and Tomorrow x Together, with Hugh Jackman hosting alongside Rachel Brosnahan and Gayle King.
The free annual event continues to support causes including children’s education, food security for farmers, and global electricity access. “It’s time to gather once again on the Great Lawn… to tell the world an end to extreme poverty is possible,” Jackman said in a statement. Wilson, making her festival debut, added: “I believe all of us can do something to make the world a better place.”
Fans can attend via a free ticket lottery, or secure guaranteed entry with a $25 charitable donation.