From 12 Copies Sold to 10 Million — The Evolution of The Fugees

What ‘Clef, L-Boogie, and Pras Can Teach Us About Overcoming Failure

Whether personally, professionally, or creatively, you’ve probably had a project or plan fail miserably, even beyond your wildest fears and worst-case scenarios. In fact, you’ve probably had more than one. I certainly have.

While there may be a natural tendency to wallow in our misery, it’s important not to let that failure derail us. They say the best marketing for your current project is to make a new project. And that’s true.

It’s also the best way to overcome failure.

Just ask the Fugees. The trio comprised of Wyclef, Pras, and Lauryn Hill dominated the summer of 1996 with their album The Score, which has sold approximately ten million copies worldwide, occupies a spot on the list of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and still stands as a landmark in hip-hop.

It felt like they came out of nowhere when the single “Fu-Gee-La” was released in December, 1995 — a new group with a new sound bursting onto the scene. But, as is so often the case, they toured and toiled for years and overcame some huge setbacks before becoming an overnight success.