The album's fusion of hip-hop with other genres, such as reggae and soul, helped pave the way for future experimentation in the genre. The Fugees' use of live instrumentation, combined with their thoughtful lyrics, raised the bar for hip-hop production and storytelling.
As summer folded into a dry, hot autumn, Marcus found ways to trade time for small kindnesses around the block. He fixed a neighbor’s broken fence for a few bucks. He helped an elderly man carry groceries. He swept the stoop outside Retro Sounds, earning coffee credit and Mr. Alvarez’s crooked approval. The album had become a soundtrack, and the city that had felt indifferent began to answer him back.