Ready Or Not

The Fugees' 'Ready Or Not' is a song that weaves together themes of resilience, defiance, and the harsh realities of life. The track, which samples the 1968 song 'Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)' by The Delfonics, is a showcase of the Fugees' ability to blend soulful melodies with thought-provoking lyrics. The chorus, 'Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide,' serves as a metaphor for the inevitability of facing one's challenges and the determination to overcome them.

The verses, delivered by Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, touch on personal struggles and societal issues. Wyclef's verse reflects on his past, including a reference to a robbery, as a metaphor for the struggle to survive and make it in a world that is often unforgiving. He speaks of the desire to rise again, to be 'king again,' despite the obstacles he has faced. Lauryn Hill's verse, on the other hand, is a display of confidence and self-assuredness. She compares her lyrical prowess to playing chess and asserts her destiny to succeed. The references to cultural icons like Nina Simone and Al Capone, as well as the mention of 'refugees taking over,' allude to the group's own background and their fight for recognition and respect.

The song's bridge and outro further emphasize the theme of inescapability, with the lyrics 'You can't run away from these scars I got' and 'refugees taking over.' The Fugees, themselves named after the term for displaced people, draw parallels between their personal experiences and broader issues of displacement and struggle. The song is a powerful statement of presence and perseverance, with the Fugees asserting that they will not be ignored or forgotten, both in the music industry and in the larger narrative of survival and success.