30 Years Ago Today: Iconic Group's Signature Song Hit No. 1
On this day 30 years ago, Fugees made their mark in history by claiming the top spot on the United Kingdom charts with their rendition of an instant classic.
Killing Me Softly With His Song was originally written and performed by Lori Lieberman, who was inspired after attending a Don McLean concert. While the song didn't hit the charts for Lieberman, the legendary Roberta Flack took the song to No. 1 with her rendition, released in 1973.
While Flack took the hit to No. 1 in the United States, arguably the most memorable performance of the song came from the Fugees, who released their own rendition of the song in 1996.
On June 8, 1996 the song reached No. 1 on the UK charts, giving the iconic group a smash hit - and their signature track.
Lauryn Hill Made Surprise Appearance at Roberta Flack's Memorial
After Flack's death in 2025, a celebration of life was held inside Harlem, New York's Abyssinian Baptist Church on Monday.
Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, who members of the Fugees, made a surprise appearance at the celebration to honor Flack's life. Hill delivered a speech and the duo performed their signature song in remembrance.
"We weren't formally asked to do this because I think they were a little shy in asking us to attend. So we kind of bum-rushed the service because it really wouldn't be possible for us to just stand by and not participate," Hill revealed, via Billboard.
"The artistry of Ms. Roberta Flack was beyond trailblazing. Like Nina Simone, she carved out for me a pathway of soulful Black intellectual sublime beauty that not only spoke to Black resistance directly in lyric and statement, but was Black resistance to racism, bigotry and limitations by virtue of its existence."
Hill went on to thank her parents for first introducing her to Flack "masterful music."
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This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 3:01 AM.