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Published: March 18, 2021, 1:15 p.m.

Instead of returning to the studio with outside producers, the Fugees took their $150k advance from Ruffhouse Records and ventured off to \u2026 the basement. Specifically, the Booga Basement in East Orange, NJ, where Wyclef Jean\u2019s uncle and his cousin Jerry \u201cWonda\u201d Duplessis lived.

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Booga, along with The Dungeon in Atlanta (where OutKast cut their debut), were two of the most successful underground studios in the game circa the mid-90s. These locales came with a productive, family vibe and endless head bobs to judge the quality of work.

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In this episode, host Jill Hopkins speaks to producer Jerry Wonda about building a studio and a sound that would continue the tradition of great New Jersey hip-hop. They also discuss why this kind of DIY ethos is so important to groups in the process of defining their sounds.

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Also heading into the basement are special guests Chris Schwartz and Joe Nicolo of Ruffhouse Records, in addition to MTV\u2019s Dometi Pongo and Genius executive editor Insanul Ahmed.

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Original music by Tony Piazza.

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Don't forget to enter our giveaway to win a Fugees prize pack, which includes vinyl, a turntable, and headphones. (Note: If you\u2019re having trouble seeing the widget, enter here.)

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