Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean have launched an innovative interactive project titled “Fugees Hopeline,” offering fans a first listen to new music through a dedicated telephone hotline.
The project, a collaboration with the public art platform CIRCA, bypasses traditional streaming services to deliver a “sonic portrait of life in 2026” via an interactive experience narrated by Hill’s daughter, Selah Marley. Upon calling the hotline, listeners are greeted by Marley and provided with personal messages from Hill and Jean.
The experience includes an exclusive new Fugees track that features Jean delivering a high-energy call to action before Hill performs a soulful rendition of Michael Jackson’s “I Wanna Be Where You Are.” The song then transitions into a classic hip-hop beat where Jean performs a new verse, signaling a creative revival for the duo.
“We’ve been able to connect with people from around the world through our music,” the artists said in a joint statement. “With Fugees Hopeline, we want to hear everyone else’s stories.” The project encourages fans to record their own reflections on hope, which will be archived as part of a global audio collection.
Selected recordings will be featured in an exhibition curated by Hill at the Faena Forum in Miami Beach on Dec. 4 and 5, coinciding with Art Basel. The hotline launch coincides with a U.S. tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of the group’s seminal album, The Score. The tour kicked off Nov. 4 at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, Calif., with upcoming performances scheduled for the Hollywood Bowl and Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena.
Notably absent from the project and tour is Pras Michel, the third member of the original trio, who previously filed legal action against Hill following a canceled 2024 reunion attempt. In addition to the audio experience, the collaboration includes a series of limited-edition physical artworks.
Hill created three original collages that blend typography with archival photography from renowned photographers B+ and Jonathan Mannion. These hand-signed editions are being sold through the CIRCA website, with prices ranging from £200 for stamp-signed A4 versions to £2,500 for a complete set of hand-signed A2 prints. Fans in the U.S. can access the Fugees Hopeline by dialing +1 (424) 7-FUGEES (738-4337).
International callers can participate via WhatsApp to avoid long-distance charges. The platform will accept voice contributions through Dec. 31, after which the line will remain active as a listening-only archive.
The project represents a unique shift in how legacy artists engage with their audience, prioritizing direct communication and communal storytelling over digital algorithms.