The Fugees

Lauryn Hill has a tendency to run a little behind at her live shows -- on the rare occasion that she performs, that is -- but she says that should be the least of her fans' concerns.

The enigmatic singer/rapper is currently on tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her iconic album,' The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,' and she stopped off in L.A. Saturday night ... where she seems to have been a little tardy for her set, something she addressed head-on.

Check it out ... in the video, LH says she's aware of people who complain about her being late to gigs -- but fires back, saying fans should count themselves lucky she even shows up.

This isn't so much Lauryn lashing out as it is her getting what sounds like a major grievance off her chest -- namely, the fact that she only released one solo album ... and based on what she's saying here, it appears that might've not been her decision back in the day.

Instead of bowing out of the music scene -- which she kinda did for a long time -- Lauryn says she's embraced her one piece of great art (solo-wise, of course) and continued to perform it over and over again ... noting that the people love her album to this day.

The Fugees' reunion is officially on, centered around the blockbuster album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" ... which is celebrating its 25th anniversary on Friday.

Beginning in September, Lauryn will embark on a 17-date tour throughout New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and her New Jersey hometown, with Wyclef Jean and Pras reuniting for their first tour in years.

'Miseducation' is Lauryn's first and only solo album, but its impact has survived the test of time ... the project famously earned her 5 Grammys in one night and eventually got certified Diamond by the RIAA.

In a rare public statement, L-Boogie broke down the album's synopsis ... “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is and was a love song to my parents, my family, my people, my musical and cultural forebears, my teachers, my loves, my Creator. I wrote love songs and protest songs— (still love songs) about the subjects and interests that inspired and moved me. I was confident that what inspired me would resonate with an audience that had been led to believe that songs of that kind could only live in the past.”

She elaborated on her art further writing, “I loved music, I loved people, I truly felt grateful to God for my life, and genuinely blessed to have a platform where I could share wisdom and perspective through music. I felt a charge to challenge the idea that certain kinds of expression and/or certain kinds of people didn’t belong in certain places. I loved showing what could work or happen provided there was imagination, creativity and LOVE leading the way.”

The "Killing Me Softly" trio tested the waters at The Roots' picnic back in June and will also perform classics from their Diamond-selling album "The Score."

Pras is doing A-OK in spite of his recent conviction for criminal conspiracy ... at least, that's the update Wyclef Jean is sharing about his fellow artist.

TMZ Hip Hop connected with Wyclef outside NBC Studios on Monday, looking spry and lively after surviving a burnout earlier this year after he denied all retirement rumors.

He also assured us Pras was still in good spirits since we last spoke to him in May after the guilty verdict.

Pras is currently awaiting sentencing for his role in a $20 million fraud political theater, the type of stuff that makes for a ripe movie script ... but Wyclef says don't expect to see a feature film of the legendary hip hop trio anytime soon.

Wyclef says Fugees' life story is still being written in real time and there's no way to put a cap on the saga just yet.

He, Pras and Lauryn Hill recently reunited at this year's Roots Picnic but haven't released an album together since 1996's Diamond-selling blockbuster album "The Score."

Wyclef Jean alarmed fans this week with a video revealing his first-ever stay in the hospital ... but thankfully, the former Fugees star is looking at a full recovery after he gets some much-needed rest.

Wyclef tells TMZ, after returning to Los Angeles from Miami last weekend, he felt numbness on the right side of his face and immediately sought care from his family doctor, who sent him to the ER.

He says the tests Dr. Waleed Lashin requested an overnight stay in the hospital ... and the early indication is his face numbness was the result of exhaustion, which is also likely stress related.

Wyclef's thanking all of his concerned fans, and says he's back at home with more tests to follow next week.

Fugees rapper Pras wants to set the record straight about the feds claiming he illegally sunk millions into President Obama's coffers, or as he'd put it ... check out my new music!!!

Seriously, it really went down that way when Pras joined us Tuesday on "TMZ Live." He addressed the indictment head-on ... revealing federal agents nearly raided him during a recording session. But, when we asked point blank if he'd had any financial dealings with Malaysian financer Jho Low -- who the feds claim funneled illegal donations through Pras -- things got weird.

Pras says he plans to respond directly to the federal indictment -- but only on his upcoming EP, which he's entitled, "Elon Musk." Apparently, it's dropping next month ... as he mentioned at least half a dozen times.

He also copped to making donations to Obama, but says they were fully on the up and up. Just as importantly, Pras would say, he has an EP coming out!!!

Can't recall the name of it.

Pras has been pretty consistent with denying any nefarious activity with Jho Low, whom he acknowledges he's met, but shoots down any type of relationship.

He told us at LAX a few months back he thought the government was coming after him because he's black. Still, Pras says he'll beat the rap because, unlike many others, he can afford a great attorney.

Pras says he doesn't know why the Dept. of Justice is putting him at the center of a scheme to help a Malaysian financier funnel millions into the country -- but he's got a hunch it's due to his skin color.

We got the Fugees rapper at LAX where we asked him about this crazy new civil lawsuit filed by the U.S. DOJ. He's accused of conspiring with Jho Low in 2017 to sneak tons of cash into U.S. bank accounts. Allegedly, Low's intention was to bribe DOJ officials to influence a criminal probe into his alleged misuse of international dough.

The feds filed suit to recover some of those funds -- but Pras is not listed as a defendant. He's mentioned because of his business dealings with Low. The DOJ's still investigating and says criminal charges against Low and/or Pras could be coming.

Complicated, right? That's how Pras reacted to the allegations, but he did have one possible explanation for the suit ... they're pointing at him because he's black. At least that's the "vibe" he's getting.

Low has been tied to other celebs he lavished with gifts, which are now being seized by the feds. Leonardo DiCaprio reportedly received Marlon Brando’s 1954 Oscar from Low, as well as a Pablo Picasso painting, and supermodel Miranda Kerr was gifted jewelry and a see-through grand piano.

Rapper Pras -- co-founder of The Fugees -- says he's been cheated out of thousands of dollars ... double-crossed by two guys who took his money and then robbed him of studio time.

Pras filed suit in small claims court in Los Angeles County -- using his full name, Prakazrel Samuel Michel -- claiming he paid Jason Gluz and Chasen Spellman $5,600 to rent their North Hollywood recording studio ... but never got to record because they double-booked the studio

Plus, he claims the guys refused to give his money back.

Pras is suing them for $9,000 -- the $5,600 rent ... plus the cash he shelled out for hotel and airfare to L.A. for the studio session.

We caught a pretty fired up Pras last week ... right after he'd gone to police, attempting a file a complaint against the studio.