However, the Fugees’ Zip Top is even stranger than that.
The original 1994 CD release of Blunted on Reality (on Ruffhouse/Columbia) was not housed in a standard plastic jewel case. Instead, it came in a that required the user to pull the CD tray out from the bottom or side. Collectors dubbed these "Zip Tops" because the top flap often featured a perforated tear-away strip—like a zipper—or a gatefold design that "zipped" shut via a tuck flap. the fugees blunted on reality zip top
If you are a serious investor, a historian, or a completionist: The Zip Top is the equivalent of a first-edition comic book. As physical media continues to appreciate, and as the iconography of Lauryn Hill and Wyclef reaches mythic status, this awkward little cardboard box is only going to rise in value. The Bottom Line The Fugees’ Blunted on Reality Zip Top is more than a record. It is a time capsule of a group that didn't know they were about to change music. It is a lesson in manufacturing history—how the humble cardboard sleeve became a legend. And it is a reminder that sometimes, the ugliest ducklings (and the most confusing packaging) turn into the most beautiful swans for collectors. However, the Fugees’ Zip Top is even stranger than that
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