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Where in the World is Lauryn Hill?


Toure (the negro Jay loves to hate) wrote a Rolling Stone Magazine cover story that answers one of the big questions that's been on my mind for a minute. What's up with Lauryn Hill?

Here's an excerpt:

In 2000, Hill became close with Brother Anthony, a shadowy spiritual adviser, then abruptly fired her management team and the people around her. In 2001, she recorded her MTV Unplugged 2.0. Few bought the album, but many talked about how she could be heard on the record breaking down in tears and saying, "I'm crazy and deranged. . . . I'm emotionally unstable," and repeatedly rejecting celebrity and the illusions that make it possible. "I used to get dressed for y'all; I don't do that anymore," she said on the album. "I used to be a performer, and I really don't consider myself a performer anymore. . . . I had created this public persona, this public illusion, and it held me hostage. I couldn't be a real person, because you're too afraid of what your public will say. At that point, I had to do some dying."

Her honesty was both touching and confusing. She was rejecting so much of what she'd spent years being. The only thing that was clear was that she was suffering. "Artists do fall apart," a record executive says. "The most commonly held falsity in the game is that they have it all together. They fall apart. Look at Mariah, Whitney, Michael, all the great ones. They all have a moment where you go, 'Are they really all there?' And I think Lauryn chose to expose that to the world."

I don't agree with that anonymous record executive. Lauryn didn't fall apart...she's doing exactly what she wants to do despite what people think. Her album sales "fell apart," which is of course is the only concern any record exec.

October 11, 2003 in Commentary | Link Me | Related Searches | Related Music

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Holleration

yeah i caught that, very interesting piece although overly gossipy at times perhaps. I really hope Lauryn can get it together, it seems like her and D'Angelo are both doomed to squander their gifts cuz they couldn't handle their own success.

Posted by: Jay Smooth at Oct 18, 2003 12:06:40 AM

I love Lauryn's voice, the way her licks coming down like a beautiful wind-chime ringing, & what's more her honesty about the reality.
I am waiting for her to wake up one day to tell herself "I am an artist. I want to share my growth with every-good-hearted one in the world."
People need some time to stop and make things saturated in thier soul. We all are like that. At least, I am.
My occupation is a singer (& a rapper eventually...),and I am fighting against this Panic-Disorder that occurred all of a sudden after breaking up with my first band.
Human-Being, especially artists, are very sensitive. That sensitiveness makes them to creat great art to send others some unexplainable vibe.
Anyways...Thanx for giving me a chance to speak up to the world...

Posted by: qb from JPN at Nov 27, 2003 10:02:04 AM

Lauryn Hill "broke down" after realizing the true glory of God and she admitted to being "crazy and derranged" because it's prallel to giving yourself up so that no one will want to gossip about her as people and the media loves to do to celebrities. On the album Ms. Hill acknowledges what the foolish media has tried to portray her as and makes it known that she's not moved. I love that. I admire that. Lauryn Hill's MTV Unplugged Album can only be described as the truth. It's a much-needed, overdue dose of reality - blatantly missing in music and culture today. Everyone should have it in their collection.

Posted by: Jani at Aug 1, 2004 8:00:10 PM

Lauryn hill is still one of the most talented people on earth in my opinion. I am also a singer/wannabe guitarist and I think L did no wrong on Unplugged.My only concern for her is; that if she doesn't put a high quality studio ablum out soon, years from now she will regret it and end up making failed attempts to restsrt her carer when she's forty.

Posted by: gabriel at Feb 4, 2005 12:06:00 PM

i just wanna say a few things. i love lauryn hill so much and im so upset because i have'nt heard any new songs since unplugged. which i thought the album was really good. i also enjoyed her part in the fugees and was gutted when that was over. Now that i have'nt heard any new songs from lauryn hill i wounder if she will ever be back. BUT. she did do a duet with kanye west in all falls down. which lauryn hill done first on the unplugged album. anyways kanye west did say at the end of the song that she will be back. so who knows? i hope she does and i expect a return in the next few years.

Posted by: Ricksta at Apr 24, 2005 4:12:07 PM

I love Lauryn Hill. Her music has always been a blessing to me, inspiring me, enlightening me, and giving me just what I need. She is infinitely blessed and I love her because unlike many, she hasn't sold out for riches and fame. She gives the people what they need spiritually charged, Yah blessed music. I am looking forward to some new music. The current status of mainstream hip hop is atrocious, disgusting and downright sinful. How much longer must we endured these wack rappers whose point and purpose is to corrupt and confuse the youth and the masses of brainwashed folks. We need more Lauryn. But I know the majority ain't ready so when her new music is released it will be in divine time when minds and souls are open to recieve the Holy Breath. OH Happy Day!

Posted by: Roni at Jun 25, 2005 11:49:25 PM

seriously think that the stuff Toure wrote wasn't good, and may not be gospel truth, it is only his side of the story.
Otherwise, lauryn is very talented and I earnestly hope she will do a more refined approach to her MTV unplugged album. Her inspiration is genuine and that I love

Posted by: prince at Oct 11, 2005 6:29:45 AM

Ms. Hill Is number one in my eyes. I desperately want her to make a comeback. I don’t care if she comes back when I’m 30, 40, or 50 years old. I love her work. I am a true fan. Her writing for the UP on MTV was nothing short of genius. She has great content and she’s very soulful! I love her. L. Hill. Please come back!!!!!

Posted by: star at Jun 16, 2006 3:38:36 PM