THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF LAURYN HILL, PART II

February 11, 2011 (or should I say February 12th), was the date for the reclusive L Boogie to make an appearance in Baltimore.  The venue, Rams Head Live, was abuzz with energy and anticipation, even if it wasn't filled to its normal capacity for someone of the caliber of Ms. Hill.  I arrived a little after 10:00 PM, and I was a little surprised that I didn't have to wait in a long, winding line outside this downtown  establishment.  The atmosphere was one of excitement and apprehension, at least from what I could gather from the eclectic crowd.  All ages, sexes, and nationalities were represented, so that was a good sign.  After perusing the interior of Rams Head Live for any signs of Ms. Hill, I decided to relax and absorb the positive energy in the house. 

DJ Rampage warming up the crowd

Around 11:20 PM, DJ Rampage hit the stage, warming up the crowd for what seemed like a good hour or so.  He started off with an ode to Bob Marley, and with the smell of ganja in the air, it was quite appropriate for the Marley tribute of sorts.  The crowd in attendance at the time was feeling the music, at least for a little while.  Before long, DJ Rampage segued into other joints (no pun intended) like "I'm Still In Love With You" by Sean Paul and "You Don't Love Me (No No No)" by Dawn Penn.  Listening to these cuts definitely set a vibe in the venue, at least for a good while.  Eventually, the crowd grew weary of this, and you could start to feel a little tension.  I know I was antsy and anxious for the show to actually begin, because Lauryn Hill's track record over the past few years has been anything but stellar.  Making matters even more tense was an announcement over sound system that Ms. Hill was under the weather, but she planned on still performing.  Go figure!  At that point all I could do was wait like the rest of the growing crowd.  DJ Rampage managed to sway the crowd's relatively short attention span again once he delved into his hip hop catalog for guaranteed staples like "Hip Hop Hooray", "Top Billin'", "T.R.O.Y.", "Electric Relaxation", "Scenario", and numerous other "Golden Age" classics.  The energy could really be felt once DJ Rampage played Nas and L Boogie on "If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)".  Trust me, I was one of the energetic characters inside Rams Head at that point.  Soon after, the rest of her band appeared onstage, with "Hypnotize" playing in the background, intent on holding down the instrumental side of the evening's performance.  Three background vocalists, three keyboardists, three guitarists, and a drummer rounded out her musical entourage.

Ms. Hill entering the stage

Midnight struck, and still no Lauryn Hill!  You could cut the tension with a knife at that point.  Minute after minute passed, until 12:10AM, when the lights dimmed, and the female silhouette of the one and only Lauryn Noel Hill entered stage right!  A deafening roar reverberated throughout the mostly packed venue, threatening permanent hearing loss, but at that distinct moment, all my reservations and doubts went out the window.  Dressed in a flowing orange outfit, with a short jacket and dark-colored scarf, the star of the evening was understated compared to previous sightings.  The somewhat disheveled afro was still intact, yet there was something cool about having this icon on stage, fashion aside.  Lauryn Hill has been an enigma for the better part of a decade, but her loyal legion of fans (me included) always, ALWAYS hold out hope that she will return either doper than ever or never missing a beat lyrically.  She started off with a Bob Marley song, of course, paying homage to the most obvious of influences on her musically.  Once she crooned to the packed house, the band commenced to play a sped-up version of "Lost Ones".  Her background singers definitely came prepared to belt out accompanying vocals for the evening.  "When It Hurts So Bad" was next on the agenda, but her voice was not quite up to par, at least for the moment.  However, once she dove into "Everything Is Everything", the crowd showed its appreciation, and she delivered a spirited rendition of this fan favorite.  Of course, with the majority of the fans being of the female persuasion, her next selection "Ex Factor" really struck a chord.  Every word of that touching song was sung by every woman I could see in the crowd.  The song then segued into a mellower version, with sparse drums accompanying Ms. Hill's every word.  "Words have to line up with actions", she preached to the female contingent at Rams Head, with vocal approval coming from all directions in the house.  Her obligatory tribute to her first born, "To Zion", was next on the song list.  I love the song, but I wonder what her other children may think anytime that song is played?  While her band continued in the key of "To Zion", Ms. Hill exited for a brief moment, only to return reinvigorated and energized.  She asked the Rams Head audience if there were any fans of The Fugees in the house.  Of course everyone in attendance yelled "YES"!  To satisfy that Fugees hunger, she launched into "How Many Mics", one of my favorite joints from The Refugee Camp.  She launched into most of the songs from The Score, the multiple platinum best-seller from The Fugees.  "Fu-Gee-La"  was a definite crowd pleaser, as most in the venue jumped and pumped their fists, while Lauryn handled the lyrics with a vengeance.  The Rams Head audience were puppets in her hand at that point, and once she touched "Ready Or Not", everyone in attendance showed their love for this lady that was willing to put a flourishing career on hold to do her bidding, known as motherhood.  Lighters and cell phones were lifted high to illuminate the darkness surrounding everyone.  This set the stage for "Killing Me Softly", her rendition of the very popular and classic Roberta Flack gem.  Ms. Hill ended the show with "Doo Wop (That Thing)", giving a spirited and energized performance. 

Lauryn Hill and company

More Lauryn

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome of her show.  I believe that preconceived notions about her unreliable nature and eclectic (bordering on lunatic) way of thinking may have influenced my somewhat negative perspective.  Seeing Lauryn Hill perform solidified in my psyche why she is one of the dopest lyricists the hip hop world has ever seen.  Her rhyming is still flawless, and that fact alone is reason for her to drop another album before I turn forty-five!  Her performance, stage presence, interaction with the crowd, and energy earned Lauryn Hill a solid B-.  Now I can mark this performance off of my "Wisdom's Bucket List"!

THE MISUNDERSTANDING OF LAURYN HILL

An enigma can be defined as something or someone that can not be easily explained or understood. Miss Lauryn Hill is just that, a mysterious being that has captivated not only the Hip Hop Generation, but the entertainment world in general. I’ve been a huge fan of her talents, like most hip hop heads, from the first album for The Fugees, Blunted On Reality. Lyrically, she was dense, poetic, dope. And her dopeness wasn’t a “for a female” type either, because she was an elite emcee no matter the gender. It didn’t hurt that she was easy on the eyes either. Her allure was the fact that she seemed to be an everyday woman that you could find in your college class, living next door, working in the cubicle next to yours. She fit within The Fugees collective very well, balancing Wyclef’s Haitian lyrical banter and Pras’ sometimes suspect rhyming abilities.

Blunted On Reality

By the time The Score, the many-times platinum second offering from The Fugees, dropped, Lauryn was a force to be reckoned with. She not only showcased top-tiered lyricism throughout the classic album, but also gave listeners a chance to experience her molasses-dipped voice. Powerful, yet rough, smooth, yet emotional, her singing voice gave the hip hop culture a glimpse into the future that was Lauryn:
The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill. On score, time and time again Lauryn shined brightest on cut after cut. “How Many Mics”, “Fu-Gee-La”, “Cowboys” were just a few of the songs that Ms. Hill was at her apex from a lyrical standpoint. She was definitely one of my favorite lyricists at this point, and the listening audience took notice as well.

The Score

The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill was a benchmark album that we may never see again. It fit very nicely in the musical landscape that was Neo-Soul at the time, but the album was so much very more. It was part reggae, part hip hop, part neo-soul, all Lauryn. It was also an album that revealed a woman that was maturing with her music. From a songwriting perspective, the lyrics were extremely revealing and introspective. “Lost Ones” was the song that started to shed light on the alleged relationship Lauryn and Wyclef harbored as part of The Fugees. Listening to that song, even to this day, showed a woman that was empowered through her ups and downs. Going through song after song was like reading a diary chapter from her personal musings. I felt connected to Ms. Hill through The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, even though it was quite clear her viewpoint was from a complex feminine perspective.

The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill

Once the accolades and acclaim followed after The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, the public could notice a change with Ms. Hill. I’m not alone in saying that she became much more of an introvert and recluse, only making available on irregular intervals. This can be attributed to her growing family and private life, most likely, but I think other factors are involved. The trappings of fame can dishearten even the strongest of individuals, and I believe wholeheartedly that Lauryn Hill was not impervious to this. Demand for her to replicate or exceed her landmark solo project, both by music consumers and the powers that be at her record label (Columbia Records). I’m selfish, I know, because I’m one of the many that has been clamoring for a new release from Lauryn Hill. I’ve been a realist to know that this may not be in the cards. She is just not into playing label politics and being forced to record music for public consumption, at least not at the moment. “Not at the moment” has been something I’ve been saying for more than a decade though. So what gives?

Maybe I, and we, should just let Lauryn live! Obviously, there is a smidgen of sensitivity involved in this matter. Questionable behavior has been exhibited, weird, unexplained visits from nowhere have been documented. Even this past summer’s Rock The Bells concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland was warped with her initial non-performance, then her finally appearing onstage to perform The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill. I’ve heard that she was extremely tardy for the party, so to speak, because of sore throat and illness. I’ve also heard that she was getting a manicure and pedicure, and this was the culprit for her gracing the stage at Merriweather three hours late. Story after story has circulated, so I don’t want to be a gossip-monger. Through the trials and tribulations for her, it must be noted that she is human, and she is a mother of five beautiful children. Before she is Lauryn Hill the emcee and vocalist, she is Lauryn Hill the matriarch. Keep that in perspective before ultimately judging her actions, no matter how they may appear on the surface. I think that once the true creative juices start flowing, and we as the public not try to pry, then we will see her artist resurface. I think that it will resurface in a slightly different manner than The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, as judging by her live follow-up album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. That live recording was stipped down and bare, and I think that is how she will be if and when she releases a full-fledged album again. If she does, we will be all the better for it. If she doesn’t, we’ve all been “Miseducated” by Ms. Lauryn Hill.

MTV Unplugged No. 2.0