Home » Music » Neo-Soul Music » Rewind: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Rewind: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

© Mecca Donna

Now that we have all gorged our musical stomachs with pop divas that garner their success on production popularity as opposed to vocal prominence; are we ready to get back to basics? I am suggesting we do. I'm suggesting we go back, just a little ways, to the time just before the now. The time right before producers became the star attractions of an album rather than the vocalist themselves. Circa 1998. The was a young lady just a few years ago that seemed to be the most promising of her musical genre at the time. She was brilliant and beautiful. She was then a burgeoning legend. She came, she saw, she conquered. She is Lauryn Hill.

Soul music and Hip-Hop had fused and she infused them better than we had ever heard from a female artist. At times the Hip-Hop Soulstress, could be heard riding a Wyclef Jean beat with better than above average prowess. Delivering raps that represented complexities of everyday existence. At her best she could be heard belting out raw emotions with her rich alto.

Her alto was distinctive. Tone flawless and even if it wavered for a moment you wouldn't notice because your spine was still tingling from the previous riff...she could remake a remake and you would believe she was the original. And she did wFugeese Fugees' single "Killing Me Softly". HLauryn, Lauryn Hill's most stellar work to date is arguably her solo effort "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill". Miseducation is one of those jewels that you pop in and play. No fast forward/skip button required. Can we say that for say um, Ashanti? No. How about the new Vivian Green? Disappointing.

The Miseducation Lauryn Hill had a theme. It had robust character. It was art imitating life and we all could relate to the experience.

The overall connecting thought was love and everyday life. Real subject matter like; motherhood, make-up-to-break-ups, failed friendships and love that is earning new comers like Keysia Cole, Fantasia and Tierra Marie. Lauryn's tendency to get a little social political keeps the Hip-Hop head's interested. The purity in her lyrics and voice snag Soul music lovers- hook, line and sinker.

Tracks like "Doo Wop" call both men and women to regain some self respect and it translated into one of the smash hits of the summer of 1999. Her run with this album was nothing short of incredible. Even her interludes were cramed full of eye opening lectures with real children about their view and concept of love. Their was no space left unused. She even took time and vented about the disbanding of Pioneer Hip-Hop group, The Fugees with "Backstabbers". Tastefully expressed was her anguish about ruined friendships and oversized egos. Which of us haven't been on the other end of bitter betrayal? An instant connection seems to always be forged with the reality in her Lauryn

The copyright of the article Rewind: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in Neo-Soul Music is owned by Mecca Donna. Permission to republish Rewind: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.