Singer Lauryn Hill Breaks Her Silence After Over a Decade
Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Lauryn Hill is back -- sort of.
Celebrated for her work with the Fugees and her classic solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the Grammy-winning hip-hop/R&B artist has barely been seen or heard since 1999. (Despite universal accolades, she only released one album after 1998's Miseducation: 2002's MTV Unplugged.) Some wondered whether the erratic artist -- who demands to be addressed as "Ms. Hill" -- had a nervous breakdown.
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But Hill, now 35, finally explained her mysterious absence to National Public Radio's Zoe Chace, who scored a interview with the artist following a rare performance in Santa Rosa, Calif.
Why did she stop recording? "There were a number of different reasons," she explains.
"But partly, the support system that I needed was not necessarily in place. There were things about myself, personal-growth things, that I had to go through in order to feel like it was worth it."
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The platinum-selling star also takes aim at the music industry, suggesting it didn't nurture her with enough care or patience: "Oftentimes," Hill says, "the machine can overlook the need to take care of the people who produce the sounds that have a lot to do with the health and well-being of society...And it's important that people be given the time that they need to go through, to grow, so that the consciousness level of the general public is properly affected."
Not that Hill hasn't kept herself busy the past 11 years.
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"I don't know if you know this, but I have five children," she tells NPR. Her children's dad is Hill's longtime love Rohan Marley, son of the late reggae legend Bob Marley.
"The youngest is 2 now, so she's old enough that I can leave her for a period of time and know she's going to be okay."
"I think it's just time," to start performing again, she adds.
"I'm starting to get excited again. Believe it or not, I think what people are attracted to about me, if anything, is my passion. People got exposed to my passion through music and song first...And I think that can be infectious."
Tell Us What You Think
75Me and My wife always loved Lauren Hill she would tell me the stories of her how her voice and character was so genuine. coencedence we just finished watching sister act today. Lauren Hill is the refreshing soul this industry needs
About time she has been truely missed
I ONCE HEARD MS.HILL AND TUPAK WAS THE JESUS CHRIST OF HIP HOP THEY WERE TOO POWERFUL, FOR US TO HEAR THE TRUTH...THEY WOULD HAVE TAUGHT US, WOULD BE AGAIST THE RULE OF THE MUSIC (ANGEL) .AND SO THAT'S THE REASON THE MEDIA EARASED THEM. MS. HILL HAVE A SHOTTA FOR A HUSBAND SO SHE IS PRETTY MUCH UNTOUCHABLE!!! REGRLESS OF WHAT U HEAR AND HAVE HEARD IN THE PAST, YOU CANNOT REPLACE OR DUPLICATE HER. SHE IS N WILL ALWAYS BE TO HER FANS #1 TOP OF THE CHART AND NO ONE HAS MADE IT THERE YET . SPIRITUALLY SPEAKABLE , TOO BLESSED TO B STRESSED ND NO FOOL OR FOE CAN TURN MS.HILL GLORY TO SHAME.SO KEEP YAPPIN U ONLY LOOK SMALLER THAN YOU SOUND.THANK YOU BUT DONT HATE APPRECIATE HER TALENT, LOVE HER CUZ SHE IS BLACK AND BEAUTIFUL THE SAME MAN WHO BLEW BREATH INTO UR MOUTH AND GAVE U LIFE IS THE SAME MAN WHOM ALSO BLEW BREATH INTO HERS.
Ive been waiting for her since day one! For me one of the best!!! Breakdown or not I think she is most smarter than what people think. One day in a education class my professor say that some persons are so intelligent that they don't know how to organized and process the information in there system and get breakdowns and went crazy! Beautiful and intelligent 2 thumbs to lAURYN HILL!!!
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) GOD IS GOOOOOD
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let me just say that i have been listening to Lauryn ever since i learned to talk. Friends & family say that her music is a little before my time because im only 12 yrs old but i cant help it! Her music is so real and not fake like some of the music i hear today. If she is coming back im going to be so elated.
You can hear the entire interview with Ms. Hill on NPR at npr[dot]org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128149135 The interview was done right after her 75-minute headline performance at our 32nd annual Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa, CA on June 13 harmonyfestival[dot]com
Plz tell us where u saw an actual article, interview, etc. where Ms. Hill made this statement? Until then still a fan. Seems like a lot of u may have psychological issues, for believing nonsense which u have no evidence of. When u think of it, one could argue that's also just as crazy on a variety of degrees.
this biatch is nutz.
I am so over Lauryn, I agree with what Wyclef said a few years ago I think there's something going on with her psychology and she may need professional help. Regardless of how someone may feel about society and race relations the only analogy she could come up with is to wish her children contract AIDS then white ppl listen to her music? As a mom of three that's crazy on so many different levels.
Welcome! BACK. Miss Hill' Who cares, why she left for 10 years+ It's her business. Never mind the "NEGATIVE" from some. Sometimes you have to "DISAPPOINT" others to to be "TRUE" to yorself. May "GOD" Bless you, Miss Hill and your Family...
I was feeling so angered with seeing people refer to Lauryn & other celeb's in an inappropriate manner, that I lost it. I should know better & shouldn't feed into negative comments made about such beautiful women, such as Halle, Gabby, Alicia, Beyonce, Janet & yes, even Lauryn. I must remember that no matter what is said, each & every one of these ladies is talented, giving, intelligent, classy...articulate. They come in a beautiful array of colors...some honey, ginger, beige & ebony. They have hips, lips, braids & fades. They are secure & appreciate the struggles of their ancestors & those who paved the way like Cicly Tyson, Lena Horne, Dorothy Dandridge & Coretta Scott King. Who would think with all the sacrafices made by past Queens, that today in 2010 people are still so mean? So whenever any woman of color sees comments written which are disturbing & full of hate, just lift your head high & think about the past sacrafices which were made. God bless everyone, black, white, etc. Thank you.
At the end of each day she is still Lauryn Hill. She cares less if you hate on her or if you buy or even listen to her music because she will be successful. Haters get a life.
NO MATTR WHAT PEOPLE SAY OR DO I WELCOME YOU BACK LAURYN HILL AND THANX FOR THE MUSIC THAT YOU LEFT ON HEART AND SPIRIT. YOU ARE TRULY A BEAUTIFUL PERSON TO HAVE DONE THAT FOR US WE LOVE YOU AND AGAIN WELCOME BACK YOU ARE TRULY MISSED. CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR THE FIRST NEW SINGLE.
If everyone out there knew the truth about what really goes on in the music industry, no one in their "right" mind would ever sign the "unholy blood" contracts that these artists sign. The rabbit hole is so deep and dark that once the deal is done, no one escapes its evil & demonic web...not even M.J. Search the web people, BEFORE the president gets the power of the "kill Switch"
Hello to everyone. If you havent accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your lord and personal savior do it now befoe its too late. The time is near for his soon to return. Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!
Lauryn Hill never made those comments about white people. Snopes has the truth.
In contradiction of those evil souls slandering the beautiful spirit and art of Ms. Hill by knowingly perpetuating the lie that she is a racist, I would refer people to the truth at the snopes website. She is a woman who loves and fears G-d, and to lie about and slander her in this way is just shameful and deeply sad.
Truth hurts? I just asked a question. That's how u learn. U were critical of my comment, but I notice u still couldn't answer it. By the way I have a graduate degree dear. Believe that!!!!!! Thank u.
So excited to see Ms. Hill coming back out! have worn out Miseducation, both the disc and on my IPod.....What a gift she has - cant wait to hear her sing again.