The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill: A look back after 25 years
In August 1998, at 22 years old, Ms. Lauryn Hill released her debut studio album, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill". This album was revolutionary for the R&B and hip-hop genres.
"Doo Wop (That Thing)," Lauryn Hill's first solo single, topped the Billboard charts and earned Hill two Grammy Awards—one for Best R&B Song and the other for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. In the song, Hill advises listeners to avoid relationships where one partner takes advantage of the other.
As a notable musician, Lauryn has realized that fame can quickly diminish one's artistic ambition. What began as a way to express oneself can become a quest for glory and recognition through commercial success.
Hill's music blends various genres and sounds in this album, paving the way for genre-bending pieces.
"[I wanted to] write songs that lyrically move me and have the integrity of reggae, the knock of hip-hop, and the instrumentation of classic soul. My engineer and I worked on a sound that's raw. I like the rawness of being able to hear the scratch in the vocals. I don't ever want that taken away. I don't like to use compressors and take away my textures because I was raised on music that was recorded before technology advanced to the point where it could be smooth. I want to hear that thickness of sound. You can't get that from a computer because a computer is too perfect. But that human element—that's what makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I love that." Ms. Lauryn Hill said this in an interview with Rolling Stone circa 2008.
Ms. Hill's musical vision is unrestricted by any rules, allowing her to incorporate various genres and even pave the way for more unconventional sounds. Her ability to blend different musical styles and create something showcases her artistic creativity and fearlessness when breaking musical conventions.
Hill researched what chords brought positive vibes to the audience in an interview with Digging the Greats on YouTube.
Hill's knowledge of music allows her to manipulate her songs in specific ways, asking the band to "add something to it, add a 9th," Laderrick Perry, pianist for Hill during the album's creation, explained.
Before Hills' solo career, the artist was part of the musical group the Fugees for roughly seven years. After issues among the other group members, Hill left to pursue a career focused on her needs and desires. The artist collaborated with a group called New Ark, where Hill worked on her debut solo album.
The song "To Zion" portrays Hills' decision to prioritize her desires over societal expectations.
"When some women are pregnant, their hair and their nails grow, but for me, it was my mind and ability to create. I had the desire to write in a capacity that I hadn't done in a
while," Hill said to Ebony in 1998. "I don't know if it's a hormonal or emotional thing. I was very in touch with my feelings at the time."
Following the album's release, there was controversy regarding the people involved in its creation. A lawsuit was filed against Lauryn Hill for not accurately crediting the writers and producers. Instead, they were listed as additional contributors for writing, producing, and providing music or lyrical contributions.
This lawsuit ended with Hill settling in 2001 for $5 million with musicians Vada Nobles, Rasheem "Kilo" Pugh, Tejumold Newton, and Johari Newton. The musicians demanded partial writing credit for 13 out of the 14 songs on Miseducation.
And "Zion" is that one. And undeniably, "To Zion" is Lauryn at her most Lauryn. "[That] was her baby because it was about her child," Nobles said. "Can't nobody interfere with that right there."
"The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" is the final track of the original album. This song captures Hill's vision and provides context for Hill as a musician and an individual.
She explains the meaning behind the word "miseducation" in a special message:
Hi, this is Lauryn Hill, and I want to tell you guys a little bit about a song that means a great deal to me. The song is called "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," and it has a lot to do with how I figured out some things from my life. It doesn't necessarily mean miseducation, like I didn't do well in school—as I did do well in school—but it has a lot to do with finding out about your own aspirations and your own dreams, and not those dreams and those aspirations that some might have for you. It's a song about movement, growth, and inspiration.
I want to encourage all of those who are moving from one period to another, especially those graduating from one stage of life into another—whether that be school or any life lesson in general– I encourage you to be strong, to be independent, to be positive, and to know that you can choose your own destiny and your own path.
So stay positive, you guys, and God bless you all. and thank you for all of the support.
