Let’s Talk About Lauryn Hill’s Essay
Ms. Lauryn Hill decided to share some thoughts on all of the talk surrounding her late shows and many of the very pointed and incendiary comments and opinions shared by Robert Glasper earlier this month.
Like most folks, I’m a fan of ’90s Lauryn, or Ms. Hill as she prefers to be called (more on this later). But she lost me almost two decades ago for various reasons, though I will always appreciate what she brought to the table while always thinking about the big question of what I think she could have brought to the table.
Let’s break down some of this tome. I will skip a lot and only focus on the things that stand out to me because this joint is a legit 3,000 words and while I read the whole thing (and you probably did too), there’s no need for me to address everything she addressed by literally restating it all. This would end up being 5,000 words and ain’t nobody got time for that.
The Miseducation was the first time I worked with musicians outside of the Fugees who’s report and working relationship was clear. In an effort to create the same level of comfort, I may not have established the necessary boundaries and may have been more inviting than I should have been. In hindsight, I would have handled it differently for the removal of any confusion. And I have handled it differently since, I’m clear and I make clear before someone walks in the door what I am and am not looking for. I may have been inclusive, but these are my songs.
Misspelling “rapport” aside (which I only bring up because I saw others do it; I know what she meant so the communication was effective), I think she’s speaking to something very important here. She tried to create an environment like she’d been in prior and it ended up proving chaotic at times, according to various reports. Being the boss is different than being a worker in a situation. I’d chalk this up to a life lesson we could all heed. This foreshadows the “call me Ms. Hill” thing so many folks had an issue with. For the record, I do not have a problem with it.
-I have come across the occasional musician who thinks they already know what I want, feelings and egos can be easily bruised when you tell them they actually don’t. I am never trying to intentionally hurt anyone’s feelings btw, but when people insist that they know you and don’t, you may have to be equally as firm to demonstrate otherwise.
All artists are sensitive about their shit, her included. But she’s absolutely right about one thing (something we’ll get to later), if it’s her vision and her work, then its her law.
Article written by Panama Jackson, Read more via: Lauryn Hill Blavity