The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill: Aug 25 1998

(She was our champion, our Queen…)

“Ya’ll still signing deals, for real. After what they did to our Lauryn Hills.”

I’ve read or at least seen 99.9% of the interviews of Jay-Z recently and out of all those interviews, no one has mentioned that line.

Either it’s obvious what Jigga means or interviewers are afraid to open up that can of worms. I think it’s a little of both.

Because Lauryn can be a cautionary tale but of what exactly? Nowadays social media quips about her tardiness, the press revels in her tax problems, and most of what is said about Lauryn is criticism.

But we ain’t get to this place overnight.

Twenty years ago, Lauryn was becoming not just our hero, starlet, superwoman, she was mainstream media’s sweetheart as well. Lauryn graced magazine covers, was celebrated by everyone, sold beau coup records, culminating in her five Grammy triumph.

Then something happened…

This could be a deep, in-depth investigation (and one day we’ll have to do just that). Right now, however, we’re going to talk about that rise.

Let’s be clear, Lauryn was always a star. She was tested under the fire at the Apollo and sang through early boos. Lauryn was 13. She had played an…