Emily: After I finished listening to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, I couldn’t write my review right away like I usually do. There was so much to take in over the course of those 14 tracks that I needed some time to think about how it all works together. And work together it does, beautifully. I think this is because every element is personal and uniquely Lauryn Hill. By fusing different musical styles together, she creates a mosaic of the different influences that inspired and shaped her career. There’s Fugees-style hip hop, reflecting her time alongside Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel. There’s reggae, a nod to her relationship with Rohan Marley (Bob’s son). Gospel ties into spirituality and her view of God. And what ties it all together is R&B and soul, two styles of the past that Hill brings into the present. The way she does that is with her poetic lyrics. She’s personal, confessional, and emotional. Songs like To Zion, an ode to her unborn son, deal with intimate and difficult issues in Hill’s life, but she puts them on display with grace, soul, and beauty. As a listener, I was simply drawn in by the power of her words. Lauryn Hill is truly one of the greatest musicians and artists of recent times, maybe even all time. While it is a shame that she has barely released any music in the 13 years since this album, Ms. Hill’s Miseducation is certainly her masterpiece.
Favorite Tracks: To Zion; I Used to Love Him; Every Ghetto, Every City
Zack: A friend of mine and I play a game where we have to draw parallels between famous literary figures and hip-hop artists. We came up with Emily Dickinson-Lauryn Hill a while back. The similarities range from the coincidental (from the North, older brothers, and reasonably well-educated) to the glaring (recluses and deep-seated love of the piano). But while Dickinson surely has Hill beat in the prolific department, I doubt that she was as versatile an artist. Lauryn Hill fluctuates between hip-hop, R&B, soul, reggae, and even gospel with incredible ease and ability. I listened to Lost Ones and found myself hoping that the rest of the album would be more rap oriented. Then, immediately afterwards, I listened to Ex-Factor and really hoped that there would be more R&B hits. This process repeated until I finally realized that having more of everything wasn’t a real possibility and had to contend that I simply wanted the album to keep maintaining the same level of awesome. Lauryn Hill truly is an incredible talent. She can sing. She can rap. She can pull off a huge afro. She can really just do it all. And she does it all while being a mother to six. Why can’t my mom be so cool? What really makes this album special is the familiarity that the listener develops with Lauryn Hill. Everything about this album is personal and vulnerable. The listener is really invited into her life and gets a full view of everything she is. That openness combined with the versatility brought to the table makes The Miseducation an instant classic, no matter how you look at it.
Favorite Tracks: Ex-Factor; Everything Is Everything; Doo Wop (That Thing)
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