Asif Khan Inc.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – Lauryn Hill

Black America has always had quite a bit to say because of their experiences with the world around them, which in way has helped make an exceptional contribution to the world of music. A large part of this makes its way owing to the manner in which they have been conditioned, rather mis-educated, over the years to act in a certain manner when exposed to certain external stimulus. It was this fertile ground of thoughts and emotions which was chosen by Lauryn Hill, ex-one-third of that superlatively groundbreaking act by the name of The Fugees which absolutely smothered the scene with their album The Score which set the stage for striking a fine balance between the emerging genre of Hip Hop and the magic of Soul of yesteryears. She had already proven her credentials, and when the trio fell apart to pursue their own paths Lauryn entered into a mental phase where probably felt the need for an evocative window to vent everything that had entered over the years. On Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, her debut solo album released in 1998, she brings all of this together and speaks her mind on issues as personal as the insecurities of being a single mother on the landmark track To Zion, which was accompanied beautifully with strums on the six stringer by Santana in his trademark tones, to subjects as broad based as the sounding out of a warning to the men and women of her times to stay clear of straying in relationships and realizing their own shortcomings too, all of this on funk based beats with fluid crossovers between soul vocals and rapid rap verses on Doo Wop (That Thing). Love, gaining, losing, pain, family, the ghetto, everything gets a mention as Lauryn bares her heart on this album which speaks in chapters, and leaves your mind brimming with newfound knowledge.