The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Written by: Lamario J Williams, Javier Perez, and Brandon Baca
The 1990s was quite a time for Hip-Hop. In this era, artists that are typically on “Top Five” lists were at the peak of their careers. There were also many great projects that were dropped, so many of which are timeless (the year 1996 alone had several classics). However, in our humble opinion, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) was the greatest album of this decade. We wanted to comment on and highlight some of the important information regarding this incredible album. We also provide resources below that do a great job of analyzing this work of art.
Accolades & Stats
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was the first ever Hip-Hop album to receive the Grammy Album of the Year Honors and Lauryn Hill was the first woman to win 5 Grammys in one night. A list of all of Laurn Hill’s other accolades can be found here. Ms. Hill’s album has made quite the impact on music as a whole, inspiring artists to use her creations in her art. Songs from this album have been featured in popular records by Drake, J. Cole, Cardi B, and Kanye West. Lists of songs that sampled music from this album can be found here and over here. This album has made a significant artistic impact, but it was also commercially successful. An RIAA certified 8 million records have been sold in the US. It is reported that 19 million copies have been sold worldwide.
Content
There are strong religious themes throughout this album. Ms. Hill talks about her views on God in this interview. In the album, there are of course references to Christianity with biblical themes in the track names and lyrics. There are also several references to Islam, and a few lyrics that include Arabic words. Islam is often an underappreciated demographic for Black Americans (S/O to Bilal) and Lauryn Hill does an excellent job highlighting that Islam and Christianity have a lot in common.
The album also utilizes fusion of musical themes. Lauryn Hill incorporates Reggae music into this album a great deal, and even recorded some of the tracks in Jamaica. Ms. Hill was raised near New York City so the classic boom-bap NYC lyricism is on full display in this album. Ms. Hill does a great job of examining the complex gender roles that exist in many Black Communities with this album. “Doo-Wop (That Thing),” the lead single, directly addresses this issue by giving a call to action for both women and men to respect themselves and not so flippantly give away sacred intimacy. Hip-Hop is quite a complex genre of music and thrives on fusing different cultures, themes, and musical styles/motifs.
“Forgive Them Father”: Genius Lyrics
The name of the album was inspired by the book entitled The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter G Woodson. “Forgive Them Father” is perhaps the only song on the album that most directly comments on the themes provided in this book, which of course is also relevant to the current times in America.
The US has greeted many with the idea of prosperity, equality, and transparency. “Wolves in sheep coats”, founded this country and have deceived many since the inception of the USA. Stolen land, stolen people, stolen culture… stolen identity. These predators pretend to have a conscience, yet they lie to themselves and to God. “May God Bless America” is repeated by public figures with a tainted heart who go to church on Sunday mornin’ and despise thy neighbor by Sunday noon.
“Forgive Them Father” - Lauryn Hill. Courtesy of GENIUS
Ms. Hill addresses these wolves and their deceiving coats, asking God for their forgiveness for they know not what they do. Does Ms. Hill believe they are blind of their own actions? Perhaps these wolves are ignorant or apathetic? Lauryn Hill asserts that these wolves are hungry for power and control, but show no remorse for how their selfishness hurts others. In the song, Ms. Hill says “Let’s free the people from the deception." Educating the people can help them differentiate real love from deceptive predators.
This album as a whole can be understood as a thesis on the importance of understanding love. Love of course should be the foundation of intimate romantic relationships, but it also plays a critical role in interactions with friends and family. Furthermore, love is crucial in appreciating the value of members of society as a whole (agápe-type love). Although love can be an extremely emotional experience, Ms. Hill posits that an intellectual grasp on love is key to making oneself better and interactions with others better.
Controversy
Lauryn Hill has been subject to scandals and controversy including serving a three-month stint in prison for tax evasion. However, at the DUBS Foundation we don’t believe in character assassination, and especially reject argumentum ad hominem. Please visit the following links to educate yourself more on Lauryn Hill and her legal troubles:
The LA Times | BBC | The Guardian | Time Magazine | The Atlantic
Moving Forward
Life works on rhythms: heart rhythms, breathing rhythms, circadian rhythms, seasonal rhythms. Music moves people for a reason. At the DUBS Foundation we value the importance of STEAM education (Science-Technology-Engineering-Arts-Mathematics), but particularly the Arts. We truly believe it's valuable for all persons no matter their career trajectory. And it is invaluable for mental health, and has been a tremendous outlet for so many. We most definitely endorse you to utilize all art forms more: both creating art and/or simply appreciating it.
The links provided below give more insight into this groundbreaking album. Some of the links include more in-depth analysis of this work. Please, educate yourself on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. You may be surprised by the lessons you can take away from it.
Tidal: 10 Ways ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ Changed Everything
New Yorker: What We Still Need from Lauryn Hill and Her “Miseducation”
The Ringer: The Culture Isn’t Finished With ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’—and Neither Is She