Lauryn Hill

Lauryn this cd was one the best of all time. Keep up the good work. Love Always.

This is what American music is...carved from her island style and fused with her street savvy, this album shines with everything Lauryn Hill was and is, and what she represents is an undying, unyielding spirit which recognizes the best and the worst of society and turns it into something to which everyone can relate. With funky beats and sweet, sweet melodies!

this album is wack the only 2 songs on here i like is

1 nothing even matters
2 ex factory but other then that i was so diappointed when i bought this album 8 years ago i was salty this is the worse album i ever bought in my life besides whats the 411 by mary j blige

after a decade it's still one of my favorites. i love every track on here, especially zion. i should probably buy a new one, since the one i have is scratched up, but it still plays pretty good. she really taught the lessons of being in love, being a woman and a mother.

I bought this album when it first came out and listened to it like crazy. I remember her singing "Zion" at the grammys and crying it was so beautiful. I say it's bittersweet because obviously it's about love and heartache and breakup's and makeups. But also because this was her only ablum for a few years until she came out with that Unplugged album which was even more deep and dark and sad, but great. I love her music , you can tell what she's going through with every track. All around great investment.

I remember getting this and expecting The Miseducation part 2. Well sort of. After all, it is called "Unplugged" which let's you know there's gonna be quite a bit of acoustics. I just wasn't aware of how much would be acoustic. Lauryn is by far my favorite female artist, and she never ceases to amaze me. She's a very interesting and intelligent human being, and has a great sense of humor to top it off. She's one of my all time favorite singers, and all time favorite lyricists. There have been endless lyrics and poems that more than move me, but none have as much as hers. Ever since I was a kid, I've had a view on life that not too many people understand. After falling in love with the Fugees, I decided to get some of their solo joints, and the first time I listened to Lauryn's debut I found someone that sees, and feels like I do. That's probably why I'm such a big fan of Ms Hill.

I read a review that labeled this album as "brave" and I can't agree any more with that. Instead of giving the masses what they want, she gives what they need. She's gotten harsh critisism for changing her style, and covering spiritual topics way more than she did in the past. It takes bravery to do what you know you must, and look beyond what others think. To this day, people wonder why she's changed, and why she stays out of the media. If they listen to this album from start to finish, those questions are answered. To sum it up, she was put here to find her true self, and to serve The Almighty, not be a robot entertainer that serves people's demands. She really opened up on this, and let her true self run free. There are quite a few interludes where she talks to the audience, and most are pretty long. If it were anyone else, I would probably get a little annoyed after a while. It's the message, and the jokes she cracks that makes these interludes very tolerable (for me at least)

This is a really fine piece of work, but unfortunately it gets overlooked for at least one of these three reasons;

1.) People want another Miseducation, and immediately get angered when they realize this isn't it. The Miseducation is one of my all time favorite albums, I want another album like that as well, but just because this isn't it, doesn't mean it deserves to be slept on.

2.) Her guitar playing. Anyone who wines about her guitar playing really doesn't understand this. This whole album was supposed to be completely LAURYN HILL. She had a band all lined up, but last min. decided she wanted to challenge herself, and carry the whole thing on her own. She even mentions in one of the interludes that it's almost too easy to have a whole crew of musicians behind you, doing most of the work. Lauryn isn't famous, or well known for guitar abilities, so I don't understand why people expect guitar shredding wizardry in this. Sorry, but she doesn't play guitar for 12 - 15 hours a day like, Yngwie Malmsteen, or Steve Vai. She raises her kids, writes music, and travels endlessly on her spiritual journey. The guitar playing in this really isn't all that bad. If you understand the whole concept of the album, it actually enhances it.

And finally...

3.) "She's A Racist." I can't believe this false rumor is still alive after all these years. It all started when her debut dropped and became more than a success. In an interview she said that she wrote the album for black people. The majority of the music the black youth listen to is either violent, or tells the female audience that they have to be sluts in order to get a guys respect, and to feel good about themselves. Lauryn hoped in the ring to provide music that discourages that, and encourages prosperity. Further in the interview she said she loves all her fans, but that she's just surprised that white people would like it as much as they do. Sure enough the media never played the end, and before she even knew it, she was labeled a racist. But of course that wasn't enough for the media. They had to make the false claim that "she would rather have her children starve than have the money from whites feed them." What's funny and sad about this, is that everyone believes this, even though there's no video or interview of her saying this. There's endless ones of her denying this. If this children starving statement really did come out of her mouth, why would she back down and deny it? Maybe money? No, she could really care less about money, and if she really did care about it, she has plenty. Well maybe she denied it to tell people what they wanna here? No, she clearly doesn't tell people what they wanna here. If she were that type of person, she wouldn't have lyrics like the ones on here. Or maybe she denied it to be a crowd pleaser? Ha, if she was a crowd pleaser, she would dress like a slut, and dance to computerized beats while singing thoughtless lyrics. If that right there doesn't prove to you that SHE ISN"T A RACIST, go on youtube, and you'll find helpful videos that will.

It's too bad people sleep on this, but oh well. That's your own loss.

If you're a Fugees, Lauryn Hill, or spiritual individual, and wanna check out something different, honest, and uplifting, I can't recommend this enough. If you're not an open minded individual, or a Lauryn Hill/Fugges fan, nor in any way spiritual, I must thank you for reading my review. Still, check this out. You may actually like it. PEACE!

This is a great cd. I was reading some of the other reviews and how people talk about how unpolished it is. It is an uplugged album for goodness sakes. I think that is the point. I loved it and I also love her Miseducation cd. She is truly opening her soul on this album. Maybe this album is just for die hard fans which I am. But I absolutely loved it.

This CD is amazing! She is so talented. She talks about finding her path and being real. The lyrics are beautifully poetic. If you don't believe in god you won't like it. If you do? amazing you can relate to everything she says. I consider it the best of Lauryn Hill.

this album is for only kind of person and that's the spirtual ones ! Many reviewers have focused on the fact that "her voice is too raspy !" or have said "enough with the guitar!". What ALL those people fail to do is actually listen to the entire album. The woman bluntly states why she appeared and sounded the way she did in the Unplugged session... BLUNTLY ! If you truly listen to what she's saying during the songs/breaks, she's giving us everything we've asked for since the "Miseducation" and that's food for our souls. She's never been more politically blunt, socially alert--although anti, and spiritually entwined with Truth. This album is real. Stop looking for the Lauryn Hill from 98' because she's gone, as she tells you in this show.. simply welcome the evolution of her soul and you'll get everything you've been wanting from her. --Nuff Respek !

"The Miseducation of Lauren Hill" was an amazing album that revealed an amazing talent both lyrically and vocally. It rose above the mainstream with an unpretentious grace that is perhaps unrivaled. With that said, this performance makes it seems like a watered down version of what we could have had.

I think when most of us see the truth, we are moved, but only for a moment. It is too painful to hold onto or give into. It means changing who we are. It means dealing with all the still sensitive scars. It requires us to be vulnerable, and that is somehow too great a price to pay, even for everything worthwhile.

I can't say I know Lauryn Hill, but I know that on this day of recording, she was willing to pay that price. What a shock it is to hear honesty. It's an honesty we don't even find in church without a battle. I'm not surprised it was controversial, and it seems a little comical to see the MTV logo on the package. The lyrics are completely brilliant, but the message is paramount in this humble package, and she comes simply. Dressed like she is among friends, she keeps things simple with only a guitar, but somehow even with the simple chords, it carries more power than most showboating musicians have ever come close to.

Not only is this one of the best albums I've ever heard, but I feel truly grateful for it. It's something very different.

In purchasing this, I stepped out on faith - with no track listing here on Amazon, I had no idea what I would be hearing. But being a fan of Ms. Lauryn Hill's for so many years, I took a chance on it. This is an import that was released here in the US just this year but it is actually about a year old.

Let me say this - about 90% of the tracks are not new. They are selected songs from Ms. Hill's two previous solo albums, the Fugees' CDs BLUNTED ON REALITY and THE SCORE, snippets from interviews, and various collaborations with other artists (Nas, the late, great Curtis Mayfield, Carlos Santana, Wyclef's solo work, et al). Not that there's anything wrong with that - I have to admit that some of the tracks I had not heard before. Ms. Hill does an especially moving version of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come". I have to say it's right up there with Sam's original version and the remake Aretha Franklin made in 1967. There is also a stunning rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Blame It On The Sun", sort of a precursor to what we would hear on "Killing Him Softly".

As for the "newer" material, the excellent song "Lose Myself" was a featured track in the animated movie, "Surf's Up" in 2007. Although I thought the lyrical content of the song was way too mature for this film geared towards children, the overall sound of the tune is bouncy and upbeat, which probably explains the reason why it made it onto this movie soundtrack. Why "So High" (with John Legend) never made it to the airwaves I cannot understand. It is a great song with Ms. Hill's vocals echoing richness and experience, in both her singing and rapping. Also included here is the so-called Fugees' reunion song from 2006, "Take It Easy". Even though the reunion didn't really materialize, it was kind of cool to see them back together again, if only for a minute.

Track listing:
Lauryn Hill - Intro
Lose Myself
So High (remix with John Legend)
Take It Easy
Blame It On The Sun
Final Hour
Lost Ones
Do You Like The Way
Superstar
Here But (The full title of this is "Here But I'm Gone", from Curtis Mayfield's CD NEW WORLD ORDER.)
Tell Him
The Sweetest Thing
Skit - Lauryn Hill Speaks On Hip-Hop
The Sweetest Thing (Remix)
L Boogie
Skit - Lauryn Hill Speaks on Music
Music
Cowboys (featuring Rah Digga)
How Many Emcees
Guantanamera
Soon As I Get Home
Freedom
Skit
Ex-Factor
Nothing Even Matters (featuring D'Angelo)
A Change Is Gonna Come (Live)
Lauryn Hill Speaks - The Ending

Remember, many of the tracks are snippets, so some of them only last for a minute or less.

I was surprized that a track that I had heard rumbling underground entitled "Ms. Hill" was not included here. It seems only logical that since MS. HILL is the title of this CD, it would be here.

Overall it is a good release and I don't regret buying it, although I would have liked to have a CD with all-new material. But even if Ms. Hill chooses not to go that route, her impact in the music industry has already been made on the highest of levels. The work of Ms. Hill is still relevant and sorely needed in today's music world, where vapid garbage goes to the top of the charts by so-called artists making vocal utterances about nothing. I'd rather listen to this than to hear what is being called music now.

She's Rap (Every Ghetto, Every City, Superstar), R&B (I Used To Love Him, Nothing Even Matters), Soul (Forgive Them Father) and a bit of Pop (Doo Wop (That Thing) mixed in.

I LOVED Ex-Factor but Everything Is Everything was my song back in '98. I even loved the quirky video, and Lauryn was cute in her blue and pink shirt, and that think on her head! LOL...

Cover Art: A-
Inside Art: N/A
Songwriting: A
Vocals: C
Vocal Emotion: B-
Vocal Acrobatics: C++
Production: B
Length: A-

5 stars.

Overall: A+

This is the only single that I own, and, as singles go, its not bad. The title song is very good, and my version has a live version of Ex-Factor as a B-side, which is excellent. Unfortunatley the last B-side, the instrumental of the title track is irritating, repetetive, boring and too long.

I really enjoyed listening to Lauryn Hills CD. She is very talented,a very spiritual person, she also keep it real, and she is someone that I look up to. One day I will meet her when I make it to the top. Just like Lauryn I can't stand to hang around fake people. She keeps it real all the time. Her CD is the BOMB!!! I really enjoy listening to it!!! She is a role model for all females. BYE!! Dalila Stewart

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THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL UPLIFTING CD. I LOVE THE DIFFRENT STYLE U BRING. NOTHING EVEN MATTER WITH U AND D'ANGELO IS THE BEST SONG I'VE HEARD IN A LONG TIME ALONG WITH ZION.

Great for a group of Intellectuals to drink some herbs and Truly Discuss Life and Living! Lauryn puts us up on so much game with this album- you have tyo uncover the truth of the lyrics. Remember, if you're looking 4 perfectly sung and studio recorded Ballads, look to Ashanti or Beyonce' or somebody- performers- because with this album, Lauryn has proclaimed that that is just what she is NOT- anybody's Performer!

This is not a new Lauryn Hill release. The other reviews on here are from 7 years ago. THIS IS NOT A NEW LAURYN HILL ALBUM.

Lauren's Album goes deep into your soul, especially for a woman or really anyone whose been in love, hurt in love or misunderstood in love. She knows exactly how a woman feels and she's said it all.

Her album is very good When you have problems in love, you really should listen to it. It's just great

Lauren has exceeded all her previous brilliance in this superb new album which is a wonderfully soothing and thought provoking peice.

This DVD is great, if you like Lauryn you will really enjoy it. It is only her unplugged playing her guitar. She is amazing, beautiful songs at the purest essence, a full immersion in her wonderful voice. I would highly recommend this DVD.

My favorite song on this cd is ExFactor. that song has brought a new meaning into my life. Over all this cd is my absolute favorite. I think everybody should buy it and listen. its so worth it.

I think that Lauryn Hill is hot right now! She really impressed me, especially at the awards! You go girl!!