Lauryn Hill – ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’
Given how old language is and how easy it is for us to communicate with one another, you would think that we have a definition for every word in the world, and yet, love remains elusive. Sure, the dictionary might coin some blasé term that encapsulates it, but as humans who know and have felt love, we know it runs much deeper than words on paper. It resonates on a profound level and can only be felt internally. Any attempts to vocalise the feeling in a way that resonates universally have been poorly executed; however, Lauryn Hill might have just got it right on her album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
The accolades of this album speak for themselves. It remains the only studio album that Hill made as a solo artist and completely swept the Grammys; however, even with time, it remains one of the strongest interpretations of love ever committed to music. So, what is it about this record that continues to speak to people?
It defines the concept of love better than any other romantic work of art has done. Setting the opening seconds of the album inside the classroom sets the tone for the rest of the album. The idea of being able to educate people on love is set in motion, and the variety of ideas thrown out by the children within the span of 30 seconds shows just how deep the record goes. We’ve hardly scratched the surface, and we already have a lot to think about, so where do we go from here?
Hill, rather than focus on one singular branch of love, acknowledges the different forms that it comes in and writes about each of them in a way that evokes strong feelings. We begin with ‘Lost Ones’, a braggadocious track that lets a former lover know how much they are missing out. She also writes about lust in the classic song ‘Doo Wop (That Thing)’, and she pines over an ex on ‘Ex-Factor’.
A few things stand out about the album. The first is Hill’s performance. She had already had great success with The Fugees, and while fans of the trio liked the collective, it didn’t take a genius to pinpoint Hill as the star. On songs like ‘Ready or Not’ and ‘Killing Me Softly With His Song’, audiences were encapsulated by her rapping and singing ability. It still gives listeners goosebumps, which directly translates to Hill’s solo work.
The depth of the songs also made for a huge standout. When she spoke about different branches of love, she wasn’t just acknowledging the fact that they existed but showed an in-depth and mature understanding of them. Hill could do what some artists try to convey in an entire record in three minutes, which came from her dynamic vocals and lyrical ability. It really is something to behold.
One of the most noteworthy moments on the album, however, came from the track ‘To Zion’, which spoke about the love a mother has for her children. The track was equal parts defiant and beautiful, as it discussed one of the most important aspects of love in the world, and it did so during a period when people were made to look down on single black mothers. This wasn’t just a social stigma, either; it was a kneejerk reaction that people had to rules imposed by government officials.
Following the exposure of his affair with Monica Lewinsky, Bill Clinton scattered in a bid to try and get re-elected, which meant passing bogus acts which looked like they were taking action but were, in fact, discriminatory. One of these was The Three Strikes Bill, which drew a line between the drugs powdered crack and cocaine. Despite the two being almost chemically identical, the length of sentences imposed on those found dealing were hugely different.
The Three Strikes Bill did what it said. If someone was found dealing drugs three times, regardless of the quantity or that person’s circumstances, they were given elongated prison sentences that were often completely unreasonable. This impacted a lot of black men who dealt powdered crack in small quantities and were jailed for decades. It led to a lot of black women raising their children on their own.
Meanwhile, single black mothers were criminalised. Not literally, but another law imposed by a desperate Clinton administration was the Welfare to Work Bill, which said poverty was the result of cultural behaviour. They said the government had become a victim of fraud, which was caused by black women who refused to work and had a lot of kids in a bid to get aid. It cut how much women were entitled to claim and made it incredibly different to be a single black mother.
‘To Zion’ was a song of rebellion. Lauryn Hill, a single black Mother, wrote this song not only as an ode to her children and how much she loves them but also to other black women who found themselves single mothers and victims of an oppressive system. It is a truly gorgeous song that shows Hill’s creative prowess and bravery as an artist.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a timeless album that defines love better than any other piece of art, including its bad, good, and controversial sides. The record remains a classic for good reason, and Hill’s ability as an artist can never be understated.
