Triumph & Tragedy When Born Ahead Of Your Time: Why Lauryn Hill Never
Made Another Album After Timeless ‘Miseducation’!
“It’s been almost 23 years since Lauryn Hill released her beloved, Grammy-winning The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album, which features classics like “Ex-Factor,” “Doo Wop (That
Thing),” and her breezy take on Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off
You.”However, besides a live 2002 MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 project, the icon never
released another studio album, much to the dismay of fans. In a new email
interview for Rolling Stone‘s “500 Greatest Albums” podcast on Amazon Music, the star revealed why. “The wild thing is no
one from my label has ever called me and asked how can we help you make
another album, EVER…EVER. Did I say ever? Ever!” she explained.“With the Miseducation, there was
no precedent. I was, for the most part, free to explore, experiment and
express,” she continued. “After the Miseducation, there were scores of tentacled obstructionists, politics, repressing
agendas, unrealistic expectations, and saboteurs EVERYWHERE. People had
included me in their own narratives of THEIR successes as it pertained to my
album, and if this contradicted my experience, I was considered an enemy.”On the album’s legacy, Hill shared that she’s “always been pretty critical of
myself artistically, so of course there are things I hear that could have been
done differently but the LOVE in the album, the passion, it’s intention is to
me, undeniable.”“I think my intention was simply to make something that made my foremothers
and forefathers in music and social and political struggle know that someone
received what they’d sacrificed to give us, and to let my peers know that we
could walk in that truth, proudly and confidently,” she added. “At that
time, I felt like it was a duty or responsibility to do so. … I challenged the
norm and introduced a new standard. I believe the Miseducation did that and I believe I still do this–defy convention when the
convention is questionable.”Miseducation hit No. 10 on Rolling Stone‘s “500 Greatest Albums” list. Listen to the podcast here.” – Billboard
