*Lauryn Hill says she took a lot of “abuse” during her experience as a member of the Fugees and refers to the group as “a conspiracy to control, to manipulate and to encourage dependence,” in the new issue of Trace magazine, due on newsstands July 14 (scroll down for photos).


As part of the publication’s annual “Black Girls Rule” issue, the reclusive superstar, who appears on the cover, speaks candidly about her misery as a Fugee, her early affection for group member Wyclef Jean and discomfort with the fame that followed her Grammy-winning solo album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”

Here are a few excerpts from the Trace article:

On stardom:

• I enjoyed the elation, and seeing the audience happy and fulfilled, and being a star was a natural progression. You go from being a very popular kid to being a very popular person, publicly. I was always extremely popular as a kid, but as a young woman I didn’t understand that dynamic. I made music out of love, and then I got a reaction, a big reaction, and it wasn¹t healthy because I ended up pleasing other people who were dysfunctional.

On the Fugees:

• I was impressed with Clef¹s discipline with the instrumentation. There were no black guys I knew who played the guitar like that. I saw a spark in Wyclef that was extremely attractive at the time.

• I took a lot of abuse that many people would not have taken in these circumstances. I cannot blame others, because I can see that a lot of relationships are analogous, but I didn’t realize what was going on until it was too late. I had become used to improper dynamics, where people would transfer their hatred on someone else, thereby making a beautiful person ugly. I was young, gifted and black in a world where you’re not supposed to know so much, and that brought out the hatred of others.

On “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”:

• People felt that they were entitled to touch me, that they were entitled to a certain type of greeting. I literally had to reeducate people. You have to remember that I had been through a tumultuous relationship, a painful relationship, and I was still hurting, and I hadn¹t healed. You will find that insecure women have a tendency to attract insecure men.

On hip hop:

• Hip hop was a folk expression, and changed unapologetically, and didn’t ask for permission from corporate sponsors on what it was going to do next. That’s why it was exciting. Hip hop was born out of black people who had something to say. Hip hop used to have an air of exclusivity, of intimacy, of relevance, and that it's lost. Hip hop has been sold to convenience.





P.S. I the 'Kim Fields' wig!

she looks like oprah with the white shirt on. man i missed lauryn, very smart and articulat lady. i hope they work it out.

I don't care what anybody says but I love her acoustic album...even if it was the same three cords she kept playing. Lyrically, it was ballsy...yes a bit odd here and there but that's what's appealing to me about it...

anywho...where is her next record?

C'mon, Lauryn, come back and make music worthwhile again.

VoicesCarry said:

yeah she is sorely missed.

TheResistor said:

Right on

She really took it "left" with that album(concept-wise, lyrically and musically).

The subjects she tackled in that album WOKE UP alot of nerves.

Fantasy is what people want, but reality is what they need!

Leauryn Hill, MTV Unplugged 2002

I miss the Fugees.

When the Fugees opened the BET Awards, I was on Cloud 9. I never thought Id see them peform together ever again and to know that there is a new record that they are working on makes me even more excited.

Isn't her solo album the next release???

• I took a lot of abuse that many people would not have taken in these circumstances. I cannot blame others, because I can see that a lot of relationships are analogous, but I didn’t realize what was going on until it was too late. I had become used to improper dynamics, where people would transfer their hatred on someone else, thereby making a beautiful person ugly. I was young, gifted and black in a world where you’re not supposed to know so much, and that brought out the hatred of others.


People sure do know how to kill a person's charm. I loved her back in the day. Her and Amel Larrieux were my role models back in 95'/96'. Lauryn had this feminist yet sweet appeal. A girl who could hang with the guys but didn't deny the fact she was a girl. All she wanted to do was share what was in her heart. But people got jealous of her talent. Now that wide eyed spark she used to have has been shot. People with honest hearts always get done in.

i see a lot of Sinead O'Conner in Hill....


but that whole "popular" statement should have never been said..made Hill sound really really childish..

wow,i missed her-im gonna have 2 get that...

sosgemini said:

...and (to an extent) racist a little bit!

Let us not forget that THIS is the same Lauryn Hill that wished that a lot of white people would have never brought her solo albums.

I already understood Lauryn's arguement about the negatives of crossover pop success. But because of her poor choices of words at that time, she gave me the wrong impression that she was an selfish, unthankful, racist pompous ass!

Nonetheless, time does help heal wounds. So I wish Lauryn & The Fugees the very best in their comeback attempt.

Harlepolis said:

I love the fact that you made the reference! Not "Tottie" but Kim Fields from "Living Single"! I miss her...Kim Fields, I mean. I guess Lauryn Hhill isn't bad either...

Ok...but when will her new album be released?! Why doesn't she ever give a release date?

Rumor has it that it will be a 2-CD set titled "Conquering The Lion".

That blue dress is horrid.

so let's see her save hip-hop....i'm sick of people complaining about hip-hop.....most of it has always been about the $$.....and yeah she proved she wasn't into making $$ when she made that horrendous acoustic album that sounded like nails on a chalkboard compared to 'Miseducation'.....she annoys me and is all talk

TonyVanDam said:

I don't agree with either one of you-

First POPULARITY isn't something you furnish yourself- it just means you have certain qualities that attract people and draw them in - I'm very shy and sometimes alot of attention makes me uncomfortable (ex: when I get a new hair style , I may get alot of compliments) I just say thank you and smile but inside I'm very uncomfortable but that doesn't mean I'm not very appreciative - just uncomfortable-- I don't think that makes me or Lauryn childish.

Second: I definitely don't think she was being racist however, the same thing occured when Outkast gained mainstream attention with their last album Andre' wasn't very happy because he didn't want people to think they were pop artist and Outkast DIDN'T start with Stankonia their music carries a deeper message and their musical history goes way before, REAL members of the Hip Hop community are scared to death of what POP may do to Hip Hop -- alot of white people never payed attention to rap at all before Eminem and that's a blessing and a curse - I say more of a curse because America has a nasty habit of getting really carried away with something and then giving it so much that the public becomes sick of it and immdiately turns against it (ex. disco, micheal jackson, reality TV) and we don't want the REALNESS to be taken away from this artform - that was probably her point of view as well, and she didn't express it correctly, but I definitely knew what she meant.
[Edited 7/8/05 9:05am]

SweetKreme said:

its not the statement that makes her look childish..if she had expressed herself in the same fashion as you just did then it would have been fine..but she didnt, and she came off childish..

TonyVanDam said:

Hot diggity damn

Its a wonder how folks STRONGLY grap on to bullshit(and mind you, after a loooong ass time)

SweetKreme said:

I already understood the first point. But again, Lauryn's poor choices of words really rub some of her white fans the wrong. And forget about being childish, those mistaken made Lauryn look a little unprofessional. Instead of wasting her time feeling sorry for herself, Lauryn should have been grateful that ANYONE was buying her music in general!!!

And please read this carefully concering your second point:

A) In hip-hop or life in general, "keep it real" really means being true to yourself. No one should have to be anything in life but themselves.

B) There were already a lot of white people listening to mainstream & underground hip-hop/rap LONG BEFORE Eminem. So far, they count for 70-80% hip-hop records sales!

C) Some members of the hip-hop communities have always concern about their artists crossover to the mainstream. They take one look at The Black Eyed Peas and scream!!!

(BTW, I still like BEP. But a lot of their old fans think will.i.am made a mistake in changing his production sound. But that's another story....)

Harlepolis said:

BTW, I know Lauryn was never racist. Again, it was her poor choice of words.

TonyVanDam said:

Regardless, dahling!

If thats how she feels, thats how she feels basically wrong choice of words or right.

TonyVanDam said:

Oh boy here we go!

A) I know it's popular "BLACK" phrase but I NEVER said "Keep it real" OK -- I SAID [REAL MEMBERS OF THE HIP HOP COMMUNITY] I know EXACTLY what "Keeping it real means" Thanks for trying to enlighten me! (sarcasm)

B) Alot of White people may have been listening (of course) but not as many as it is now and I need a source for that 70-80% statistic (I don't belive you it just doesn't seem realisitic)

C) YES YES YES I scream at Black Eyed Peas now -- I think the first album was very promising now I can't stomach them (glad to see other people agree with me)

I know we're never gonna see eye to eye on this and really don't care to go back and forth so if you have something else to say fine - however, I won't be responding- nice debate though, thanks!

SweetKreme said:

-----
All this and no comment on this comment.

"• I was impressed with Clef¹s discipline with the instrumentation. There were no black guys I knew who played the guitar like that. I saw a spark in Wyclef that was extremely attractive at the time. "

Lauren must not get out much. I think she was just impressed with Clef period.

I'm glad she's slowly coming out of her headcase-ness. She had a chance to really blow up, especially when she was asked by Drew Barrymore herself to play the Angel that Lucy Lu ended up playing. Let's hope she doesn't let anyone else fuck her head up.

SweetKreme said:

Sorry for the misunderstanding in advance.

A) I was speaking in general (not just to you or the hip-hop communities alone).

B) The stats are correction based on the age range on music fans (ages 14-29).

C) A lot of people in prince.org agrees with you; BEP has sold out!!!