more of this message needs to be done from artists...

Folks weren't ready for that album. They got distracted by the raspy voice, repetitive guitar playing style and god knows what else.

Its def one of my fave albums, and she was throwing down bricks after bricks, lyrically.

I'm glad you love that song. I like certain elements of it but I didn't like it as much as some of the others. I have a serious love / hate relationship with Lauryn, excuse me, "Ms. Hill" Although it was a big risk and its unwelcomed response probably contributed some to her self-imposed exile from the industry, I liked it overall.

My faves were: Mr. Intentional, Adam Lives in Theory, Mystery of Iniquity, Peace of Mind, and I think War of the Mind as far as I can remember. Its been a minute since I visited this one. These songs could've been fleshed out with some real musicians and become much more accessible. The content provoked thoughts that public wasn't trying to hear and still isn't trying to hear. It was considered "deep" by the average listener.

I agree with Harlepolis on "distracted by the raspy voice, repetitive guitar playing style and god knows what else.

I get angry when I think about her potential and talent. Such a freakin shame. I know she doesn't owe us anything. I just sayin....damn.

Considering all of her problems, I definitely dug the album and performances she gave. "I Get Out" definitely is a gem to me.

Musicslave said:

I agree with Harlepolis on "distracted by the raspy voice, repetitive guitar playing style and god knows what else.

I get angry when I think about her potential and talent. Such a freakin shame. I know she doesn't owe us anything. I just sayin....damn.

Ya know, I'm kinda conflicted about Ms.Hill as well, but I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Her lyrics alone are big indications of how much of a vulnerable person she is, the whole "Ms.Hill" persona is just a hard exterior, but she does wear her heart on her sleeve like the rest of us, and sometimes even more than some of us.

I came to terms why she won't produce music as much as we'd like her to, given how this industry is severely infested with mind games, I don't think people like her have the stomach to put up a facade and act like they could take it in stride.

I wish she was stronger than that, but then again, thats human for you.

[Edited 3/25/11 12:08pm]

Harlepolis said:

Musicslave said:

I agree with Harlepolis on "distracted by the raspy voice, repetitive guitar playing style and god knows what else.

I get angry when I think about her potential and talent. Such a freakin shame. I know she doesn't owe us anything. I just sayin....damn.

Ya know, I'm kinda conflicted about Ms.Hill as well, but I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Her lyrics alone are big indications of how much of a vulnerable person she is, the whole "Ms.Hill" persona is just a hard exterior that she does her hear on her sleeve like the rest of us, and sometimes even more.

I came to terms why she won't produce music as much as we'd like her to, given how this industry is severely infested with mind games, I don't think people like her have the stomach to put up a facade and act like they could take it in stride.

I wish she was stronger than that, but then again, thats human for you.

Well damn....that was very insightful of you. Yeah, me too.

Harlepolis said:

Folks weren't ready for that album. They got distracted by the raspy voice, repetitive guitar playing style and god knows what else.

Its def one of my fave albums, and she was throwing down bricks after bricks, lyrically.

Graycap23 said:

Harlepolis said:

Folks weren't ready for that album. They got distracted by the raspy voice, repetitive guitar playing style and god knows what else.

Its def one of my fave albums, and she was throwing down bricks after bricks, lyrically.

Hush

great points made by all here in this thread... this album is actually my favourite of hers, due to the bare qualities, the vulnerability of it. we're so infested with darkness in this industry, and these songs were working to present light. and yeah, people weren't trying to hear it. people were focused on her 'personal dramas', or always want her to do a rehash of 'miseducation'. artists are rarely allowed to grow, or share important messages like the ones on the 'unplugged' album.

i wonder if her 'erratic' behavior' these past few years is a result of what the industry did to her. she went off, had five kids (with a marley who was already married); and now she's showing up 1-3 hours late for shows and acting surly. maybe i'm going out on a limb here, but knowing artists are human too, we need to not expect so much from them to the point where they burn out... we need to care for them and their feelings too. and we, like family, need to call them out on things, with love, insted of worshipping them to the point where we think they are perfect. and when they do certain things we then say they are 'crazy'. there are a number of 'free spirits' (michael, bill withers, prince, lauryn hill, etc.) who have either dropped out or had a strong reaction to what the industry did to them.

i really do wonder (and worry) about lauryn (or ms. hill)... she needs a big hug. she actually is coming to portland in a few weeks. i'm not paying $114 to see her though. that's too much to see MAYBE two hours of a show, with the POSSIBILITY of her being late. if she did a lot of the songs with the theme of 'i get out' though, i'd strongly consider going to see her. but i know that's not what a lot of people want to see.