Found this in the Okayplayer's forum, intersting shit that me get ya'll think 2wice about L-Boggie's condition and how FOGGY most of the thangs were mentioned in the fake ass Rolling Stone's article. This is good, read on:

A response to a recent Rolling Stone feature on Lauryn Hill
by Seth Fenn



In the October 30, 2003/issue 934 of Rolling Stone, there appears an article entitled The Mystery of Lauryn Hill. Many who know the name remember Ms. Hill (as she prefers to be called these days) as a member of the hugely popular Fugees. She later went on to record a solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which sold 12 million copies and won her numerous Grammy awards. The Rolling Stone article depicts Hill as someone whose mental state is iffy and whose behavior is becoming increasingly strange.

I’m from Wells, Maine but was in the right place at the right time. Through a series of fortuitous circumstances I became the 2nd engineer and then Ms. Hill’s production coordinator which included everything from organizing auditions, handling logistics, and managing studio inventory. I also helped her design her own personal studio and occasionally would even watch her kids.

The following is my response to the RS article.



The article that appears in the recent issue of Rolling Stone, quite frankly, pisses me off. It stretches the truth making her appear irrational and crazy. The truth is I’ve never met an artist who is perfectly sane, myself included. But this particluar article tries to stretch it a little too much. Rolling Stone says “Confidential conversations with more than twenty friends and industry figures and a lengthy interview with Pras have clarified much of what happened of the five years since her zenith.”

It’s a five page article and they can only credit one quote (to Pras, Hill’s bandmate in the Fugees). They say they’ve clarified what’s been going on as though they were in the studio while we were recording. Elsewhere in the article it goes on (gossips, really) about her relationship with Wyclef [Jean] and Rohan Marley. And even speculates about her relationship with her kids. I say this is no one’s business, and certainly has nothing to do with Ms. Hill’s music. The author does, however fail to mention that Hill is a dedicated and caring mother. I’ve watched her kids, played hide and seek with them, and even bought her son Zion a lion suit for Halloween. Her kids are beautiful and unbelievably smart. Sometimes we would record 12 hours a day, but before, during and after the session she would be with her children. Ms. Hill has an absolutely tireless work ethic. They fail to mention this. Is she so crazy to want to raise a family out of the limelight?

Rolling Stone refers to the Miseducation album and the lawsuits: I wasn’t there. But what I’ve heard from people close to Ms. Hill is that studio musicians worked on the album and added their own little touches and flavor. One of them was trying to resolve a smaller legal matter, the lawyer saw the studio musician playing on a video tape and saw him add his own idea. From there the floodgates opened and everyone jumped on the bandwagon. Normally that’s cool but get a platinum record with ill-worded contracts and people will try to take advantage of a situation and try to cash in on the royalties. Basically, add a little riff, now you’re part songwriter, and it turns into a $5 million riff! The article further says that “a lot of different people have been called down there and had strange experiences,” a reference to contracted studio musicians who were not immediately put to work. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that she was a mother of very young children at the time and well into her 4th pregnancy. It also says “sources” (there’s those sources again) say the musicians are required to “sign a waiver giving Hill sole credit for the tracks she works on.” I signed the contract myself and I am the one who physically presented the contract to the other musicians who were hired. The contract, in fact, states that Ms. Hill has the right to give credit to whomever she wants to, not that she demands sole credit. It strictly is a protection, she doesn’t want to be sued for another $15 million.

A lot was made of the Brother Anthony bible studies and the brainwashing effect on Ms. Hill. Aside from the inaccuracy of the suggested 3-times-a-week lessons (it was my job to drive Brother Anthony from the airport and I did this once a week), we’re talking bible study here! That’s it! Since when is it a bad thing, or a crazy thing to want to explore the teachings of God?! Ms. Hill is her own woman and does what she wants to do. She was not brainwashed into anything!

Compared to the Miseducation CD the MTV Unplugged session was a critical and financial failure. Okay, that’s widely accepted. (Though it was still nominated for a Grammy.) But saying that her voice was ragged and raspy during the session is unfair. That’s what the Unplugged series is all about—presenting the artist in his or her purest, most stripped down form. And one of the know-it-all sources was quoted as saying how much money Colombia lost on the recording. Let’s see…470,000 copies sold at roughly $15 a pop, artist gets about 10% (industry standard), that sounds to me like somewhere in the neighborhood of 6.3 million for the record company. Not a bad take! Y’know,it was awfully expensive to set up those two mics for the performance.

I could go on and on, but why? I’m not bashing Rolling Stone or their writers. They do have some positive things to say, as well. But this is just what I’ve experienced as someone who has been around the woman and has gotten to know her and has witnessed the process. The fact is she’s a true artist, a 21st century Bob Dylan, and a caring mother of four. She’s grown as an artist in every way: her lyrics have more depth today than much of her past work. Her guitar playing is strong, her voice is strong, the arrangements for the new material are solid, creative and organic. She is a perfectionist who just wants to take the time to do it right. Can anyone be faulted for that?

PEACE N B WiLD!!!

it may have been more effective for ms. hill to make the statements herself.

regardless, people need to stop worrying about what this woman is doing in her personal life and just wait for the next release.
[This message was edited Wed Dec 10 11:22:12 PST 2003 by imnotsayinthisjust2bnasty]

I agree...Lauryn is just living her life that way she pleases and I'll look forward to hearing her next masterpiece when it comes!

I feel you Harle - I used to get so pissed off whenever anyone would bash the unplugged CD - She's a true artist and like a "true artist" that CD was an extention of her emotions/herself and commercial value is NOT a priority. Truth is everyone isn't going to relate to everything but if you touch at least one persons spirit then you are justified, and if it ain't you empathize and respect it. I'm glad to hear she's working on some new stuff I can't wait to hear - Lauryn's always been dope to me from the 'Tranzlator crew' and on - This woman is without a doubt a very special person and if people can't see past the fact that she's human then fuck'em!

- I wonder how well the average person would deal with going through a very public divorce, being a single parent of four, and having a long private relationship suddenly publicized?

I'm sorry for not having pity for these rich, spoiled artist. When these artist had no deal and no record company they would do anything "to get put on". When they were hungry and their music reflected that. There music was full of passion and life. When they sell millions of records they lose focus and start doing dumb stuff. When its time to push any album or sell records they do all kinds of articles, interviews and jump in front of every camera they can find. Then when people crave for more news, info or whatever, these people scream for privacy. Once you beg people to buy your albums, write all your personal business in your songs, everything else is fair game.

As for the Unplugged crap; Her performance live, raw or "stripped down" is nothing compared to India Irie. (however you spell her name) And it is manly because of Lauryn why artist like her even got signed in the first place. So to see Ms. Hill strum the same chords over and over, and to listen tired songs from a lazy artist is no excuse.

Yeah its hard to produce great music all the time, but don't try to pull the wool over my eyes. She acts like she hates the music biz and tries to act like some superior artist; I'll bet anything she has no problems cashing those checks for that "stripped crap".

Bottom line; Give me music, not some bullshit song and dance. If your in it, do it. If not, get the hell out and raise Zion and the others.

Yeah I said it, and what!!!