It has been over a decade since The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill took hip hop music to another level. Before that point in time, the world had never experienced a voice quite like Lauryn Hill. Her presence is powerful, her words are outspoken, and her lyrics are potent. The roster of female MCs in hip hop is limited. MC Lyte and Queen Latifah were some of the pioneers, but Lauryn “L Boogie” Hill is my choice for the greatest female MC of all time in hip hop.
Hip hop is an aggressive and critical culture dominated by mostly males. The few females that were able to break through barriers either relied on their personal sex appeal to attract an audience or hid behind a persona that resembled their male counterparts. Lauryn Hill bypassed all expectations and ventured into her own path. Lauryn only wanted to express herself and did not care whether people were willing to listen. She poured herself into her art and people were able to connect with her. Lauryn’s image remained elegant, classy and respectable. She delivered positive and meaningful rhymes in all her songs well before Kanye West was a College Dropout. The result brought her worldwide recognition beyond her own wishes. Nobody could deny her ability when The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill prevailed over the 1999 Grammys. L Boogie took home the much coveted Album of the Year award, an accomplishment that still remains difficult even for the greatest male MCs in hip hop today.
Whether L Boogie was rapping or singing, her words always contained substance. She was aggressive on the mic. She inspired thought and commanded respect. After only hearing the first verses of “Lost Ones” and “Final Hour” on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, fans of hip hop can already see that Lauryn is a force to be reckoned with. Every verse is thoughtfully put together with intricate rhymes and every line serves to convey a message to the listener. My favorite line comes from “Superstar”: “And if your rhyme sound like mine, I’m taking a percentage/I’m unprecedented, and still respected when its finished.” These words accurately sum up the essence of Lauryn Hill as an artist.
Many artists spend a lifetime releasing multiple volumes of music, but never come close to crafting a classic. Craig Mack once told his adversaries, “Your whole album couldn’t fuck with one line”. Lauryn graced us with only a few verses, but it is hard to find another album from a female MC that is comparable. She chose to withdraw from the distress that comes with fame at the peak of her career. Just as Kurt Cobain revolutionized the grunge movement before his untimely death, Lauryn cemented herself as a leader in the hip hop world. Lauryn, I believe that you never stopped creating music or writing lyrics because you are a true artist and will always want to express your emotions in your art. Maybe one day you will choose to share with the world once again. Until that day comes Lauryn, we miss you.
Amen.