We’re still not officially calling it a comeback, but it’s nice to hear something completely “new” from Lauryn Hill. While most of the world mostly concurs that “Repercussions” is an outtake from 1998’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the track is still enough to get fans of the über-reclusive songstress/rap-phenom smiling from ear to ear. Hell, it might even get Irv Gotti to shut up.
The nearly three-minute track features Hill singing over twinkling piano and what almost sound like live percussion, and while lyrics like about being born into a racist world, describing the difficult process as a matter of perception, and declaring that what goes around comes back around, are classic L-Boogie, the world would be glad to know that motherhood has been good to the seemingly-hardened heart of Ms. Hill. After her recent Harmony Festival performance, NPR’s Zoe Chace asked the 35-year-old mother of five to explain why it’s been 12 years since the world has seen an album from her. Hill’s answer was both practical and idealistic.
She explained that at two-years-old, her “youngest is old enough that I can leave her for a period of time and she’s going to be okay,” adding that her absence was due in part to a hostile record industry. “There were personal growth things that I had to go through in order to feel like [putting out music] was worth it,” she said. “In fact, as musicians and artists, it’s important that was have an industry that really nurtures these gifts. Oftentimes the machine can overlook the need to take care of the people who produce the sounds that have a lot to do with the health and well-being to at least some aspect of society.”
She wouldn’t confirm or deny a new album, but Hill added that she grew up singing along with male singers like Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, and Jackie Wilson, and is trying to open up her range and sing more. “With The Fugees initially, and even with Miseducation, it was very hip-hop – always singing over beats,” she said, “So if I do record again, perhaps it will have an expanded context where people can hear a bit more.”
We’ll keep our fingers crossed, but until then check out “Repercussions” below and catch L-Boogie at one of the Rock the Bells dates below. Tickets are available via TicketFly or Ticketmaster.com.
Rock the Bells 2010:
08/21 – Los Angeles, CA @ NOS Events Center
08/22 – San Francisco, CA @ Shorline Ampitheatre
08/28 – New York, NY @ Governors Island
08/29 – Washington, DC @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
Image via Brendon Thome/Getty Images
