Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Lauryn Hill was the head singer of the hip-hop group Fugees. The group consisted of Lauryn Hill and her friends Wyclef Jean and Prakazrel (Pras) Michel who were Haitian immigrants. Together, they made the album The Score which became one of the most successful hip-hop albums of all time. Over 17 million copies of the album have been sold worldwide. Many of the lyrics of their songs covered important topics such as sexism, racism and police brutality. The group had a big impact on hip-hop and brought the genre to a mainstream audience in America.
Lauryn Hill acts as an important feminist figure for many young women. She broke the boundaries of rap, becoming a popular female black artist and inspiring many to follow in her footsteps. It was controversial when she decided to have a child at the height of her career, with many calling it a mistake. However with this decision she redefined motherhood and solidified the right of women to make their own choices based on their own happiness. She continued to write songs after her son's birth, showing the world that motherhood and career can coexist and that her decision was the right one for herself.
This solo album by Lauryn Hill won five Grammy Awards in 1999. The album focused a lot on the topic of love, with Hill's lyrics placed between dialogue skits of children defining love in a classroom setting. This album was also unique for Hill's blending of different genres as she combined reggae with hip-hop or included elements of gospel. Hill's purpose with this album was education, to teach her listeners to love themselves and develop loving relationships. Overall, this album established Lauryn Hill as a defining artist for the time and ensured her name would be repeated for years to come.