Ms. Lauryn Hill to perform in Pittsburgh
In a career that has spanned decades, Ms. Lauryn Hill has shared her struggles and triumphs in her music.
Hill will share her music at Heinz Hill in Pittsburgh Jan. 31 as part of “The MLH Caravan: A Diaspora Calling!” concert series, which is presented with Hill along with Live Nation and global music and entertainment platform, Tidal.
Her first solo album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” bestowed upon her the distinction of being the first woman or hip-hop artist to win Five Grammy Awards.
In 1993, Hill and other members of the Fugees (which included Wyclef Jean and Prakazrel “Pras” Michael)) released their first album, “Blunted on Reality,” which had mixed reviews from critics.
In 1996, the group achieved success with the single “Killing Me Softly” from the album “The Score.” The album sold 17 million copies and made the Fugees the highest-selling rap group of all time and also secured best rap album and best R&B performance by a duo or group Grammys.
After “Miseducation,” Hill didn’t put out another record until 2002 when she did a “MTV Unplugged No. 2.0” recording of her two hour performance on the show.
Since then, her albums have been radio silent with no new releases.
In addition to her musical influence, Hill is also an an activist.
She created the organization the Refugee Camp Youth Project, which serves underprivileged urban youth and helps to raise money to send inner-city children to a summer camp in New Jersey.
According to a quote from Hill on pittsburghsymphony.org, Hill has been able to combine her musical and activist passions on this tour.
“The MLH Caravan allows me to continue the theme of unity and celebration of the many facets of cultural and artistic beauty throughout the African diaspora while on tour this summer and fall. In these days of tension, tumult and transition, an exchange of this kind can yield direction, expression, understanding and empowerment as well as connection, self love and appreciation that hopefully overflows into our respective communities,” Hill was quoted.
As part of this tour, Hill has been traveling all over the place and performing in a variety of venues.
One such location was in St. Petersburg, Florida where Jay Cridlin, pop music/culture critic for the Tampa Bay Times attended her show.
Cridlin said that despite showing up to her scheduled performance 80 minutes late, which is something she does regularly according to other reviews, she gave one heck of a performance.
“Twenty years later, we’ve still never seen anyone quite like L. Boogie. Which may be why she can get away with booking a tour with no new music, hitting the stage some 80 minutes late, remolding her signature hits until they’re virtually unrecognizable – and somehow leaving a crowd enthralled by the end,” he wrote in his review at tampabay.com.
According to Cridlin, some of the music that Hill performed included “Everything is Everything,” “Lost Ones,” “How Many Mics” “Your Love is King” and “The Sweetest Taboo.”
Hill will take the Heinz Hall stage 8 p.m. Tickets range in price from $49.50 to $125 with VIP packages also available.
More information can be found online at pittsburghsymphony.org.