Shout Out: For My Friends Who Just Don’t Get It



One day I was talking to a friend about how I want to go to another Lauryn Hill concert. This friend who already knows of my huge admiration for Lauryn Hill suddenly interrupts me and asks, “…why do you like her so much?? i mean i guess she was cool in the 90’s but i just don’t get it. i mean she ain’t all that. i liked that one ex-factor song…some of those Fugee songs, but she wasn’t ALL that to ME. why are you so into her??”

Now, this wasn’t the first time a friend looked at me sideways when I’ve expressed my love for Ms. Hill. It’s usually from friends of mine who either “hate” rap music. or will listen to “pop radio hip hop” only.

But naturally I was like, “damn this question again??” So I quickly tried to think of a way to explain myself. Then i said:

I’m not the only person who feels the way I do. Even though she hasnt been “popular” for a long time she still has a huge following because Lauryn Hill is a different kind of musician. If you’re a person who isnt a fan nor really into her music, you’re not gonna understand that she is more than some chick who sings. she’s more than another rapper. Her music is very conscious, socially aware and SHE STANDS FOR SOMETHING.

She puts these things into her songs and when people give her music a REAL listen or when they hear her speak, her intelligence really shines through. Her albums with The Fugees (THE SCORE & BLUNTED ON REALITY) along with her solo albums (THE MISEDUCATION & MTV UNPLUGGED) are full of great material. Especially back in the 90’s she was the only female rapper that was like that. She was just different and a positive role model for young black girls back then.

She has a rebellious kind of spirit and her music makes me feel good when I listen to it. So I think that’s prolly why you don’t get it. It’s kind of like how people felt about Bob Marley or those folk singers from back in the 60’s n 70’s. Yes i understand that the genres are very different but these ppl had positive messages in their music. She says some real stuff. Her music touches me in a way and I feel like there should be more artists like her in hip hop music :-)

My friend then said, “well yea. I guess I wouldn’t know all that cuz I never really got into her stuff. only a few songs. that’s pretty cool”

LOL shout out to my friends who just dont get it…