Lauryn Hill’s live shows have been plagued with complaints about her tardiness for years, and now she has clapped back at the critics.
The Fugees rap legend addressed the controversy during her Los Angeles concert at the Kia Forum on Saturday night (November 4).
“They say, ‘Oh, she’s late’ and ‘She’s late tonight,’” Hill said matter-of-factly. “Yo, y’all are lucky I make it to this bloodclot stage every night. I leave my soul on this stage. And I don’t do it because they let me do it. I do it because I stand her in the name of God. And I know it. God is who allows me to do it.
“He surrounded me with family and community when there was no support. When the album [her 1998 solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill] sold so many records and no one showed up and said, ‘Hey, would you like to make another one… We’re survivors. Not just survivors, we’re thrivers.”
Watch the clip below.
Hill is currently on the road for an extension of her 25th Anniversary Tour for Miseducation. The tour will hit Oakland and Seattle this upcoming week.
Fans had plenty to say in response to Hill’s comments, with many subscribing to the theory that time is money.
“The lack of accountability and the religious deflection is crazy….here’s some fun little tea, did you know she has to have like 20 mirrors in her green room and no other woman can be on staff when she plays a venue,” one person wrote.
Another said: “Respect for her music And legacy but She forgets that actually the people is paying to her.”
Last month, Lauryn Hill postponed her Philadelphia show to rest her vocal cords, which angered fans.
“It is with disappointment that I am writing this note to you. On the advice of my physicians, I have no choice but to postpone the show tomorrow,” she wrote on her social media pages on October 23. “I need to rest my voice to prevent any more serious strain or damage to my vocal cords.”
The Grammy Award-winner continued: “The start of this tour has been incredible. What an amazing experience to celebrate this anniversary with all of my family, my friends, and all of you. I look forward to giving you the show you deserve with a fully recovered and healthy voice. The new date for Philadelphia will be Nov. 25. It will be a special one.”
See this is why I never go to her shows. Same with Yasiin Bey. Man I’m on a schedule and got places to be after the show. Yasiin Bey doesn’t even bother to perform and routinely cancel shows. Nah I’m good.
Without the Fugees she is just a one hit wonder. Name one non-Fugees hit song she sings besides Doo Wop, That Thing. I never fucked with concerts because I consider it borderline worship. I dont need my eyes to enjoy music, I got my ears. Crank up the speakers in the car or at home, and im good.
I’ll co-sign that she seems like an entitled piece of shit, but saying she’s a one hit wonder without the Fugees (despite her being the biggest key in the cog of their success) is a revisionist history. Ex-Factor and Everything is Everything both spent more than 20 weeks on the charts, and the album itself is a 9 or 10 on nearly every review you find. But she’s definitely an entitled asshole.
This is like some prosperity preacher flipping the theft on the paying customer! You’re lucky these idiots even show up for you! Ungrateful cvnt!
What a jackass
Hasn’t had a hit album or song in a quarter century. She’s lucky that there’s simps out there who would pay to see her perform
90% of the acts touring across every genre of music haven’t had a hit album or song in forever. Elton John and the Rolling Stones were touring as recently as this year for music they made before either of us were born.
The Rolling Stones and Elton John had countless hit songs. They didn’t quit making music in their prime, like she did. In fact, they’re all in their late 70’s and 80’s and work far more than she does. I’ve also never heard the stones or Elton show up late to shows and mock their fans about it.
Lauryn could be the greatest female emcee ever, despite only 3 albums (2 with the Fugees). But she seems like a narcissistic, entitled, spoiled bitch who looks down on others, so hard pass on giving her any money to see her. That said, if you go to her shows knowing her propensity for lateness, don’t complain when she’s late, as that’s what you signed up for.