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Preview Tue Jan 18 2011
Lauryn Hill @ House Of Blues, 1/20
Ever since her debut with the Fugees in 1993, there have been two distinct ways the public has viewed Lauryn Hill. For the first part of her career, she was seen as a driving force in the hip-hop community. With her intelligent rhymes, intense delivery and excellent singing voice, she represented something exciting and fresh. Ever since 2001, Hill has been portrayed as inconsistent performer, showing up to shows with incredible lateness and performing unrecognizable versions of her songs.
In 1996, Hill and The Fugees released The Score, featuring hit remakes of Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry" and Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly With His Song." In 1998 Hill released her solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The hit single "Doo Wop (That Thing)" went to #1 on the pop charts and won a Grammy for album of the year.
2001 marked the release of her live MTV Unplugged album, which was full of erratic ramblings and unfinished songs. Since then, Hill has mostly been absent from the live scene except for a handful of shows with the Fugees and a few solo gigs.
In an interview last summer with National Public Radio, Hill explained her lack of live performances.
"Partly, the support system that I needed was not necessarily in place," she said. "There were things about myself, things that I need to go through and experience in order for me to feel like it was worth it."
Hill is currently on a 17-date tour that includes a stop at House of Blues Chicago on January 20. The show is scheduled to begin at 11 PM, but with Hill's notorious tardiness, the start time is uncertain. Tickets are sold out, but can be found through a variety of online vendors. House of Blues is located at 329 N. Dearborn St.
