Music’s living legend, Lauryn Hill responded to Jazz musician, Robert Glasper’s claims of diva behavior, music theft, and unworthiness. Robert Glasper, a respected musician, took to 97.9 The Box, to assassinate Lauryn Hill’s character from an experience he had with her 10 years ago.
I’m confused as to why such a principled musician, who thought I ‘stole’ from his friends, would show up to work for me anyway – Ms. Hill
Robert Glasper claimed Lauryn Hill stole her lyrics and music from his friends during The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill album. Robert also claimed Lauryn disrespects musicians, doesn’t allow them to look her in the eye, cuts pay, and tried to audition him, even though he felt he was above auditioning due to his success in Jazz music.
Robert’s claims shocked millions of Lauryn’s fans and confused millions more especially considering the randomness of Robert’s public disdain for Lauryn.
ROBERT GLASPER’S RESPONSE “THIS IS ACCURATE” CLICK HERE
It’s been decades since Ms. Hill did an interview, which she points out in her lengthy, worthy response to Robert Glasper’s unfounded, undocumented, highly opinionated claims against Lauryn Hill. Ms. Hill delivered an intellectual, witty, justified response not only to Robert, but to claims that she hates white people.
“And just to clear up an old urban legend that somehow people still believe, I do not hate white people. I do, however, despise a system of entitlement and oppression set up to exploit people who are different.” – Ms. Hill
Robert’s baseless claims, which Lauryn Hill calls; “the arrogance of presumption”, especially in comparison to, as he says; “Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, and Herbie Hancock” are riddled with sexism, and hubris. If Lauryn Hill was a Man, would his reaction be the same?
Lauryn Hill On “Stealing Music”: [truncated]
“You may be able to make suggestions, but you can’t write FOR me…No decisions are made without me. I hire master builders and masterful artisans and technicians who play beautifully, lend their technical expertise, and who translate the language that I provide into beautifully realized music….”
“The Miseducation was the first time I worked with musicians outside of the Fugees who’s report and working relationship was clear. In an effort to create the same level of comfort, I may not have established the necessary boundaries and may have been more inviting than I should have been….I may have been inclusive, but these are my songs.”
“I am paying for a service, and looking for something SPECIFIC, which isn’t up to someone else’s interpretation or opinion. I have my own idea of what works for me. That shouldn’t offend.”
Lauryn Hill On Musician Treatment:
“No idea why any musician would have had knowledge of what I was being paid, not sure what he’s saying is accurate. Don’t have the details or recollection of cutting the band’s pay in half. If fees had been negotiated and confirmed without my knowledge, I may have asked for them to be adjusted. But I would never just cut a musician’s pay arbitrarily unless I had a legitimate reason. There are artists who do cut pay though, James Brown was notorious for docking musicians if they did something he didn’t like, I’m sure there are others…..
When you’re a popular artist or public figure, people can sometimes forget that you’re hiring them to perform a service, and that you’re not the one there to entertain THEM. I didn’t scream or yell. Maybe I didn’t provide the experience that a musician may have wanted or expected during that time, but I was straight-forward, direct, and about the business at hand…..
No matter how incredible the musicians who play with me are, MY name is on the marquee. The expectation to make it all come together is on me. The risk and the financial losses are on me. Hence, MY VIBE, though not the only consideration, is the priority….
Perhaps my seriousness and militancy in the face of tremendous resistance was misinterpreted as meanness, or that I was unloving or uncaring, when my true intent was to protect. I wouldn’t be the first Black person accused of this. I don’t think of Harriet Tubman’s skills as those of a hostess, but rather her relentless dedication to helping people who wanted out of an oppressive paradigm…..”
During Robert’s interview, on 97.9, he devalued Lauryn Hill by claiming; “you haven’t done enough, NOT to be cool…You haven’t done enough to be the way you are. You just have not. The one thing you did that was great, you didn’t do” as if those who are exceptionally successful (which Lauryn is) gets a pass to disrespect musicians, and as if Lauryn’s groundbreaking worthiness isn’t worthy enough for him to receive anything less than praise, and five star treatment, vs being hired as the piano player he is.
As a singer-songwriter/musician myself, I know first hand what it feels like to be treated as a musician, I have horror stories, but as a singer I also know many musicians who feel like they are the bread and butter of your existence and you need them, or else you’ll parish. A musician’s ego is the number one reason they do not work.
Lauryn Hill’s Response To Robert Devaluing Her Worthiness:
“Who are you to say I didn’t do enough? Most people are probably just hearing your name for the first time because you dropped MINE in an interview, controversially. Taking nothing away from your talent, but this is a fact.
The Miseducation was my only solo studio album, but it certainly wasn’t the only good thing I did.
I was also a member of the Fugees, another groundbreaking, multi-platinum selling group, who bridged social and cultural gaps, and were ambassadors of hip-hop all around this planet. We laid important groundwork upon which an entire generation of artists and musicians still stand. We broke through conventions and challenged limited world views every time we played.
The song To Zion gave encouragement to women during challenging pregnancies. There are children who were given a chance at life because their Mothers experienced moral and emotional support through this song.
What about the image of Black women in hip hop? When exposure and sexualization of the Black female body was the standard, SOMEONE stood up and represented a different image entirely, giving a generation of young women options and alternatives of self-representation. #AMNESIA
And let’s not forget that I am a mother of 6
Not only have I been instrumental in pushing forward the culture of live music in hip-hop for decades now, but I’ve been traveling with and employing a large band for many years, despite the economic challenges in doing so. Others have followed in my footsteps, seeing the value of live music.
Show me an artist working now who hasn’t been directly influenced by the work I put in, and I’ll show you an artist who’s been influenced by an artist who was directly influenced by the work that I put in. I was and continue to be a door opener, even if the blind don’t see it, and the prideful are too proud to admit it. I lived this, you watched this and heard about it.”
Recently Nicki Minaj went public about similar things said and done to her by people in the entertainment industry, and in news media. Black Women, especially famous Black Women, are often publicly questioned by Men (particularly Black Men) about their talent, successes, business sense, and worthiness. Black Women are often told to shut up, or are often seen as rude, bitchy divas, when they are not submitting to the futile patriarchy that expects women to be submissive, well kept, speaking when spoken to, subservient to men, and “humble” which is often used to undermine the nature of a Woman’s inevitable passionate expression.
Lauryn Hill has not publicly addressed rumors, speculations, and gossip about herself in over 20 years, but as she puts it;
“People can sometimes confuse kindness for weakness, and silence for weakness as well. When this happens, I have to speak up.” – Ms. Hill
Even though Lauryn’s eloquent open letter is one of the most classist, intellectual responses to public claims of a celebrity that we’ve seen, in this patriarchy people are already telling Lauryn to shut up. I suppose there is no difference from what Nicki Minaj is doing, and what Lauryn Hill is doing, defending yourself, male or female, as no right or wrong approach, the only wrong thing to do is stay quiet!
Lauryn Hill On Musicians Unable To Look Her In The Eye:
“I never told anyone not to look me in the eye, that may have been something someone said assuming what I wanted. However, I would understand why an artist would say that. It’s about reaching a level of vulnerability while making or playing your art, and not wanting to worry about being examined while you’re in that process.
There are plenty of people, I’m sure, who THINK they know me. This can happen when you do anything that people Love or feel they can relate to….”
Lauryn Hill On Why Workers Must Call Her Ms. Hill
“And yes, Ms. Hill was absolutely a requirement. I was young, Black and female. Not everyone can work for and give the appropriate respect to a person in that package and in charge. It was important, especially then, for that to be revealed early.
I adore Stevie, and honor Herbie and Quincy, who are our forebears, but they’re not women. Men often can say ‘I want it done like this’ and not be challenged. The same rules don’t always apply for women who may be met with resistance. When this happens you replace that player with someone who respects you and the office you hold.”
During the interview, Robert shared he felt disrespected that Lauryn Hill asked him to audition. Robert claims he stopped working with Lauryn due to lack of respect, and felt if she wanted to “audition him” she could listen to his number one Jazz Album. This was Lauryn’s response;
Auditioning, btw, may have nothing to do with how good a musician is. If a musician isn’t accomplished, he or she wouldn’t have been called. An audition or meeting could be about whether we vibe well, whether they understood my particular musical vernacular or direction at the time. I could have a jazz beast on keys, who couldn’t necessarily play reggae or some other musical style I also incorporated into my performances.
’Im attracted to musicians that are open and excited to try new things. When people think they already know what needs to be known, and aren’t interested in exploring what I’m into, that’s fine, but it doesn’t work for my band.
Lauryn Hill even addressed the long-standing fact of her notorious lateness to show’s she’s headlining. As a buyer, I’d be completely turned off from an artist who consistently shows up late, no matter what the reason is. Even though Lauryn’s explanation of her consistent lateness is of her own merit, I doubt concert goers will appreciate a continuation of this behavior.
Lauryn Hill On Being Late To Concerts:
“Me being late to shows isn’t because I don’t respect my fans or their time, but the contrary, It can be argued that I care too much, and insist on things being right. I like to switch my show up regularly, change arrangements, add new songs, etc. This often leads to long sound checks, which leads to doors opening late, which leads to the show getting a late start. This element of perfectionism is about wanting the audience to experience the very best and most authentic musical experience they can from what I do.”
Robert managed to do something many reporters, journalist, and fans have been trying to do for years, get Lauryn Hill to address the public. While Robert’s claims and personal integrity are loved by many, and worthy of trust to some, there’s nothing like hearing the truth from the “horses mouth”.
Robert himself never claimed Lauryn Hill was a liar, and after reading Lauryn’s open response, it appears she’s telling the truth. It appears Robert was reacting from emotional, ill-informed, and misperceived experience, which Lauryn Hill did an excellent job of filling in the blanks. Hopefully the two musicians can resolve this issue and Robert can do the right thing in the public eye when it comes to his damaging statements.
We have enough going against us, we don’t need to add fuel to the fire. Lauryn’s Full Statement.
Robert’s 97.7 Interview: 27min Mark.
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