"I Used To Love Her" And Still do (Lauryn Hill)"

What a set of pipes does the ex-Fugees sister have on her. I remember this as I was growing up in my high school days, this young and gifted woman who decided to show her talent by being a part of the cast of , "Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit" and knowing that she was just going to be the next biggest thing. And finally, in my sophomore year of college, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was released.

Now Lauryn Hill is no ordinary artist. I mean there have been artists who have tried to accomplish what she has in the past, like Queen Latifah, trying to do both singing and rapping at the same time. Queen Latifah was able to pull it off with her song, "It's Alright" which was a pretty nice tune, but she didn't have the same types of vocals that Lauryn Hill has. Lauryn has skills in singing and rapping. She was great with the Fugees showing her many talents in "Fugee La" and "Ready or Not" but I didn't get as much of Lauryn as I got on her well put together album that won her the same amount of Grammy awards and nominations as Alicia Keys got for her debut album.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was released in 1998 by Ruffhouse Records/Columbia Records. It features 14 tracks of pure talent with one song featuring the famous Mary J. Blige finessing her soulful voice plus 2 bonus tracks. I remember the cover art featuring an orange background with her face in the center and then when you open the book, the lyrics to each song was included. That was excellent for me, because I usually have to go and search on-line for the lyrics or have to listen, pause and rewind to write what I think the lyrics are to get them, so it made it easier for me.

The album starts out in a classroom with a teacher taking attendance and throughout the album features the same teacher having on-going conversations with the class asking their opinions on topics like love and life.

(2)Lost Ones is a concept that Ja Rule uses a lot where he is rhyming and gets a singer to do the hook, except Lauryn Hill does all the rhyming, singing in the hooks and background vocals. This song features live bass by Chris Meredith and was recorded in Kingston, Jamaica. Hypocrites always want to play innocent. Always want to take it to the full out extent. Always want to make make it seem like good intent. Never want to face it when it's time for punishment.

(3)Ex-Factor is a smoothed tempoed love song that she is singing. I remember liking this song because I liked the video. The lyrics talk about a relationship she is in that she is giving all she got but not getting the same kind of respect in return. There is a pretty nice guitar solo played by Johari Newton in the break of the song and at the vamp of the song. My favorite part is the bridge with the echoing backgrounds. 'Cause no ones hurt me more than you and no one ever will. No matter how I think we grow you always seem to let me know it ain't working. It ain't working.

(4)To Zion is a love song about the child that she was blessed with. Carlos Santana plays the guitar in this song. I liked this song initially because of the Brazilian/Africana feel of the music. It sounds like there is acoustic drums played in this song. I love the lyrics of this song, the arrangement of the vocals, the drive, the bridge and the background vocals. This is one of the first songs by Lauryn that I tried to use at a showcase at this night club called Rios back in 1999. Unsure what the balance held, I touched my belly overwhelmed by what I had been chosen to perform. But then an angel came one day told me to kneel down and pray for unto me a man child would be born.

(5)Doo Wop (That Thing) is a true lesson telling people to watch out for those easy men and woman who are only interested in one thing. This song has a real old feel to it because of the trumpet. A lot of the songs from the 1970s era featured horns. The keyboard line has a real jazzy/blues feel to it like something you would hear Billie Holiday or Dinah Washington using in their song. How you gonna win when you ain't right within. Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah! Watch out, watch out, look out, look out. Girls you know you better watch out some guys, some guys their only about that thing, that thing, that thing!

(6)Superstar is the sixth song on this album. She talks about the music that is on the radios today and what music is supposed to be. She starts the record with a hip-hop feel and I feel she only did this to tell the listener to listen to the lyrics of this real topic/issue. But she sings the words to the verses and raps through the bridge. This song made me think of her as more of a spoken word artist because of the music behind it and I could see her performing this at Nuyorican Poet's Cafe. This song features percussion drums.Come on baby light my fire. Everything you drop is so tired. Music is supposed to inspire. So how come we ain't getting no higher. Now tell me your philosophy on exactly what an artist should be.

(7)Final Hour is the seventh song. The musical accompaniment to this song reminds me a lot of this song on Mobb Deep's album "Godfather Part III" that featured Nas. It really has that Queensbridge artist sound to it. It sounds like it also includes the pan flute of India. With that flute incorporated, it gives this song a real Middle Eastern sound despite the heavy drums and guitar.
Things gonna change and it's apparent and all the transparent gonna be seen through. Let God redeem you

(8)She shows her soulful vocal techniques in When it Hurts So Bad. The bad thing about writers writing all the songs on their album is that many of the songs will sound the same. This song is very similar to Ex-Factor in it's arrangement, though it is a nice song, but I felt like "Didn't I hear this song already." The difference however is the live drums by Squiddly Ranks. What you want might make you cry. What you need might pass you by if you don't catch it. If you don't catch it.

(9)Mary J Blige helps Lauryn Hill in I Used to Love Him which sounds a lot like a reggae type song because of the hook. I never knew that Rikers Island had a production team until I read the credits for this album. Every time I listen to this beat, I think of an old rap song like something from De La Soul or something but I just can't grasp where I heard this part in the song that runs about every 4th measure. The bass is the most apparent instrument in this song because it is very funky. Now I don't. I used to love him. Now I don't.

(10) Forgive Them Father starts singing the song with a heavy I wouldn't say Jamaican accent but more like Trinidadian one. This is supposed to be a remake of an old Bob Marley song plus Lauryn's own flava, funk and personality added. Like Cain and Abel, Caesar and Brutus, Jesus and Judas. Backstabbers do this. Forgive them father for they know not what they do.

(11)Every Ghetto, Every City sounds more like a neo-soul song because of the claps and bass line that you would probably hear in a Musiq Soulchild or Amel Larrieux song today. The lyrics are also very neo-soulish because it is about memories of the past but very naturey. A bag of bontons, twenty cents and a nickel. Springfield Avenue had the best popsicles. Saturday morning cartoons and Kung-Fu.

(12)Nothing Even Matters features D'Angelo. This duet is very nice because of the grooviness of it. This sounds like one of those songs you would hear on a slow jam album or one you would listen to when you are getting into the groove of love making. This song is very sensual because of the finger snaps and the sexy guitar line. I like the way they sing in this song. You're part of my identity. I sometimes have the tendency to look at you religiously 'cause nothing even matters to me.

(13)Everything is Everything was one of the songs that hit the radio waves and had me bopping my head even before I purchased the album. I like the album scratching effect in the core of the song. The music sounds very symphonic. And again she shows her singing/rapping skills strongly. If she came out today, she would have no competition and even back then with her taking home the amount of Grammy's she did, she showed that she really didn't have competition back then either. Her words are really speaking logic. Things that we should already know. Let's love ourselves and we can't fail to make a better situation. Tomorrow our seeds will grow. All we need is dedication. Everything is everything.

(14)The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is the title song of the album. It starts off like an Alicia Keys album would with the heavy piano played by Joe Wilson. This was only an album cut but I can hear this record playing on a soft rock station or one of the pop ones. But you don't really hear singing like this on the radio waves. This is a really nice song and has a nice feel. The vocals are very laid back. She takes a deep look into the present and future and realizes that her destiny is hers for the taking because of what her past used to be and where she is today. And deep in my heart the answer it is in me and I made up my mind to find my own destiny

(15 and 16) One of the bonus tracks on this album is Can't Take My Eyes Off of You which is song number 15 and song number 16 is the mahogany mix of The Sweetest Thing, though this not really the version of The Sweetest Thing I would have wanted, but this is a nice song too. If I lack love than I am nothing at all

Lauryn Hill is a beautiful person from what I got off this person. She pours out her soul and gives her everything with every single track on this album. Her voice is very strong and her rhyming skills are very good. I like the attitude she has in her interpretations of the lyrics in each of these songs. This is a great album from beginning to end and I enjoy listening to it. I would recommend this album because you get a different vibe from every cut on this album and it will keep you interested. This is a great addition to anyone's music collection.