Singer Lauryn Hill published a lengthy essay on Monday and addressed record producer Robert Glasper, who accused the artist of stealing songs from other musicians.
“The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” Hill’s debut solo album, won two Grammy awards in 1999. However, Glasper claimed Hill didn’t write her own music during an interview with 97.9 The Box. However, the “Ex-Factor” singer hit back and addressed people who “think they could have all the facts.”
(photo credit: Lauryn Hill’s Instagram)
“I’ve remained patient and quiet for a very long time, allowing people to talk, speculate, and project, while keeping my nose to the grindstone fighting for freedoms many folks aren’t even aware matter,” Hill wrote in an essay published on Medium. “People can sometimes confuse kindness for weakness, and silence for weakness as well. … I understand this is long, but my last interview was over a decade ago.”
The mother of six rebutted all of Glasper’s accusations of her stealing music from his “friends” and said no one could take credit for her “creative” abilities.
“You may be able to make suggestions, but you can’t write FOR me. I am the architect of my creative expression,” Hill stated. “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.”
In 1998 Hill was sued by New Ark, a group of musicians who demanded songwriting and production credits on 13 of the 14 songs on the “Miseducation.” However, the case was settled for an unknown amount in 2001, according to Rolling Stone.
The star ended the letter addressing rumors of her militant behavior and said she didn’t mean to come off uncaring, but her “true intent was to protect.”
She added, “The Miseducation was my only solo studio album, but it certainly wasn’t the only good thing I did.”
