Lauryn Hill and the media... short interview

[fugees-online]

Lauryn Hill and the media - short interview (very short)

I dont really know how accurate this is, but if the following interview really went like that... then.... whoa, LAURYN HILL REALLY has a problem with the media. LMAO

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"Hello," I answered, trying to sound as friendly as possible.

"This is Ms. Hill," said the voice at the other end.

"Hey, how are ya?" I said, laying on an extra coat of niceness.

"......" was her nonresponse. I'll take that as a, "Shut up, you phony dipshit."

"O-kay, um..." I started.

"I really don't like the press," she finished.

And so began my 40-minute phone chat with Ms. Lauryn Hill, whom I'd been hoping to interview for this week's feature story. Her publicist told me she would grant an interview but only if I wrote a straight Q&A, without "editorializing." That's no problem, I said. However, before that could happen, I had to undergo a "screening," a pre-interview conversation with Ms. Hill to make sure I was worth talking to in the first place. So when she called me at 11 p.m. on a Sunday, I thought it'd be brief. Though I lacked a recorder, I had my pen and notebook ready. It was a good thing too; she told me I'd better be taking notes. I knew this would be my only chance.

When I finally moved past that difficult introduction, I asked her about where she likes performing, asking if she prefers smaller, more intimate shows off the industry radar.

"It's about figuring out where love is and finding my context, finding my group," Hill said. "There's a serious regime to keep info from the artists, to keep the artists as blind as possible. There have been literal conspiracies to keep me in a dependent dynamic."

I tried to steer the conversation toward her career, starting with a few transitional questions before asking about any current projects she's involved with — basically, things her fans would like to know about. I didn't get very far.

"Have you played with Al Green before?" I asked.

"I'm not playing with Al Green," she said.

"I mean, have you ever played the same concert as Al Green?" Bad move, Fats.

"Now, why did you do that?" she shot back. "Where was the natural segue into that question?"

"I was just trying to bring the conversation back to music," I limply offered.

She went on to chide me for thinking this was more important than everything else she'd been talking about (though I didn't).

"My context is broader than that," Hill said. "Music is just a device. Bob Marley and Bob Dylan were not just about the music. Even the Beatles — their art was instrumental."

And that, I'm sad to report, was the gist of our musical conversation.

It's not often that Fats has to defend his credibility to a pop artist. I usually won't even entertain the notion. But I went out of my way for Hill, knowing full well it might bite me in the ass. And I was conflicted. On one hand, I agree with a lot of what she has to say, namely about the music industry's disdain for high art. And while I knew she was no fan of the media, I thought maybe I'd be spared some of the scorn. It's not like I'm some mainstream gossip columnist. I work at an alt-weekly. I do most of my reporting at bars — bars I've performed in with my own bands. I'm not trying to commodify anyone. I explained this to Ms. Hill. But it didn't matter. I never got a call back for an interview. I must have sounded like a part of the machine.

"It took me some years to really understand mass consumption versus love and truth and how to reconcile that with the machine," Hill said. "The machine isn't worthless. You just have to learn how to deal with it."

Well put. I guess that goes for me too. Handling celebrity egos is my job, and when shit like this happens, I just gotta deal with it.

by Jason Budjinski

source: www.newtimesbpb.com/Issues/2006-06-29/music/fats_full.html

[Big-D]

thanks

[sabela]

thanks fugees-Onl!!!!!

[sybille]

thought she was WAY TOO RUDE !!!!
I mean, how does she expect to make a comeback if she acts like this ?
I think she should try to forget about all the mean things the media has done to her, because it's not like she's their only target. The media harrasses almost every celebrity, but they still manage to behave in a civilized manner. I understand that she has to be cautious and all, but there's no reason to send off a journalist who's just trying to do his job ( asking questions about music etc...and not personal questions).
I think her attitude is immature and childish. If she were truly wiser like she claims to be, she would have handled this interview differently.

Way to go Ms Hill.

[fugees-online]

can anyone clear this up for me: what intention does or could she see in the al green question that makes her freak like that.

I came to the conclusion that a *real* comeback would probably "break her neck" - if she brings out that CD and it is successful, ALL media will be up on her again.... and if she acts like that, ALL MEDIA will write bull**** about her. And then... whats left for her to do?! Getting even MORE defensive???

all this talk about concpiracies makes me think she is paranoid. Though I have no doubt about the fact that she's been used by the idustry, misused and been kept blind, I believe she needs to handle the situation differently.

[Moderator]

Is this even true, or what?

[sybille]

admin said:

Though I have no doubt about the fact that she's been used by the idustry, misused and been kept blind, .

Everybody knows that the industry works that way, it's a give and take situation.
It is a business, and all these records excecutives, have to gain profit from the artists, otherwise they wouldn't still be there.
However as an artist, once you realize that, you don't need to freak out like Ms Hill. There are other ways to deal with things. I'm sure 85% of artists out there know that the industry is exploiting them, the journalists are way too nosy and like to make up stories.

[Guest21]

This guy just proved her point for not giving him an interview. She asked that he print word for word their conversation (which he did not). He put into quotes little comments in the beginning that she did not say ( just his view on what she might be thinking). He himself admitted that he talked to her for 40 minutes yet choose to censor her comments( check your motives and thoughts she did say). She at least was nice enough to call this guy herself to determine if he was someone she might trust to do an interview with, but he did not prove to be. We don't know what foolish question he asked her. All wa know is what he has choosen to write.

[Guest21]

Method Man does an excellent job in addressing the issue with the press. He also talk about his use of the smple of Ms. Hill on his new single.


Method Man–Vilified By the Press-Loved By the People By Davey D



Method Man rolled through the REHAB Project here in LA the other day and sat down with DJ Hopper and myself and to let us know what’s going on with him and his upcoming projects. For those who don’t know, REHAB is an incredible record store/ dj school that’s a fixture in LA’s Hip Hop scene.



Just so you know, here’s the official run down on REHAB… REHAB stands for Real Experiences in Hip-hop and Beats. Like other “rehabs”, we too serve as an “institution” and a place of “growth, development, and re-invention”. We see the need to provide our culture with a commonplace for creative outlet and collaboration and we feel as though our community and our music is based on the idea of constant re-creation and re-establishment. One might say: Hip Hop is in a state of REHAB.



With all that being said, here’s the low down on what’s up with Meth. Hopper started things off by asking if Method Man ever involved himself with the other elements associated with Hip Hop Culture. He said that he had dabbled in all and that he still saw himself as a graf writer. He went on to talk about how he uses tried and true graf techniques when signing autographs.



Meth continued on by talking about is upcoming projects in particular his new song ‘Say’ which features Lauryn Hill. He insisted on clearing the air and living up to a promise he made to Lauryn and her husband about the background behind that song. He noted that what we’re hearing is actually a sample. Lauryn did not go into the booth and sing with Meth. He said it was important that the public no that so as to not be misled.



Method Man also talked about the excitement he’s been feeling with this new project because he really got a chance to sit down and work more closely with producers RZA and Erick Sermon. He said that in the past there have been some harsh criticisms levied at him because the production was lacking. Such is not the case anymore.



Meth talked about how on his last projects he was on the road touring and hence did not really get a chance to be in the studio completely focused on the album, the way that he has been on this album.



Meth then expressed a lot of the anger he was feeling toward the Hip Hop press, in particular magazines. He spoke candidly how a lot of writers have gone out of their way to try and make a name for themselves by trashing not only his albums, but other people’s projects. He noted that for a period of time he started to believe what was written and soon discovered that what was written was in sharp contrast to what he was hearing and seeing on the streets.



He went on to talk about writers abusing their power to influence the masses and that far too many projects which have the potential to grow and add to Hip Hop’s collective offerings have been stymied or outright killed by writers who have not expanded their own horizons.



Method man concluded by noting that a lot of artists need to take on some responsibility because they have given too much power and control to the press and that they need to bypass them and go directly to the people or at least make sure the connection between artists and fans are stronger. He laughed at the writing styles many journalist employ where they write two or three paragraph analyzing the artists before they offer up to the public the vision and perspective of the artist. He said a disclaimer needs to be issued so the public knows what’s really going on because a lot of journalists are “NOT THE TRUTH.



Meth talked about the State of Hip Hop and noted that it’s really not bad. What’s going on is that there are a few bad seeds that get all the media attention and airplay and that it’s up to the public to highlight the good and reject that which is negative and ruining Hip Hop. He emphatically stated that we need to stop complaining.



We also talked about the current state of Hip Hop in New York and why people are complaining about a drought. He said that a lot of industry cats are on the take and do everything from charging young cats to get on mix tapes to actually pressuring them to sign and be under their umbrella why these cats make a name for themselves. He says the doors need to be opened up so that up and coming cats can get a fair chance to get on…



Lastly we talked about the ODB Tribute Tour and how it was a good experience that brought the Wu-Tang Clan together. He said a lot of emotions and pent up feelings were revealed and that everyone is in a better place.



www.thuglifearmy.com/news/?id=2787

[voicereloaded]

If Lauryn did respond like that, she really needs prayer. I mean she's really been damaged by whatever love-starved struggle she's been going through. The media is gonna be what the media is gonna be but nobody has the right to be ugly towards somebody because of what life has done to you. I'm not sure what she's doing but you can't keep denying love to those who show love-- even if it may not be real love because soon you'll go right back to not recieving ANY love all over again and I don't think that's how she wants to go about spreading her message.

[luvlauryn]

I still love Lauryn Hill. I don't know what to believe, and until I do, I am not going to believe anything. I am a firm believer that people emphasize their point of view, oppose to sharing both points of views equally.

I really want to Hear from Lauryn Hill myself- whether through another album or a concerts, or whatever. But I don't know exactly what I want to hear, or what I am waiting to hear. I think alot of fans stand in this boat. Some people that just love her haven't really heard from her in a long time. We don't know what to think, so we search for these answers and SOMETIMES cling to the first piece of info. we get- even if it is the "screwed up media." All while I know that Lauryn Hill doesn't owe any of us anything. I personally think sometimes artists can become "ENSLAVED" by the media and their "so-called fans".

I think what alot of us don't understand is that there is "this media" that has been created and it provides a very lucrative source of income. People tend to feed into falsification and negativity and since the media knows this, they have to promote this- for what will be the source of income for the media?

For example(we're all having an open discussion here)- I was reading one Article about the peformance in Atlanta last year about Lauryn Hill. "The ARTICLE" was named Hurricane Hill, and said some negative things. However, no one talked about her performance in 2004 in Chicago, which was outstanding! She was answering questions that the audience had for her, and her voice was remarkably clear. How do I know? I heard the performances on g mail myself. And I read the "Hurricane Hill" article on one of those websites.

All this to say is that this world is full of people. Unfortunately, as long as there are people, there will always be negativity. Jesus Christ was a perfect human being, and they killed him? So what does this mean? No matter who you are, or how great you are, there is always going to be something bad stated about you- some more frequent than others, but that's the way it us. It's up for us fans to shut the media down!!! If we do that, then the artist need to step up!!! The media wants us to believe that they are the MAIN SOURCE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP with the artist!!! They don't have to be, we put them there!!! Let's figure out a way to do away with this bad media!!! Media is nothing but a form of MIND CONTROL. Let's not give into it!!!

[Big-D]

luvlauryn said:

I still love Lauryn Hill.

of course you do,that's why you are luvlauryn

[luvlauryn]

"of course you do,that's why you are luvlauryn " ur'e right lol

[Guest21]

More evidence that we should not be so quick to judge Ms. Hill.
There is a lot going on behind the scenes that we in the general public are unaware of. Quote by Michael Gondry on the shooting of the David Chappelle movie.


Fugees singer Lauryn Hill's record company, who initially refused to let her perform, Gondry has little time for those who run the music industry. "Every time you deal with music you deal with such an immense number of assholes, who don't care if the project happens or not," he spits. "They have no artistic interest."

enjoyment.independent.co.uk/film/features/article1146091.ece

[luvlauryn]

Guest, I get what you are saying, but even if any info. is found, Lauryn Hill still shouldn't be judged. Who are we to judge? We make the media what they are by continuing to feed into the media. If we are truly fans, let's stay fans. Let us not become media. Lot's of times, media impose as fans, and that's deception. Fans care and try to magnify the better!!!!