Post by Moderator on Oct 14, 2010 6:40:39 GMT 1
Los Angeles
Review by Amos Barshad
“…Hill looked and sounded great, and was deliriously received, as she ran through standouts from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and Fugees staples... Also, says MTV: ‘This was not a woman who some reports had labeled ‘crazy.’ Lauryn was lucid and dancing and appeared to be enjoying herself.’”
link nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/08/lauryn_hills_comeback_at_rock.html
Review by Jeff Weiss
“the day’s most anticipated performance was from former Fugees star Lauryn Hill. Known for her eccentric behavior and supererogatory gifts, the reclusive singer/MC dispelled any doubts of her abilities. Backed by an 11-piece band, she performed cuts such as 'Lost Ones' and 'Doo Wop (That Thing)' from 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,' along with earlier work like 'Ready or Not' and 'Fugee-La.' While occasionally chaotic and harried, her voice and skills remained peerless and again revealed that her lack of prolificacy doesn’t stem from an absence of talent.”
Link latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/08/live-review-rock-the-bells-still-tolls-for-1993.html
Review by Bridget Bland
“By all accounts, Lauryn Hills' Rock the Bells Los Angeles performance was electrifying. 24-hours later, fans and journalists alike are still buzzing...and calling it a comeback. 'I really hope she comes out with another album,' fan Gabrielle Chambers wrote on Twitter. 'Crossed fingers!' Another fan, Aisha Smith, took to Twitter to inquire, 'Is Lauryn Hill making a comeback? Please say it's so! My ears miss real music!' 'Both Maxwell and Sade had extended hiatuses from music and returned to major success, so Lauryn Hill could have a serious resurgence if her music is right,' radio personality and entertainment journo Jawn Murray said…He added, ’Unfortunately, Lauryn Hill’s personal life and eccentric appearance in recent years have overshadowed the tremendous impact she made with The Fugees and as a solo artist. It's questionable whether her sound and approach to the business would fit into the current state of the industry. The whole dirty-backpack-über-Bohemian-candle-burning movement ended a long time ago!'…Another fan Shante Timberlake is keeping hope alive that this weekend when she attends the New York Rock the Bells tour stop, the Grammy Award winner will bring it…'Everyone loves a good comeback. I think true Hip-Hop fans are starved for the real artist, music, and lyrics. Even though the landscape has changed since Lauryn's abrupt departure, she is still relevant.' Lauryn Hill will make Rock the Bell tour stops in New York and Washington, D.C. this weekend. Here’s hoping her comeback is right around the corner.”
link rapfix.mtv.com/2010/08/23/lauryn-hills-rock-the-bells-set/
Review by Rebecca Haithcoat
“…The trash-talking that commenced immediately after Lauryn Hill's performance. We aren't receptive to change, especially not in our idols. But very few things are more detrimental to an artist than stagnancy; regression is even preferable as it at least indicates movement. Ms. Hill is a gifted artist, and has been the recipient of its blessing as well as victim of its curse. Give her a break-- it's immature and unrealistic to expect the L Boogie of 1998 to appear in the same form twelve years later…Lauryn Hill was not that bad. Contrary to some recent reviews, she wasn't late, and she actually sang songs the audience wanted to hear, notably 'Ex-Factor', 'To Zion' and 'Fu-Gee-La'. In a sequined black caftan, thick ropes glittering around her neck, she was an enthusiastic performer, physically matching her band's energy. Unfortunately, the band often overwhelmed her vocally, though that might be intentional. Given the rugged, rumbly quality of her voice over ten years ago, it's now occasionally ragged. She repeatedly punched notes, letting the reverb, as opposed to vocal power, carry them. When in mid-range, though, as on the hook of 'Ready or Not', she sang with ease.”
link blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/last-night/live-review-rock-the-bells/
San Francisco
Review by bohemian.com
“Lauryn Hill was 45 minutes late, and by the time she finally came out and finished her extended rock version of 'Lost Ones,' her first song, it was 5:35—the end of her set, according to the schedule...Rock the Bells allowed her a full set anyway, albeit a shortened one; in the ridiculously long wait before she took the stage, roadies twice came out and crossed songs off all the set lists. In Sally Jessy Raphael glasses, a black sequined cap and a homeless-chic green trenchcoat covering an early-’90s high-waisted getup, Hill displayed all the same hopeful energy of her show earlier this year at the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa by churning her arms wildly and strutting in insanely high four-inch heels. Things looked grim when she left the stage ten minutes in, but returned wearing different shoes. Probably a wise move. The crowd seemed confused by her new arrangements, and didn’t move much until she got into Fugees tracks like ‘Ready or Not’ and ‘Fu-Gee-La,’ which opened the floodgates for mayhem. Hill performed everyone else’s verses, and displayed her recent desire to be taken seriously again after a long rough patch. By the time she ended with 'Doo Wop (That Thing),' the sting of her late arrival was nicely salved.”
link www.bohemian.com/citysound/?p=5001
Review by rap-up
“…With curls peeking out beneath a red beret, gray tweed jacket, and flowing black dress, the former Fugees member was embraced by thousands of fans as though she never left. 'It’s good to see everybody again,' she told the audience before launching into material from her game-changing album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, along with Fugees staples…”
link www.rap-up.com/2010/08/22/lauryn-hill-rises-up-at-rock-the-bells/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Rap-Up+(Rap-Up.com)
Review by rawemag.org
“…Ms. Lauryn Hill performed, and being that I’m a huge Lauryn Hill fan, i was confused. First, she was scattered all over the place to the point that i had no idea what she was performing until she was almost finished with the songs, which baffled me since I’m a huge Ms. Hill quoter. I didn’t really like the way the live band played the music only because the way her voice sounds now, it’s hard to understand her. Third, I think she was singing gibberish for a second. Fourth, she was making these weird owling sounds to introduce 'That Thing' which was both funny and disturbing. Uh, her voice doesn’t sound the same which is obvious because she’s been out of the spotlight for many years. Everyone said, no one expected her to be great, so they didn’t really have high expectations for her, I tried to jump on that hype but I was being a liar. I did have high expectations just because it’s Lauryn Hill. She’s solidified herself as a legend, great songwriter, great vocalist, great emcee with just one album, so I was disappointed. Everyone is saying that she’s having a comeback, I hope that if she does it will be something great not what I saw yesterday. (sad face, just being honest. I always wanted to see her live since i was like 8 or 9 man, I waited for this? )…”
link www.rawemag.org/2010/08/rock-the-bells-2010-bay-area-review/
Reviews by Kev Choice and DJ BackSide
“…Lauryn Hill will NEVER play those classics songs that touched and changed peoples lives from the “MisEducation of Lauryn Hill” album the way they were on the record!! If you can get over that and understand that her voice isn’t the same as it used to be, then you may be able to appreciate her performance. I appreciate it because of the risk she takes musically and sonically, experimenting with unconventional band set-ups (i.e. two drummers, two bassists, two guitarist and a DJ), and doing a sort of live mash-up with her classic songs (i.e. flipping Lost Ones with a classic Morgan Heritage groove). Her set is a lot more reggae and rocked out then the sultry hip-hop soul we are used to from her, and vocally she even interprets her songs in a completely different manner. All in all, it was good to see one of the best female MCs/vocalists of all time still up there rocking out and pushing the envelope with her music…”
link thezlist.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/rock-the-bells-festival-2010-a-san-francisco-bay-area-wrap-up-perspective-by-musical-changemakers-kev-choice-dj-backside/
New York
Reviw by James Greene Jr.
Seriously, she dressed like LaWanda Page from Sanford and Son on purpose, right? Costuming issues aside, Miss Hill turned in a decidedly non-crazy performance over the weekend at NYC’s Rock the Bells hip hop festival. Oh sure, her new musical arrangements are (according to Chris Weingarten) 'totally f**k**g bonkers now,' but Lauryn herself didn’t go anything nutty like put on a chicken costume and decry the nation of Siberia. Good for her!
link www.crawdaddy.com/index.php/2010/08/30/lauryn-hill-channels-aunt-esther-at-rock-the-bells/
Review by rap-up.com
“Lauryn Hill pulled out all the stops for her headlining gig at the 7thAnnual Rock the Bells Festival, which took place on Governors Island in New York on Saturday (Aug. 28) Opening her set with Fugees classic 'Fu-Gee-La,' Ms. Hill brought an A-list batch of friends to the stage including Mary J. Blige , Beyoncé, Jay-Z, the oh-so-pregnant Alicia Keys and husband Swizz Beatz, Chris Rock, John Legend, and Fugees’ producer Jerry Wonder. L. Boogs was even joined by her kids for a touching rendition of 'To Zion,' dedicated to her first-born.”
link www.rap-up.com/2010/08/29/lauryn-hill-brings-out-beyonce-jay-z-alicia-keys-at-rock-the-bells/
Review by Shaheem Reid
“When you ask Lauryn Hill what it feels like to perform in New York City again, the legendary MC/vocalist simply says it's 'something special…I thought it was great,' she told MTV News…'I just wanted to be a part of it. As soon as they asked me, I was like, 'That's it. Let's do it. Let's do it.' Joshua Boumel and Chang [Weisberg], who are promoters of this particular event, we have a little history. When they asked me, I was honored to be a part of it.'…'Lauryn Hill, man,' Rakim said in his trailer last week at the RTB kickoff show in San Bernardino, California, when asked who he wanted to see. 'I haven't seen her in a while. I know it's going to be a memorable thing. I'm amped. Lauryn, welcome back. We need you.'…'It was still amazing to watch her and her see her home in New York,' Estelle said backstage. 'I'm a big kid again.' Toward the end of her set — which included some Score songs and a few surprises, in addition to Miseducation tracks — Hill invited her children and some of the A-list attendees to the stage. During a reggae breakdown of 'Fu gee La,' Hill brought out Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz and Chris Rock soon followed. 'Where's Jay?' Hill said. 'C'mon, man, this is New York.' And so the Jiggaman came out and saluted the fans. Next was John Legend and Jerry Wonder.'It was love back. Love back. Love back,' Hill said later in her trailer about the parade of stars. Outside, Busta Rhymes — who was a guest performer of A Tribe Called Quest — came and said hello to her kids. 'Reciprocity. It was wonderful to see everybody. I was so touched. I wanted everybody else to share in that moment. I wanted everybody else to see them.' Hill said Rock the Bells was the perfect place for her to express some of her feelings, and she used the opportunity to drop some new rhymes and new variations on her classics. She also got a chance to reconnect to the fans. 'I miss you. I miss you,' she repeated at the end of her set…”
link www.mtv.com/news/articles/1646731/20100829/hill_lauryn.jhtml
Baltimore
Review by John Williams IV
“Hill, undoubtedly the night's biggest draw, was a lesson in dysfunction. It's been nearly more than a decade since Hill's uber-successful album 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,' and Hill's recording hiatus fueled an undeniable buzz at last night's show. So when it was announced -- just before she was about take the stage -- that Hill was in danger of not performing due to illness, it appeared the crowd was about to flip its collective lid. Audience members hurled boos, hisses and curses ...Organizers took the stage trying to reassure the crowd that the concert was still plenty good even without Hill. The audience wasn't buying it. And for good reason: Hill's music crossed ethnic, gender, and economic lines. Hill was the 'it' girl --a gifted actress, singer, poet, and rapper. Hill was the reason why a good majority of the crowd came to Rock The Bells. She's also the reason why many of them left with bad tastes in their mouths. Hill's performance was absolutely dreadful. Hill was on the stage for just about 20 minutes, and barely attempted to perform any of the material from her legendary solo album. To her credit, Hill came out ripping, which she does extremely well. (Hill is considered one of the greatest female emcees of all time. And for good reason. He delivery, speed, and lyrics have always struck a chord with fans.) Her singing -- on the other hand-- wasn't striking anything. Her voice was noticeably horse. Her band drowned her out in a number of spots during her brief stage time. Her background singers didn't do anything noteworthy. The arrangement of her music made many of her songs unrecognizable, and there were feedback issues to boot. A surprise guest appearance by rapper Nas for the hit 'If I Ruled The World' couldn't save Hill's short set. Overall, it was a huge let down for her fans -- many of whom paid more than $100 a ticket in this economy to see her.”
link www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-mobile-bells0830,0,5899552.story
Review by Will Starks
“…Ms. Lauryn Hill returned from her extended hiatus for this year’s RTB with a full band, which kicked off with a fast paced version of Mavado's "So Special. She then broke into a sped up dub of 'Lost Ones' from her Grammy award winning album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”. Nas made a surprise appearance and impromptu performance of 'If I Ruled The World' this time around with Ms. Hill, one night after having guests Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, and Beyonce’ onstage in New York…”
link www.examiner.com/events-in-washington-dc/2010-rock-the-bells-festival-merriweather-pavillion-baltimore-washington-dc
Review by Cornell Dews
“…and then Ms. Lauryn Hill appeared. Shift!... When Ms. Lauryn Hill walked on to the stage, it was a wrap! The crowd went hysterical...Throughout the day, there was speculation that she may not perform. Earlier, we were told that she was in the building, but not feeling well. She was dehydrated and her voice was strained from performing the night before. And then. There she was in flesh and blood, doing what she obviously was gifted by the creator to do, spitting ‘it’s funny how money change a situation. Miscommunication leads to complication. My emancipation don’t fit your equation. I was on the humble, you on every station. Some wan play young Lauryn like she dumb.’ She’s more than your average entertainer. The embodiment of pure and unabated talent. For her, the stars once aligned. I’m just gracious that I could bear witness when they did. This night, she wasn’t alone either. After asking the sound man if her friend had a microphone, he appeared. Performing If I Ruled The World with Ms. Hill was the heralded emcee from Queensbridge, top five dead or alive on everybody’s list, Mr. Nasir Jones. The crowd was already screaming at the top of our lungs, I don’t know how we managed to scream even louder, but we did. After stating that her time on the stage would be short, she did about four or five songs. Then just as Lauryn appeared and she quickly disappeared…whenever she return to the stage, even if it’s only for one night, it’s open arms, love and adoration that awaits her. For a night, I was in the presence of greatness. We love you Ms. Lauryn Hill.”
link allhiphop.com/stories/reviewsmusic/archive/2010/09/01/22357708.aspx
Review by Amos Barshad
“…Hill looked and sounded great, and was deliriously received, as she ran through standouts from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and Fugees staples... Also, says MTV: ‘This was not a woman who some reports had labeled ‘crazy.’ Lauryn was lucid and dancing and appeared to be enjoying herself.’”
link nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/08/lauryn_hills_comeback_at_rock.html
Review by Jeff Weiss
“the day’s most anticipated performance was from former Fugees star Lauryn Hill. Known for her eccentric behavior and supererogatory gifts, the reclusive singer/MC dispelled any doubts of her abilities. Backed by an 11-piece band, she performed cuts such as 'Lost Ones' and 'Doo Wop (That Thing)' from 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,' along with earlier work like 'Ready or Not' and 'Fugee-La.' While occasionally chaotic and harried, her voice and skills remained peerless and again revealed that her lack of prolificacy doesn’t stem from an absence of talent.”
Link latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/08/live-review-rock-the-bells-still-tolls-for-1993.html
Review by Bridget Bland
“By all accounts, Lauryn Hills' Rock the Bells Los Angeles performance was electrifying. 24-hours later, fans and journalists alike are still buzzing...and calling it a comeback. 'I really hope she comes out with another album,' fan Gabrielle Chambers wrote on Twitter. 'Crossed fingers!' Another fan, Aisha Smith, took to Twitter to inquire, 'Is Lauryn Hill making a comeback? Please say it's so! My ears miss real music!' 'Both Maxwell and Sade had extended hiatuses from music and returned to major success, so Lauryn Hill could have a serious resurgence if her music is right,' radio personality and entertainment journo Jawn Murray said…He added, ’Unfortunately, Lauryn Hill’s personal life and eccentric appearance in recent years have overshadowed the tremendous impact she made with The Fugees and as a solo artist. It's questionable whether her sound and approach to the business would fit into the current state of the industry. The whole dirty-backpack-über-Bohemian-candle-burning movement ended a long time ago!'…Another fan Shante Timberlake is keeping hope alive that this weekend when she attends the New York Rock the Bells tour stop, the Grammy Award winner will bring it…'Everyone loves a good comeback. I think true Hip-Hop fans are starved for the real artist, music, and lyrics. Even though the landscape has changed since Lauryn's abrupt departure, she is still relevant.' Lauryn Hill will make Rock the Bell tour stops in New York and Washington, D.C. this weekend. Here’s hoping her comeback is right around the corner.”
link rapfix.mtv.com/2010/08/23/lauryn-hills-rock-the-bells-set/
Review by Rebecca Haithcoat
“…The trash-talking that commenced immediately after Lauryn Hill's performance. We aren't receptive to change, especially not in our idols. But very few things are more detrimental to an artist than stagnancy; regression is even preferable as it at least indicates movement. Ms. Hill is a gifted artist, and has been the recipient of its blessing as well as victim of its curse. Give her a break-- it's immature and unrealistic to expect the L Boogie of 1998 to appear in the same form twelve years later…Lauryn Hill was not that bad. Contrary to some recent reviews, she wasn't late, and she actually sang songs the audience wanted to hear, notably 'Ex-Factor', 'To Zion' and 'Fu-Gee-La'. In a sequined black caftan, thick ropes glittering around her neck, she was an enthusiastic performer, physically matching her band's energy. Unfortunately, the band often overwhelmed her vocally, though that might be intentional. Given the rugged, rumbly quality of her voice over ten years ago, it's now occasionally ragged. She repeatedly punched notes, letting the reverb, as opposed to vocal power, carry them. When in mid-range, though, as on the hook of 'Ready or Not', she sang with ease.”
link blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/last-night/live-review-rock-the-bells/
San Francisco
Review by bohemian.com
“Lauryn Hill was 45 minutes late, and by the time she finally came out and finished her extended rock version of 'Lost Ones,' her first song, it was 5:35—the end of her set, according to the schedule...Rock the Bells allowed her a full set anyway, albeit a shortened one; in the ridiculously long wait before she took the stage, roadies twice came out and crossed songs off all the set lists. In Sally Jessy Raphael glasses, a black sequined cap and a homeless-chic green trenchcoat covering an early-’90s high-waisted getup, Hill displayed all the same hopeful energy of her show earlier this year at the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa by churning her arms wildly and strutting in insanely high four-inch heels. Things looked grim when she left the stage ten minutes in, but returned wearing different shoes. Probably a wise move. The crowd seemed confused by her new arrangements, and didn’t move much until she got into Fugees tracks like ‘Ready or Not’ and ‘Fu-Gee-La,’ which opened the floodgates for mayhem. Hill performed everyone else’s verses, and displayed her recent desire to be taken seriously again after a long rough patch. By the time she ended with 'Doo Wop (That Thing),' the sting of her late arrival was nicely salved.”
link www.bohemian.com/citysound/?p=5001
Review by rap-up
“…With curls peeking out beneath a red beret, gray tweed jacket, and flowing black dress, the former Fugees member was embraced by thousands of fans as though she never left. 'It’s good to see everybody again,' she told the audience before launching into material from her game-changing album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, along with Fugees staples…”
link www.rap-up.com/2010/08/22/lauryn-hill-rises-up-at-rock-the-bells/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Rap-Up+(Rap-Up.com)
Review by rawemag.org
“…Ms. Lauryn Hill performed, and being that I’m a huge Lauryn Hill fan, i was confused. First, she was scattered all over the place to the point that i had no idea what she was performing until she was almost finished with the songs, which baffled me since I’m a huge Ms. Hill quoter. I didn’t really like the way the live band played the music only because the way her voice sounds now, it’s hard to understand her. Third, I think she was singing gibberish for a second. Fourth, she was making these weird owling sounds to introduce 'That Thing' which was both funny and disturbing. Uh, her voice doesn’t sound the same which is obvious because she’s been out of the spotlight for many years. Everyone said, no one expected her to be great, so they didn’t really have high expectations for her, I tried to jump on that hype but I was being a liar. I did have high expectations just because it’s Lauryn Hill. She’s solidified herself as a legend, great songwriter, great vocalist, great emcee with just one album, so I was disappointed. Everyone is saying that she’s having a comeback, I hope that if she does it will be something great not what I saw yesterday. (sad face, just being honest. I always wanted to see her live since i was like 8 or 9 man, I waited for this? )…”
link www.rawemag.org/2010/08/rock-the-bells-2010-bay-area-review/
Reviews by Kev Choice and DJ BackSide
“…Lauryn Hill will NEVER play those classics songs that touched and changed peoples lives from the “MisEducation of Lauryn Hill” album the way they were on the record!! If you can get over that and understand that her voice isn’t the same as it used to be, then you may be able to appreciate her performance. I appreciate it because of the risk she takes musically and sonically, experimenting with unconventional band set-ups (i.e. two drummers, two bassists, two guitarist and a DJ), and doing a sort of live mash-up with her classic songs (i.e. flipping Lost Ones with a classic Morgan Heritage groove). Her set is a lot more reggae and rocked out then the sultry hip-hop soul we are used to from her, and vocally she even interprets her songs in a completely different manner. All in all, it was good to see one of the best female MCs/vocalists of all time still up there rocking out and pushing the envelope with her music…”
link thezlist.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/rock-the-bells-festival-2010-a-san-francisco-bay-area-wrap-up-perspective-by-musical-changemakers-kev-choice-dj-backside/
New York
Reviw by James Greene Jr.
Seriously, she dressed like LaWanda Page from Sanford and Son on purpose, right? Costuming issues aside, Miss Hill turned in a decidedly non-crazy performance over the weekend at NYC’s Rock the Bells hip hop festival. Oh sure, her new musical arrangements are (according to Chris Weingarten) 'totally f**k**g bonkers now,' but Lauryn herself didn’t go anything nutty like put on a chicken costume and decry the nation of Siberia. Good for her!
link www.crawdaddy.com/index.php/2010/08/30/lauryn-hill-channels-aunt-esther-at-rock-the-bells/
Review by rap-up.com
“Lauryn Hill pulled out all the stops for her headlining gig at the 7thAnnual Rock the Bells Festival, which took place on Governors Island in New York on Saturday (Aug. 28) Opening her set with Fugees classic 'Fu-Gee-La,' Ms. Hill brought an A-list batch of friends to the stage including Mary J. Blige , Beyoncé, Jay-Z, the oh-so-pregnant Alicia Keys and husband Swizz Beatz, Chris Rock, John Legend, and Fugees’ producer Jerry Wonder. L. Boogs was even joined by her kids for a touching rendition of 'To Zion,' dedicated to her first-born.”
link www.rap-up.com/2010/08/29/lauryn-hill-brings-out-beyonce-jay-z-alicia-keys-at-rock-the-bells/
Review by Shaheem Reid
“When you ask Lauryn Hill what it feels like to perform in New York City again, the legendary MC/vocalist simply says it's 'something special…I thought it was great,' she told MTV News…'I just wanted to be a part of it. As soon as they asked me, I was like, 'That's it. Let's do it. Let's do it.' Joshua Boumel and Chang [Weisberg], who are promoters of this particular event, we have a little history. When they asked me, I was honored to be a part of it.'…'Lauryn Hill, man,' Rakim said in his trailer last week at the RTB kickoff show in San Bernardino, California, when asked who he wanted to see. 'I haven't seen her in a while. I know it's going to be a memorable thing. I'm amped. Lauryn, welcome back. We need you.'…'It was still amazing to watch her and her see her home in New York,' Estelle said backstage. 'I'm a big kid again.' Toward the end of her set — which included some Score songs and a few surprises, in addition to Miseducation tracks — Hill invited her children and some of the A-list attendees to the stage. During a reggae breakdown of 'Fu gee La,' Hill brought out Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz and Chris Rock soon followed. 'Where's Jay?' Hill said. 'C'mon, man, this is New York.' And so the Jiggaman came out and saluted the fans. Next was John Legend and Jerry Wonder.'It was love back. Love back. Love back,' Hill said later in her trailer about the parade of stars. Outside, Busta Rhymes — who was a guest performer of A Tribe Called Quest — came and said hello to her kids. 'Reciprocity. It was wonderful to see everybody. I was so touched. I wanted everybody else to share in that moment. I wanted everybody else to see them.' Hill said Rock the Bells was the perfect place for her to express some of her feelings, and she used the opportunity to drop some new rhymes and new variations on her classics. She also got a chance to reconnect to the fans. 'I miss you. I miss you,' she repeated at the end of her set…”
link www.mtv.com/news/articles/1646731/20100829/hill_lauryn.jhtml
Baltimore
Review by John Williams IV
“Hill, undoubtedly the night's biggest draw, was a lesson in dysfunction. It's been nearly more than a decade since Hill's uber-successful album 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,' and Hill's recording hiatus fueled an undeniable buzz at last night's show. So when it was announced -- just before she was about take the stage -- that Hill was in danger of not performing due to illness, it appeared the crowd was about to flip its collective lid. Audience members hurled boos, hisses and curses ...Organizers took the stage trying to reassure the crowd that the concert was still plenty good even without Hill. The audience wasn't buying it. And for good reason: Hill's music crossed ethnic, gender, and economic lines. Hill was the 'it' girl --a gifted actress, singer, poet, and rapper. Hill was the reason why a good majority of the crowd came to Rock The Bells. She's also the reason why many of them left with bad tastes in their mouths. Hill's performance was absolutely dreadful. Hill was on the stage for just about 20 minutes, and barely attempted to perform any of the material from her legendary solo album. To her credit, Hill came out ripping, which she does extremely well. (Hill is considered one of the greatest female emcees of all time. And for good reason. He delivery, speed, and lyrics have always struck a chord with fans.) Her singing -- on the other hand-- wasn't striking anything. Her voice was noticeably horse. Her band drowned her out in a number of spots during her brief stage time. Her background singers didn't do anything noteworthy. The arrangement of her music made many of her songs unrecognizable, and there were feedback issues to boot. A surprise guest appearance by rapper Nas for the hit 'If I Ruled The World' couldn't save Hill's short set. Overall, it was a huge let down for her fans -- many of whom paid more than $100 a ticket in this economy to see her.”
link www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-mobile-bells0830,0,5899552.story
Review by Will Starks
“…Ms. Lauryn Hill returned from her extended hiatus for this year’s RTB with a full band, which kicked off with a fast paced version of Mavado's "So Special. She then broke into a sped up dub of 'Lost Ones' from her Grammy award winning album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”. Nas made a surprise appearance and impromptu performance of 'If I Ruled The World' this time around with Ms. Hill, one night after having guests Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, and Beyonce’ onstage in New York…”
link www.examiner.com/events-in-washington-dc/2010-rock-the-bells-festival-merriweather-pavillion-baltimore-washington-dc
Review by Cornell Dews
“…and then Ms. Lauryn Hill appeared. Shift!... When Ms. Lauryn Hill walked on to the stage, it was a wrap! The crowd went hysterical...Throughout the day, there was speculation that she may not perform. Earlier, we were told that she was in the building, but not feeling well. She was dehydrated and her voice was strained from performing the night before. And then. There she was in flesh and blood, doing what she obviously was gifted by the creator to do, spitting ‘it’s funny how money change a situation. Miscommunication leads to complication. My emancipation don’t fit your equation. I was on the humble, you on every station. Some wan play young Lauryn like she dumb.’ She’s more than your average entertainer. The embodiment of pure and unabated talent. For her, the stars once aligned. I’m just gracious that I could bear witness when they did. This night, she wasn’t alone either. After asking the sound man if her friend had a microphone, he appeared. Performing If I Ruled The World with Ms. Hill was the heralded emcee from Queensbridge, top five dead or alive on everybody’s list, Mr. Nasir Jones. The crowd was already screaming at the top of our lungs, I don’t know how we managed to scream even louder, but we did. After stating that her time on the stage would be short, she did about four or five songs. Then just as Lauryn appeared and she quickly disappeared…whenever she return to the stage, even if it’s only for one night, it’s open arms, love and adoration that awaits her. For a night, I was in the presence of greatness. We love you Ms. Lauryn Hill.”
link allhiphop.com/stories/reviewsmusic/archive/2010/09/01/22357708.aspx