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Russia D. Moore
Professor Witherspoon
English 102
November 6, 2014

The Change of a Generation

Lauryn Noelle Hill was born May 26, 1975 in South Orange, New Jersey to Valerie and
Mal Hill. At the age of thirteen Lauryn Hill performed at the famous Harlem Apollo Theater
(Lauryn). While there she met Prakazrel "Pras" Michel and his cousin, Wyclef Jean. Soon after
meeting the decided to form a hip-hop, soul and R&B group called Tranzlator Crew later
became known as the group we know today as the Fugees (Lauryn); with Lauryn being the lead
vocals of the group (Lauryn). She is the first women to win five Grammy Awards for album of
the year, best new artist, best female R&B performance, best song, and best R&B album
(Lauryn). Even though she hasnt released an album in years her songs are still on the top 150
songs downloaded on iTunes (Apple). She has changed the world of R&B and hip-hop for
generations to come; by the way she over comes obstacles in her life, her style, and the way she
performs.
Besides Lauryn having a singing career when she was young she did a little acting. As a
sophomore in high school she got a role in the soap opera As the World Turns and after that she
landed a semi-leading role in the Whoopi Goldberg movie Sister Act II: Back in the Habit

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(Lauryn). Instead of following up acting instead she went to college at Columbia University
(Lauryn) where she only studied for a year then she pursuing her performance career. In 1994 the
Fugees released their first album Blunted on Reality then three years later they released The
Score in 1996 which sold 17 million copies that featured the single Killing Me softly (Lauryn).
This made the Fugees the highest selling rap group of all time and received two Grammy awards
(Lauryn). After this album the Fugees didnt stay together but reunited for live performances and
then released a greatest hits album in 2003(Lauryn). In 1998 she released her first solo album
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill that sold over 12 million copies which got her the five
Grammy, three American Music Awards, Soul Train Award and MTV Music Award. Although
she has won many awards been a part of different youth camps and helping others (Lauryn); in
2013 she was sentenced to three months in prison for not paying almost 1 million dollars in
federal taxes. In 2012 she pled guilty to tax-evasion charges; I needed to be able to earn so I
could pay my taxes without compromising the health and welfare of my children, and I was
being denied that, she said (Lauryn). I understand where she is coming from because she has six
children; five by Rohan Marley (Bob Marleys son) three boys and two girls and a son by Micah
and she had to do what she had to because of them and no mother would want their children to
suffer because of what the parents has done. And after being released she released a new song
Consumerism (Lauryn Hill Released from Jail, Celebrates with New Song) and she is supposedly
working on a new album (Moses).
The style that she possesses is evolutionary and I love it. The way she can express herself
just through clothing is phenomenal. And how people today take bits and pieces of her style to
make it their own master piece. This shows that a woman doesnt have to show every little aspect
of their body to be seen as beautiful and seen as worthy. How she goes from 70s retro and makes

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it popular among young people like my self today. She is an icon to every woman that hears, sees
or comes in contact with. And she is an inspiration to me because I know that at a young age I
thought that you had to show off your body to get anyone to like you or even look your way; and
when I started to listen to her she says you are beautiful and you are loved and the one song
that really got to me was her single That Thing.
As a performer Lauryn Hill makes everyone else seem as if theyre beginners. Who else
can go on a MTVs Unplugged and do almost a two hour acoustic performance in a studio in
times square and sing songs from the top of your head and make them in to something magical. I
have never seen nor heard Beyonc or Rhianna do anything close to what she does. Personally I
think Lauryn Hill is the best live performer ever; I dont know anyone yet that can compare to
the level that she is on. The way she interacts with her audience and makes them a part of her
show, shows them that she really loves and appreciate them for having her back through all of
the trials and tribulations that she has been through. She can really stand the test of time because
she can go anywhere and where she performs it would be sold out from young and old people
waiting to hear Lauryns unique voice. People will always look back and say I want to be a
performer like her.
Lauryn Hill is a revolutionary icon and is very influential on music today. She has
worked hard to establish a name for herself as she graceful landed on billiards Top 100
numerous times. Many people can relate to Lauryn Hills music because her music is outstanding
and uplifting. No one to this day has had a flourishing career like Ms. Hill or a stage present like
no other. Lauryn Hill would go down in history as one of the queens of R&B and Hip-Hop.

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Work Cited
"Apple - Press Info - ITunes Music Store Downloads Top 150 Million Songs." Apple - Press Info
- ITunes Music Store Downloads Top 150 Million Songs. Apple Inc., 14 Oct. 2014. Web.
06 Nov. 2014.
"Lauryn Hill Released from Jail, Celebrates with New Song." NY Daily News. N.p., 4 Oct. 2013.
Web. 07 Nov. 2014.
"Lauryn Noelle Hill." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2014. Web. 06 Nov. 2014.
Moses, Najwa. "Lauryn Hill Style." MommyNoire. N.p., 9 Mar. 2014. Web. 07 Nov. 2014.

COMMENTS:
Work on organization. The body of your essay does not follow the order that you
introduce your points.
Review and imitate the formal essay guides. Include topic sentences and transitions in
your essays.
Work on sentence structure and clear, concise phrasing that is not too informal or
too conversational. Your phrasing often hurts your ability to express what you are really
trying to say.
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