Designed by Leslie Bonzella

Inspired by The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Miseducation is dedicated to one of the best, and one of my
favorite albums, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Miseducation
was designed by Leslie Bonzella in the Spring of 2020.

I’d like to thank my professors at DAAP who gave me the

foundation I needed to not only take on such an ambitious project,
but to take chances in the future. I’d especially like to thank Reneé
Seward and Matt Wizinsky for pushing me out of my comfort
zone. I’d like to thank my parents, Matt and Jayne Bonzella, for
encouraging me over the past 5 years. Your support and love
means the world to me.

3
5
Intro

Lost Ones

Ex Factor

To Zion

Doo-Wop (That Thing)

Superstar

Final Hour

When It Hurts So Bad

I Used to Love Him

Forgive Them Father

Nothing Even Matters

Everything is Everything

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is one of the most respected R&B albums of all time, winning
5 awards at the 41st Grammy Awards. Ms. Lauryn Hill was originally part of the musical group
The Fugees, but after a falling out with band member Wyclef Jean and the pregnancy of her first
child, she was inspired to write Miseducation.

Lauryn Hill’s journey to transcendence is told in three parts through her first and only full studio
album. Part I is based in anger and fear of the unknown. “Doo-Wop (That Thing)” marks a transition
into understanding the dangers of love. Part II is the story of painful growth as not only an artist,
but as a lover as well. She understands her place in the music industry and warns her counterparts
of the downfalls of stardom. She also learns to forgive those who have caused her pain in the past.
She reconciles her relationship with God and undergoes a metamporphosis, allowing herself to move
forward. Part III solidifies Lauryn’s relationship with God. She has also revealed that she has found
an all encompassing love, in which her self worth is an integral part. She has a new world view and
is no longer blinded by the toxic forces that exist in the world.

This book is my visual interpretation of each track on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. I encourage
you to take a listen to the album for yourself. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Leslie Bonzella

9
The first lines on her first solo album after the dissolution
of The Fugees, Ms. Hill addresses straight away the elephant in
the room with the now iconic lines, “It’s funny how money can
change a situation, miscommunication lead to complication”.
Here, Ms. Hill lays out the thesis she’ll work to develop throughout
the track. How success and its manifestations disrupted the Fugees
and more specifically, her romantic and creative relationship
with Wyclef Jean. Technically, the lyrical couplet contains a few
clever rhyme schemes. Aside from the standard rhyme with the
last word of each line, in this case situation and complication,
Ms. Hill also rhymes funny and money in line one, following the
word money with change, a type of money as in pocket change.
Situation is followed by the rhyme miscommunication, and
Ms. Hill fuses those two words together to get the word
complication, which ends the couplet.
Saying her emancipation or freedom doesn’t fit his equation refers
to her being freed from their unequal romantic relationship, but
by saying equation, it also ties back in the money reference in
the verses opening line that her leaving him creatively would
negatively affect his finances.
Hill cleverly plays on Wyclef’s adultery with metaphor, comparing
sexual exploits to scrimmage or meaningless games of sport line
comes when she says that, because of those meaningless wins, he
lost the real game. He lost her.
On Ex Factor, Ms. Hill removes her armor sentimentally,
expressing her grief with admirable honesty and vulnerability.
It displays not only Ms. Hill’s emotional complexity, but the
universal complexity of love and love lost. After a breakup,
one moment you’re spiteful, the next you’re mourning, the next
you’re really jealous or angry. “You always seem to let me know,
It ain’t working, it ain’t working” displays the retrogressive nature
of their relationship. Everything seems to be going well, only
when progress is perceived to be made, they regress again to a
tumultuous state similar to the expression, “one step forward,
two steps back”. The hook continues and “when I try to walk
away, you hurt yourself to make me stay, this is crazy”. While
suicide or self harm is, of course, an issue that should always
be taken seriously in some cases threatening your partner with
self harm. If they leave is a desperate to they can be used to
manipulate and maintain control over that person, a definitive
record that a relationship has reached an unhealthy state. It’s a
person who wants out in an impossible quandary. They don’t know
if their partner is serious about self harm or, if they’re just being
manipulative, making it very difficult to leave.
Ms. Lauryn Hill’s timeless ballad, “To Zion” tells a powerful story
about the birth of her first child. “I wanted it to be a revolutionary
song about a spiritual movement, and also about my spiritual
change going from one place to another because of my son.
When he was born, I almost felt like I was born again.” Ms. Hill’s
first pregnancy was not without controversy, sending Ms. Hill into
an emotional, spiritual crisis of sorts. Ms. Hill became pregnant
at age twenty-one. The same year, The Fugees released The Score
and were quickly becoming an international sensation. Many
saw the pregnancy as a conflict of interest, including some in her
inner circle and at the record label. Lauryn Hill was a superstar
in the making and having a child was viewed as a hindrance in
her development as an artist. Ms. Hill was pressured by some to
have an abortion, but she chose instead to keep the child, which
she viewed as a direct blessing from God. It was a decision that
provided clarity.
In Doo-Wop (That Thing) Ms. Hill warns women to watch out for
guys only concerned with “that thing”, which is a euphemism for
sex. This introduces the cautionary tone to the song’s message, and
the dynamics between one track minded men and the women that
they court. As we’ll see in both of the songs verses, Ms. Hill places
blame on both the men and the women for the creation of these
dynamics, specifically within the young black urban community.
In verse one, she speaks to the women directly. Ms. Hill begins
by presenting a micro-narrative about a one night stand, directly
addressing the woman. In this scenario, she says, “it’s been three
weeks since you were looking for your friend, the one it hit it and
never called you again.” The implication here is that the woman
was hoping for something more to come from this romantic
relationship, but instead she was ghosted, never hearing from the
man again.
A second iteration of the song’s hook is no longer a euphemism
for sex. Rather, that thing is now money and materialism.
This helps us look verse two which addresses the men directly.
Ms. Hill makes very clear who she’s addressing with the opening
lines. “The second verse is dedicated to the men more concerned
with his rims and his Timbs than his women.” She draws attention
to these men prioritizing materialism, while neglecting the women
that they’re with. And just like certain women prioritizing their bodies
to meet expectations culture has set for them, men flaunting wealth
is also attempt to fulfill some invisible expectation society has
pressed upon them.
Part I of Miseducation is the collection of Lauryn’s lessons learned
11
through her experiences. Although she has not found complete
peace in these experiences, she is working up to a point of
becoming teacher, rather than student.
 ☞ It’s funny how money change a situation
Miscommunication lead 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
But remember not a game new under the sun
Everything you did has already been done
I know all the tricks from Bricks to Kingston
My ting done made your kingdom wan’ run
Now understand, L-Boogie, non-violent
But if a thing test me, run for my gun
Can’t take a threat to my new born son
L been this way since creation
A groupie call, you fall from temptation
Now you wanna bawl over separation
Tarnish my image in the conversation
Who you gon’ scrimmage, like you the champion?
You might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one
You might win some but you just lost one
You might win some but you just lost one

Now, now, how come your talk turn cold?

Gain the whole world for the price of your soul
Tryin’ to grab hold of what you can’t control
Now you all floss, what a sight to behold
Wisdom is better than silver and gold
I was hopeless, now I’m on hope road
Every man wanna act like he’s exempt Now don’t you understand, man, universal law?
Him need to get down on his knees and repent What you throw out comes back to you, star
Can’t slick talk on the day of judgment Never underestimate those who you scar
Your movement’s similar to a serpent ‘Cause karma, karma, karma comes back to you hard!
Tried to play straight, how your whole style bent? You can’t hold God’s people back that long
The chain of Shatan wasn’t made that strong
Consequence is no coincidence Trying to pretend like your word is your bond
Hypocrites always wanna play innocent But until you do right, all you do will go wrong
Always want to take it to the full out extent Now some might mistake this just for simple song
And some don’t know what they have ‘til it’s gone
Always want to make it seem like good intent Now even when you’re gone you can still be reborn
Never want to face it when it time for punishment And, from the night can arrive the sweet dawn
Now, some might listen and some might shun
I know you don’t wanna hear my opinion And some may think that they’ve reached perfection
If you look closely you’ll see what you’ve become
There come many paths and you must choose one ‘Cause you might win some but you just lost one!
You might win some but you just lost one
And if you don’t change then the rain soon come
You might win some but you just lost one
See you might win some, but you just lost one You might win some but you just lost one
You might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one 13

You might win some but you just lost one You might win some, but you really lost one
You might win some but you just lost one Performed by Ms. Lauryn Hill
You might win some but you just lost one You just lost one, it’s so silly how come? Written by Frederick Hibbert & Ms. Lauryn Hill
When it’s all done, did you really gain from Produced by Che Guevara, Ms. Lauryn Hill & Vada Nobles

What you done done? It’s so silly how come?

You just lost one

15
 ☞ It could a l l be so simple Care for me, care for me
But you’d rather make it h a r d care

Loving you is like a battle

And we both end up with scars

Tell me who I have to be

I know you care for me
To get some reciprocity
there

See, no one loves you more than me

And no one ever will

Is this just a silly game

That forces you to act this way? There for me, there for me
cry
Forces you to scream my name
Then pretend that you can’t stay

No matter how I think we grow

Said you’d be there for me
give

You always seem to let me know

It ain’t working, it ain’t working

Cry for me, cry for me
care

And when I try to walk away

You’d hurt yourself to make me stay

You said you’d die for me
there
This is crazy, this is crazy

I keep let t ing y ou back in Give to me, give to me

H ow can I exp lain my self? cry

Why won’t you live for me?

live 17

Performed by Ms. Lauryn Hill

Written by A. Bergman, M. Bergman, Dennis Coles,
Robert Diggs, G. Grice, Lamont Hawkins, Marvin Hamlisch,
Ms. Lauryn Hill, J. Hunter, Russel Jones C. Smith, & Corey Woods As painful as this thing has been
Where were you
I just can’t be with no one else
Produced by Ms. Lauryn Hill
See I know what we’ve got to do
You let go, and I’ll let go too

Cause no one’s hurt me more than you

And no one ever will When I needed you?
 plain
Tell me who I have to be
How To get some reciprocity
myse-
can See, no one loves you more than me

eee
I– And no one ever will
I ex

eelf
?
has beee n ju st one
pain ful else
thing I ca n ’t no
as
be
this with
as

know
what We’ve got to do o o o
I
S ee Ooo
oo
and

19
21
 ☞ Unsure of 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

Woe this crazy circumstance

I knew his life deserved a chance

But everybody told me to be smart

“Look at your career,” they said

“Lauryn, baby use your head”

How beautiful if nothing more
Now the joy of my world
But instead I chose to use my heart Than to wait at Zion’s door
Is in Zion!
I’ve never been in love like this before
Now the joy of my world
Is in Zion!
Now let me pray to keep you from

The perils that will surely come

See life for you, my prince has just begun

And I thank you for choosing me

To c o m e t h r o u g h u n t o l i f e t o b e

A beautiful reflection of His grace

23
See I know that a gift so great
Performed by Ms. Lauryn Hill & Carlos Santana
Written by Charles Fox, Norman Gimble, Che Guevara,
Is only one God could create
& Ms. Lauryn Hill
Produced by Ms. Lauryn Hill That the joy
And I’m reminded every time I see your face
Of my world

Is in Zion

Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion, marching, beautiful, beautiful, Zion, Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
 bal
my
of what ance
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I touch

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look your ryn
they
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Lau use your head

Z I O N
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JOY

is
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of
now in
27
☞ It’s been three weeks since you were looking for your friend
The one you let hit it and never called you again
‘Member when he told you he was ‘bout the Benjamins?
You act like you ain’t hear him then give him a little trim
To begin, how you think you’re really gon’ pretend
Like you wasn’t down and you called him again?
Plus, when you give it up so easy you ain’t even foolin’ him
If you did it then, then you’d probably fuck again

Talking out your neck, sayin’ you’re a Christian

A Muslim, sleeping with the jinn
Now that was the sin that did Jezebel in
Who you gon’ tell when the repercussions spin?
Showing off your ass ‘cause you’re thinking it’s a trend
Girlfriend, let me break it down for you again
You know I only say it ‘cause I’m truly genuine
Don’t be a hard rock when you really are a gem

The second verse is dedicated to the men

Baby girl, respect is just a minimum
More concerned with his rims and his Timbs than his women
Niggas fucked up and you still defending ‘em
Him and his men come in the club like hooligans
Now, Lauryn is only human
Don’t care who they offend, poppin’ yang
Don’t think I haven’t been through the same predicament
like you got yen
Let it sit inside your head like a million women in Philly, Penn
Let’s stop pretend, the ones that pack pistols by they waist
It’s silly when girls sell their souls because it’s in
men
Look at where you be in, hair weaves like Europeans
Cristal by the case men, still in they mother’s basement
Fake nails done by Koreans
The pretty face men claiming that they did a bid men
Come again Guys you know you’d better watch out
Need to take care of they three or four kids
Some girls, some girls are only about
And they face a court case when the child support late
That thing, that thing, that thing
Money taking and heart breaking, now you wonder
That thing, that thing, that thing
why women hate men
The sneaky, silent men
The punk, domestic violence men
Quick to shoot the semen, stop acting like boys and be men
How you gonna win when you ain’t right within?
How you gonna win when you ain’t right within? 29

How you gonna win when you ain’t right within? Performed by Ms. Lauryn Hill
Come again, come again Girls, you know you’d better watch out Written by Ms. Lauryn Hill
Produced by Ms. Lauryn Hill
Come again, come again Some guys, some guys are only about
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing
Guys, you know you’d better watch out
‘Cause girls, some girls are only about
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing
31
“Doo Wop (that thing)” was the first of a trio of songs on
Miseducation that quickly addressed what Ms. Hill views
as flawed or superficial in the contemporary culture of her era,
specifically within the hip-hop community. Many observations
and opinions about the subject formulated while Hill was pregnant
with her first child. She told the Rolling Stone, “Once I had my
child, I was forced to sit still. Had I not sat still, maybe I would
have been caught up in the whirlwind too. Because I was on the
outside, I could see just how materialistic the industry was. It
frustrated me that it had nothing to do with talent and musical
merit. MCs didn’t have to write the rhymes, singers didn’t really
have to be able to sing. I just felt like the world of music was upside
down.” This disheartened sentiment about the music industry is
expressed potently on Miseducation’s next two tracks, the first of
which is The Doors-inspired lament “Superstar”. With the song’s
introduction, Miss Hill makes it very clear just what Superstar’s
about: the growing lack of authenticity in hip-hop. She’d rather live
in such a way that ensure she excels in the afterlife.
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ictiorerchil estiissinus.
33
 ☞ Yo hip-hop, started out in the heart
Uh-huh, yo
Now everybody tryin to chart
Say what? Hip-Hop, started out in the heart
Yo, now everybody tryin to chart
C’mon now baby c’mon now baby c’mon now baby c’mon, Come on baby light my fire
Everything you drop is so tired
Music is supposed to inspire
C’mon now baby c’mon now baby c’mon now baby c’mon How come we ain’t gettin no higher?
Come on baby light my fire
Everything you drop is so tired
Music is supposed to inspire
How come we ain’t gettin no higher?
I know y ou t h ink t h at y ou’ve got it all
And by making ot h er p eop le feel small
M akes y ou t h ink y ou’re unable t o fall
B ut wh en y ou d o, wh o y ou gonna call?
S ee wh at y ou give is j ust wh at y ou get
I know it h asn’t h it y ou y et !
Now I d on’t mean t o get y ou up set
B ut every cause h as an effect ! Uh -h uh !
Performed by Ms. Lauryn Hill
Written by Ms. Lauryn Hill, Johari Newton,
& James Poyser Come on baby light my fire
Everything you drop is so tired
Produced by Ms. Lauryn Hill
Music is supposed to inspire
How come we ain’t gettin no higher?
Come on baby light my fire
Everything you drop is so tired
Music is supposed to inspire
How come we ain’t gettin no higher?
Come on baby light my fire
Everything you drop is so tired
Music is supposed to inspire
How come we ain’t gettin no higher?
Now t ell me y our p h ilosop h y
On exact ly wh at an art ist sh ould be
S h ould t h ey be someone wit h p rosp erit y
And no concep t of realit y ?
Now, wh o y ou know wit h out any flaws?
Th at lives above t h e sp irit ual laws?
And d oes any t h ing t h ey feel j ust because
Th ere’s alway s someone t h ere wh o’ll ap p laud ?
Come on baby light my fire
Everything you drop is so tired
Music is supposed to inspire
How come we ain’t gettin no higher?
35
I cross sands in distant lands, made plans with the sheiks
Why you beef with freaks as my album sales peak? Uhh
All I wanted was to sell like five hundred
And be a ghetto superstar since my first album,
Blunted
I used to work at Foot Locker, they fired me: I fronted
Or I quitted, now I spit it -- however do you want it!
Now you get it, writing rhymes, in the Range, with
the frames
Lightly tinted, then send it to your block to have my
full name
Cemented (Lauryn Hill!) And if your lines sound like mine
I’m taking a percentage (ka-ching!)
Unprecedented, and still respected
When it’s finished, I’m serious, I’m takin over areas
in Aquarius
Runnin red lights with my ten thousand chariots
Just as Christ was a Superstar, you’re stupid, star!
They hail you then nail you, no matter who you are
They’ll make you now then take you down, and make
you face it
If you slit the bag open, put your pinky in it and taste it
 what
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39
 ☞ Yo, I treat this like my thesis
Well-written topic, broken down into pieces
I introduce then produce, words so profuse
It’s abuse how I juice up this beat, like I’m deuce
Two people both equal like I’m Gemini, rather Simeon
If I Jimmy on this lock I could pop it, you can’t stop it
Drop it, your whole crew’s microscopic
Like particles while I make international articles, and on the cover
Don’t discuss the baby mother
Business, I been in this third LP you can’t tell me, I witness
First handed I’m candid
You can’t stand it, respect demanded
And get flown around the planet
Rock Hard like granite or steel
People feel Lauryn Hill from New-Ark to Israel
And this is real, so I keep makin’ the street’s ballads You can get the money
While you lookin’ for dressin’ to go with your tossed salad
You can get the power
But keep your eyes on the Final Hour
You can get the money
Yo u c a n g e t t he p o w e r
But keep your eyes on the Final Hour
I’m a bout to cha n g e the fo c u s f r o m th e r i c h es t to th e b r o k es t
I w rote this opus, to r e ve r s e th e h y pn o s i s
W hoe ve r ’s close st to the li n e’ s g o n n a w i n i t
Yo u g on n a fa ll tr yin g to ball w h i le my team w i n th e pen n an t
I’m a bout to be g in it, for a mi n u te, th en r u n f o r s en ate
Make a slum lor d be the ten an t g i v e h i s mo n ey to k i d s to s pen d i t
And the n a me n d it, e ve r y law th at ev er pr ev en ted Yo u c an g et the m o n e y
Yo u c an g et the p o w e r
B u t k eep y o u r e ye s o n t he Fi n a l H o u r
Yo u c an g et the m o n e y
Our sur viva l sin ce our a r r i v al d o c u men ted i n T h e B i b le Yo u c an g et the p o w e r
B u t k eep y o u r e ye s o n t he Fi n a l H o u r
Yo u c an g et the m o n e y
Like Mose s a n d A a r on Yo u c an g et the p o w e r
B u t k eep y o u r e ye s o n t he Fi n a l H o u r
Yo u c an g et the m o n e y
Th in g s g on ’ cha n g e , it’s a p par en t Yo u c an g et the p o w e r
B u t k eep y o u r e ye s o n t he Fi n a l H o u r
And a ll the tr a n spa r e n t g on n a b e s een th r o u g h
Let G od r e de e m you, ke e p y o u r d een tr u e
Yo u ca n g e t the g r e e n too
Watch out wha t you clin g to , o b s er v e h o w a qu een d o
And I r e ma in ca lm r e a din g th e 73r d Ps alm
Cause with a ll tha t’s g oin g o n I g o t th e w o r ld i n my palm
You can get the money
You can get the power
But keep your eyes on the Final Hour
You can get the money
41
Now I be breaking bread sipping Manischewitz wine Yo u c a n g e t t he p o w e r
Pay no mind party like it’s 1999 Performed by Ms. Lauryn Hill
But when it comes down to ground beef like Palestine But keep your eyes on the Final Hour
Say your rhymes, let’s see if that get you out your bind Written by Ms. Lauryn Hill
Now I’m a get the mozzarella like a Rockafeller
Still be in the church of Lalibela, singing hymns a cappella Produced by Ms. Lauryn Hill
Whether posed in Mirabella in Couture
Or collecting residuals from off The Score
I’m making sure I’m with the 144
I’ve been here before this ain’t a battle, this is war
Word to Boonie, I make salat like a Sunni
Get diplomatic immunity in every ghetto community
Had opportunity went from Hoodshock to Hood-chic
But it ain’t what you cop, it’s about what you keep
And even if there are leaks, you can’t capsize this ship
Cause I baptize my lips every time I take a sip
43
☞ When it hurts so bad
When it hurts so bad
Why’s it feel so good?

I loved real, real hard once

But I, I loved the young man
But the love wasn’t returned
And if you ever been in love
Found out the man I’d die for
Then you’d understand See, I thought this feeling
He wasn’t even concerned
That what you want might make you cry It was all that I had
I tried, and I tried, and I tried
What you need might pass you by But how could this be love
To keep him in my life But I, I loved the young man
If you don’t catch it And make me feel so bad?
I cried, and I cried, and I cried
And if you ever been in love
Gave up my power
And what you need ironically
But I couldn’t make it right
I existed for you
Then you’d understand
Wi l l t u r n o u t w h a t y o u w a n t t o b e
But who-ever knew
That what you want might make you cry
If you just let it The voo-doo you’d do

What you need might pass you by

If you just let it

If you don’t catch it

And what you need ironically

45

Performed by Ms. Lauryn Hill

Will turn out what you want to be Written by Ms. Lauryn Hill
Produced by Ms. Lauryn Hill

If you just let it

If you just let it

47
 I chose the road of passion and pain

Sacrificed too much and waited in vain

☞ Now I don’t As I look at what I’ve done
I used to love him but now I don’t The type of life that I’ve lived Gave up my power ceased being queen
Now I don’t How many things I pray the father will forgive
One situation involved a young man
Addicted to love like the drug of a fiend
He was the ocean and I was the sand
He stole my heart like a thief in the night
Dulled my senses blurred my sight See, torn and confused wasted and used
I used to love him but now I don’t
Now I don’t
I used to love him but now I don’t
Now I don’t
Reached the crossroad which path would I choose

Stuck and frustrated I waited, debated

For something to happen that just wasn’t fated

Thought what I wanted was something I needed

When momma said no I just should have heeded

Misled I bled ‘till the poison was gone

And out of the darkness arrived the sweet dawn

I used to love him but now I don’t

Now I don’t
I used to love him but now I don’t
Now I don’t

Fat h er y ou saved me and y ou sh owed me t h at life

Performed by Mary J. Blige & Ms. Lauryn Hill
Written by D.J. Rogers & Ms. Lauryn Hill
Produced by Ms. Lauryn Hill
Was much more t h an being some foolish man’s wife
S h owed me t h at love was resp ect and d evot ion
Great er t h an p lanet s and d eep er t h an any oceans
S ee, my soul was weary but now it ’s rep lenish ed
Cont ent because t h at p art of my life is finish ed
I see h im somet imes and t h e look in h is ey e 49
Is one of a man wh o’s lost t reasures unt old
B ut my h eart is gold I t ook back my soul
And t ot ally let my creat or cont rol
Th e life wh ich was h is,
t h e life wh ich was h is t o begin wit h

Now I don’t
I used to love him but now I don’t
Now I don’t
I used to love him but now I don’t
Now I don’t
51
 type I’ve
I’ve of
I life
look at d liv
o ed
ne that

As The
what

things for
will
er give
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m pray the
How

h
i now
I m I
I – used love
and lov
e
him don’t
to

53
“She is no longer concerned with the physical world now that she’s
found a transcendent, spiritual love.” Regarding the collaboration
with Ms. Hill, D’Angelo stated, “working with Ms. Hill was very
cool. When Lauryn and I went into the studio together, I laid down
my vocals in the course of an hour.” The idea to collaborate with a
male singer was inspired by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway.
Nothing Even Matters was modeled after the Flack and Hathaway
duet, “The Closer I Get to You”.
Ms. Hill and D’Angelo alternate vocal passages on Nothing Even
Matters. Ms. Hill exhibits a tranquil contentment as she sings.
This newfound serenity and acceptance is epitomized in the
refrain, “nothing even matters”. Though this is often a phrase used
nihilistically, here it’s used to describe a zen-like emptiness of
mind achieved through love.
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cus.
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vel ilia qui nima ant harciae plam, officip samuscid quibus, opta
exerro cum nonet eostotatur, erum ut et il id que vitiumquid et
55
☞ Beware the false motives of others
Be careful of those who pretend to be brothers
And you never suppose it’s those who are closest to you
To you
They say all the right things, to gain their position
Then use your kindness as their ammunition
To shoot you down in the name of amibition, they do
Ohhh
Forgive them father, for they know not what they do
Forgive them father, for they know not what they do
It took me a little while to discover
Wolves in sheep coats who pretend to be lovers
Men who lack conscience will even lie to themselves,
to themselves
A friend once said, and I found to be true
That everyday people, they lie to God too
So what makes you think, that they won’t lie to you?
Why every Indian wanna be the chief?
Feed a man ‘til he full and he still want beef
Give me grief, try to tief off my piece
Why for you to increase, I must decrease?
If I treat you kindly, does it mean that I’m weak?
You hear me speak and think I won’t take it to the streets
I know enough cats that don’t turn the other cheek
But I try to keep it civilized, like Menelik
And other African czars, observing stars with war scars
Get yours in this capitalistic system
So many caught or got bought you can’t list them
How you gon’ idolize the missing?
To survive is to stay alive in the face of opposition
Even when they coming, gunning I stand position
L’s known the mission since conception
Let’s free the people from deception
If you looking for the answers then you gotta ask the questions
And when I let go, my voice echoes through the ghetto
Sick of men trying to pull strings like Geppetto
Why black people always be the ones to settle?
March through these streets like Soweto, uhh 57
Performed by Ms. Lauryn Hill
Written by Ms. Lauryn Hill
Produced by Ms. Lauryn Hill
Like Cain and Abel, Caesar and Brutus
Jesus and Judus,
backstabbers do this
59
 ‘Ca use n othin g ev en matter s at all

☞ Now the skies could fall Now you won’t find me at no store

Not even if my boss should call I have no time for manicures

The world it seems so very small With you it’s never either-or

Cause nothing even matters no more

Se e n othin g e v en matter s See nothing it don’t matter

See nothing even matters no more

See, I don’t need no alcohol
Nothing even matters
Your love make me feel ten feet tall
Nothing even matters no more
Without it I’d go through withdrawal

Se e n othin g e v en matter s at all

These buildings could drift out to sea Now my team could score

Some natural catastrophe And make it to the Final Four

Still, there’s no place I’d rather be Just repossessed my four by four

‘Cause nothing even matters no more

Nothin g e ve n matter s
Nothing even matters
You’re part of my identity
Nothing even matters no more
I sometimes have a tendency
61
Nothing even matters
To look at you religiously Performed by Ms. Lauryn Hill & D’Angelo
No, no more Written by Ms. Lauryn Hill
Produced by Ms. Lauryn Hill

To me
Nothin g e ve n matter s at all
To me

To me
To me
 could The small
should c a l y
skies fall not
ev- l world, ver
the en it
if m
y boss
seems so
Now

thin even
no- g even nothingev
en nothing matters all- thing
no-
matters at
mat m at te rs hing
ters see even at ll t all
cause matters see no- even

you won’t find me cause nothing even matters

no time
With you
now at ve no
I ha for it’s nev-
no er or more

store e i t h e r-
manicures
63
65
☞ Everything is everything
What is meant to be, will be
After winter, must come spring
Change, it comes eventually
Everything is everything
What is meant to be, will be
After winter, must come spring
Change, it comes eventually
I wrote these words for everyone
who struggles in their youth
Who won’t accept deception, in instead of what is truth
It seems we lose the game
Before we even start to play
Who made these rules?
We’re so confused Everything is everything
Easily led astray
Everything is everything
Let me tell ya that...
Everything is everything
After winter, must come spring
Everything is everything
Our philosophy
Possibly speak tongues
Beat drum, Abyssinian, street Baptist
Rap this in fine linen, from the beginning
My practice extending across the atlas
I begat this
Flipping in the ghetto on a dirty mattress
You can’t match this rapper slash actress
More powerful than two Cleopatras
Bomb graffiti on the tomb of Nefertiti
MCs ain’t ready to take it to the Serengeti
My rhymes is heavy like the mind of sister Betty
L-Boogie spars with stars and constellations
Then came down for a little conversation
Adjacent to the king, fear no human being
Roll with cherubims to Nassau Coliseum
Now hear this mixture, where Hip Hop meets scripture
Develop a negative into a positive picture
Everything is everything
Everything is everything
Everything is everything
After winter, must come spring
Everything is everything
Sometimes it seems
We’ll touch that dream
But things come slow or not at all
And the ones on top, won’t make it stop Everything is everything
(won’t make it stop) 67
Everything is everything
So convinced that they might fall Performed by Ms. Lauryn Hill
Let’s love ourselves and we can’t fail Everything is everything Written by Johari Newton & Ms. Lauryn Hill
To make a better situation (better situation) Produced by Ms. Lauryn Hill
After winter, must come spring
Tomorrow, our seeds will grow
Everything is everything
All we need is dedication
Let me tell ya that Everything is everything
Everything is everything
Everything is everything
After winter, must come spring
Everything is everything
69
 ☞ My world it moves so fast today
The past it seems so far away
And life squeezes so tight that I can’t breathe
And every time I try to be, what someone else has
thought of me
So caught up, I wasn’t able to achieve

But deep in my heart, the answer it was in me

And I made up my mind to define my own destiny

I look at my environment
And wonder where the fire went
What happened to everything we used to be
I hear so many cry for help
Searching outside of themselves
Now I know that his strength is within me

And deep in my heart, the answer it was in me

And I made up my mind to define my own destiny

And deep in my heart...

71
And deep in my heart, the answer it was in me
Performed by Ms. Lauryn Hill
Written by Tejumold Newton & Ms. Lauryn Hill
And I made up my mind to define my own destiny
Produced by Ms. Lauryn Hill
 I
y
fast toda can’t
so
world it past life
moves it awa and
seems y
far
breathe
the so
that
so tight
My squeezes

up
caught to
So
achieve
wasn’t

I
able

was
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d e e p in
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the
But 73
h e a r t
75
Lauryn Hill’s work continues to inspire rappers and can still be heard sampled in Hip Hop today.
In 2018, Hill was sampled on Cardi B’s “Be Careful”, Drake’s “Nice for what”, and A$AP Rocky’s
“Purity”. Kanye West has mentioned Lauryn Hill in a couple of his songs. In Kanye West’s song
“Champion”, released in 2007, he says “Lauryn Hill said her heart was in Zion, I wish her heart still
was in rhymin”. Zion is Hill’s first born, who she sings about in “To Zion”. Kanye also talks about Hill
in his song released in 2016, “No More parties in LA”. He states “I was uninspired since Lauryn Hill
retired”. This is referring to Hill not releasing any new music since 2013.

Other samples of Lauryn Hill’s work come from artists such as J Cole, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, and
Kanye West. J Cole samples Hill’s “Nothing Even Matters” and “To Zion” in his song “Cole Summer”.
A Boogie samples a few Hill songs including “Ex-Factor” in his song of the same name as well as in a
remix of Drake’s “Nice for What”. Kanye famously samples Hill in “All Falls Down” where he samples
“Mystery of Iniquity”.

77
Resources:
Dissect Podcast: A serialized analysis of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
genius.com
Credits for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill:
Al Anderson Guitar
Marc Baptiste Photography
Tom Barney Bass
Bud Beadle Flute, Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor)
Mary J. Blige Featured Artist, Guest Artist, Vocals
Kenny O. Bobien Vocals (Background)
Earle Brown Assistant Engineer
Errol Brown Assistant Engineer
Robert Browne Guitar
Rudy Byrd Percussion
Commissioner Gordon Engineer, Mixing
Jared Crawford Drums
D’Angelo Featured Artist, Fender Rhodes, Rasheem “Kio” Pugh Vocals (Background)
Guest Artist, Vocals
DJ Supreme DJ
Don-E Fender Rhodes, Organ (Hammond), Everol Ray Trumpet
Piano, Wurlitzer
Francis Dunnery Guitar
Paul Fakhourie Bass
Veronica Fletcher Hair Stylist
Tameka Foster Stylist
Dean Fraser Sax (Tenor)
Anita Gibson Make-Up
Debra Ginyard Stylist
Erwin Gorostiza Art Direction
Che Guevara Drum Programming, Producer
L.A. Hill Composer
Lauryn Hill Arranger, Art Direction, Composer, Eddie Stockley Vocals (Background)
Executive Producer, Guitar,
Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals
Lori Holland Clarinet, Fender Rhodes, Organ,
Organ (Hammond), Piano (Electric)
Matt Howe Engineer
Indigo Quartet Strings
Wyclef Jean Composer
Storm Jefferson Assistant Engineer, Engineer
Eric Johnson Photography
Fundisha Johnson Vocals (Background)
Ken Johnston Engineer
Sabrina Johnston Guest Artist, Vocals (Background)
Derek Khan Stylist
Devon Kirkpatrick Assistant Engineer, Digital Editing
Julian Marley Guitar
Jennifer McNeil Vocals (Background)
Christopher Meredith Bass
Johari Newton Composer, Guitar
Tejumold Newton Composer, Piano
Vada Nobles Drum Programming, Producer
Grace Paradise Harp
Che Pope Programming
Herb Powers Mastering
James Poyser Celeste, Composer, Fender Rhodes,
Harpsichord, Moog Bass, Organ,
Piano (Electric), Synthesizer Bass,
Wurlitzer
Tony Prendatt Engineer
Lenesha Randolph Vocals (Background)
Squiddly Ranks Drums
Warren Riker Engineer, Mixing
Earl Robinson Vocals (Background)
Kevin Robinson Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Nambo Robinson Trombone
Matthew Rubano Bass
Carlos Santana Featured Artist, Guest Artist, Guitar
Jamie Seigal Assistant Engineer
Andrea Simmons Vocals (Background)
Andrew Smith Guitar
Earl “Chinna” Smith Guitar, Vocals (Background)
John Stephens Piano
Chris Theis Engineer
Greg Thompson Assistant Engineer
Neil Tucker Assistant Engineer
Elisabeth Valletti Harp
Chip Verspyck Assistant Engineer
Brian Vibberts Assistant Engineer
Fayyaz Virji Trombone
Ahmed Wallace Vocals (Background)
Tara Wilkons Vocals (Background)
Robert Williams Assistant Engineer
Racheal Wilson Vocals (Background)
John Wydrycs Engineer
Johnny Wydrycz Engineer
Johnny Wyndrx Engineer
Chuck Young Vocals (Background)
Stewart Zender Bass