October 6, 2005

Lauryn Hill, Central Park, 10/6/05

Only in New York can you saunter 3 hours late into a free concert in the park, go right to the front of the stage, and see Slum village followed by Scarlett Johansson and Al Gore warming up the crowd for Fishbone (who killed it), followed by De La Soul, followed by an impromptu set from Lauryn Hill ("I wasn't planning to anything musical tonight, but just now I changed my mind"), all in the span of an hour or so.

And Lauryn. I've probably cracked more than my share of jokes about her descent into weirdness. But even carrying all that baggage (plus another questionably tuned guitar), when she walks out onto an empty stage, sits down in front of you and starts to sing, it is nothing less than heart-stopping.

In fact I think it's all that baggage that helps make it so intense now.. because no matter how much any of us makes fun of her misadventures, how could we not be rooting for Lauryn? Watching an artist so beautiful in every sense go through all these trials and tribulations until I wonder whether she'll ever regain her stride, if I'll ever even see her perform again at all.. at this point anytime I see her walk out there I'm on th edge of my seat rooting with all my heart for her to do well..

for her to show us that she's happy and healthy again, that she's at peace with herself and ready to shine.. and then she here she comes with that voice, and it's so powerful and plaintive and yearning, yearning for all those same things we're rooting so hard for her to find.. all the same things, in the end, that we're each yearning to find in ourselves.. It adds up to quite a powerful moment.

And then she puts down the guitar, cues the DJ and spits motherf**king LOST ONES!! WHAT!?!???

Only two songs, but probably the most memorable performance I've seen this year.

Posted by jsmooth995 at October 6, 2005 11:34 PM

Comments

Man her hair is so BIG...and man Lauryn does rule.

Posted by: Sandeep at October 7, 2005 10:06 AM

Lauryn is like the female Nas...we're sitting around hoping for that return to greatness or the equivalent to Illmatic. only I feel 100x more disappointed and sadness by her misadventures because it hasn't just affected the music but it's run a lot deeper than that. glad she showed y'all a hint of that greatness at the park.

Posted by: Yvette at October 7, 2005 11:58 AM

Love what you said about Lauryn.

Rooting for her is like rooting for myself.

At Jones Beach, it was just that way, everyone on their seats for her...some hints of fun-making wiped away by her fuerza pura...

Posted by: lyd at October 7, 2005 4:39 PM

So that's where Slum Village was! They were supposed to be at a gig in Chicago where my guys The Primeridian also performed (they killed it, by the way). Everybody was saying that Slum Village got some last minute gig in New York but I had no idea this was it!

Posted by: mightypen at October 8, 2005 2:03 AM

Excellent review. L'Boogie is the illest female, point blank.Period. The fact that she did an impromptu performance shows you how much passion she's got for the game.

Posted by: Rizoh at October 10, 2005 7:49 AM

I loved the fact that I was smashed and was able to heckle L. Hill all day! (Who put make-up on that little boy???) Yeah thats right, she heard me. Her voice was great but her attitude was the worst!! She was just really nasty to the guy backing her up on the bass and the dj. She is too over rated. She spoke her mind, then she smoked it away, I don't give props to drug addicts who cut off their hair, have children out of wedlock but preached about little girls pushing stroller; hippocrits AMONGST US ALL!!!

Posted by: Chad at October 10, 2005 5:00 PM

"I loved the fact that I was smashed"

"I don't give props to drug addicts"

Posted by: Jay Smooth at October 10, 2005 5:41 PM

I love you for writing that beautiful review! I'm glad you had a good show, hopefully there'll be more to come.

Much luv'
Stine

http://www.LauryNet.com

Posted by: Stine at October 11, 2005 12:06 PM

Chad ,get a life already !

Thanks for posting this wonderful review !
Lauryn is great and I love her !

Posted by: Tzz at October 11, 2005 12:47 PM

I was there too and I left so invigorated! I'm glad she performed.

Posted by: Ms. B at October 28, 2005 11:37 PM

I was happy to see her in public again. I was happy to see for live for the first time. I'm still mad that we ain't meet in high school so I coulda worshipped her tip of longest lock to roughest ridge of the sole of barefoot (assuming she was worthy).

It is however, time for her to write some new -ish.

peace: random angry nee-gro (run for your lives)

Posted by: c dubble u at October 30, 2005 6:30 AM

She's written a lot. It's still underground.
Haven't you heard her songs "Take too Much", "guarding the gates", "I had to walk" etc...?
They all sound good.

Posted by: tya at November 7, 2005 2:56 PM

You can't be 28640 serious?!?

Posted by: Mary Box at June 16, 2006 5:07 PM