NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� 鈥淭wenty-five years of support. 25 years of love鈥� it鈥檚 our first show, it鈥檚 a little challenging because we鈥檙e home, and I鈥檝e been emotional.鈥�
Those were the words Lauryn Hill spoke to an adoring crowd as she kicked off the 鈥淢s. Lauryn Hill & Fugees: Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary Tour.鈥� Throughout the night, the artist who now styles herself as Ms. Lauryn Hill, re-lived in Newark, New Jersey鈥檚 Prudential Center, located about 20 minutes away from her hometown of East Orange.
Standing regally with flowy black pants, jeweled sunglasses and a white shirt with oversized balloon sleeves covered by an enormous, reddish floral-like cape, Hill triumphantly proclaimed, 鈥淣ew Jersey, I鈥檓 home!鈥�
As a packed house stood on their feet, the eclectic singer, flanked by a sizeable band which included a string section, began with a powerful rendition of 鈥淓verything is Everything.鈥� Accompanying Hill were marching band students from her alma mater, Columbia High School. (Other students from the area would perform at the end of her set.)
But significant audio issues muffled Hill's angelic, yet powerful voice throughout the night. At times, artist cut through the sound challenges, delivering beautiful renditions of some of her most popular songs.
Yelling out 鈥淶ion!鈥� 鈥� Hill was greeted with enormous cheers. The deeply personal song details how she continued with her pregnancy despite industry concerns that a child would derail her promising career. As fans stood captivated while Hill emotionally belted out lyrics, pictures and home videos of a then-baby Zion played on giant screens behind her. She would follow with wonderful performances of 鈥淣othing Even Matters,鈥� 鈥淭oo Good to Be True,鈥� and a stirring presentation of the title track.
The sheer brilliance and the magnitude of 鈥淢iseducation鈥� is often hard to encapsulate. Considered as one of the greatest American albums of the 20th century, becoming the first hip-hop album to win that honor.
More importantly, its subjects about romance, Black love and self-worth won hearts worldwide, and that鈥檚 partly why fans are so sensitive about Ms. Hill. Sharply rapping and singing majestically 鈥� not comparative to the current melodic rap style 鈥� Hill captured both traditional R&B lovers and hardcore hip-hop fans. Disappointingly, "Miseducation'' would be her only solo studio album.
And if you鈥檝e been wondering 鈥� yes, she was extremely tardy. While doors opened at 8 p.m., she didn鈥檛 hit the stage until about 9:50 p.m. (On Nas鈥檚 2022 Grammy-winning best rap album, rhyming, 鈥淢y awareness like Keanu in The Matrix/I鈥檓 saving souls and y鈥檃ll complaining 鈥檅out my lateness.鈥�)
But there were other disappointments, although not entirely surprising for those who鈥檝e followed her. Up-tempo versions of 鈥淲hen It Hurts So Bad,鈥� 鈥淪uperstar鈥� and 鈥淔inal Hour,鈥� which contained hints of The Lox鈥檚 鈥淢oney Power Respect,鈥� confused an audience unsure of how to follow along.
Rarely providing interviews, Hill in a Medium op-ed, stating, 鈥淭here鈥檚 no way I could continue to play the same songs over and over as long as I鈥檝e been performing them without some variation and exploration. I鈥檓 not a robot. If I鈥檇 had additional music out, perhaps I would have kept them as they were.鈥�
But her explanation has done little to appease fans who hold 鈥淢iseducation鈥� in such high regard. The disappointment may have been most palpable during about painfully and reluctantly ending a relationship. The sped-up tempo deprived the audience of the song鈥檚 emotion and connection, although fans did their best to accept what she provided.
After Hill鈥檚 solo set ended, she invited her Fugees bandmates, Wyclef Jean and Pras, on stage at around 11:10 p.m. They performed songs from their Grammy-winning catalog, as Hill revealed the group was unable to tour last year in celebration of the 25th anniversary of 鈥淭he Score" like they hoped.
鈥淎 lot of people didn鈥檛 think this would happen, including some of the people on stage,鈥� said Hill of the group鈥檚 reuniting. Pras responded to her with a resounding 鈥淔acts!鈥� signaling he was probably one of those she was referring to.
Earlier this year, and is currently free ahead of sentencing.
The crowd, who would close the night at Hill鈥檚 urging by singing 鈥淗appy Birthday鈥� to Wyclef who turned 54, rose to their feet when the group ended with their biggest hits: 鈥淜illing Me Softly,鈥� 鈥淩eady or Not鈥� and 鈥淔u-Gee-La.鈥�
In sports, home-field advantage can be a deciding factor; it鈥檚 why teams fight so hard to secure it as they head into the playoffs. A home crowd can shift the momentum of a game and provide a team with an extra boost when needed. Hill鈥檚 show was far from perfect, but she was surrounded by people who loved her, were touched by her music and those who literally grew up with her 鈥� both literally and metaphorically.
鈥淭he Miseducation鈥� performance failed at some points, and simple fixes could鈥檝e made it stellar. But her fans gave her a passing grade, even if they were biased, grading on a curve. And there鈥檚 nothing wrong with that 鈥� it鈥檚 what home-field advantage is for. at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. ___
Follow Associated Press journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
Gary Gerard Hamilton, The Associated Press
