Lauryn Hill: Released from Jail and Releases New Song

Lauryn Hill (photo courtesy of Flickr-Lisa Liang)

Singer, Lauryn Hill was released from federal prison yesterday. Hill served a 3- month term for tax evasion. She went in on July 8, 2013, and was released early for good behavior. Right before her release from prison, Hill released a new song called "Consumerism" which is part of an album called Part 1: Letters From Exile.The song has a similar spoken word flow like her previously released song "Neurotic Society". You can listen to "Consumerism" here.

Hill released this statement about "Consumerism" on her Tumblr page:

"Consumerism is part of some material I was trying to finish before I had to come in. We did our best to eek out a mix via verbal and emailed direction, thanks to the crew of surrogate ears on the other side. Letters From Exile is material written from a certain space, in a certain place. I felt the need to discuss the underlying socio-political, cultural paradigm as I saw it. I haven’t been able to watch the news too much recently, so I’m not hip on everything going on. But inspiration of this sort is a kind of news in and of itself, and often times contains an urgency that precedes what happens. I couldn’t imagine it not being relevant. Messages like these I imagine find their audience, or their audience finds them, like water seeking it’s level."
- Ms. Lauryn Hill

At first glance, Hill's 2 new songs are far from the melodic and memorable tunes of her album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill." The new songs are more politically charged. Instead of delivering the lyrics through hot beats and bangin' choruses, Hill delivers her lyrics to you through hard-hitting words, raw and quick. In the first few lines of the song Hill says, " Yo/ Consumerism's running through'em like a tumor in'em/Ageism, sexism, racism, chauvinism/." Although the tunes are different, the songs still contain sentiments of the socially conscious Hill. In my opinion, I can see her doing a performance on the spoken word and music show, "Verses and Flow" on TVOne. Hint...Hint! (smile). Welcome home, Ms. Hill!

What do you think of Lauryn Hill's new song "Consumerism?"

Don't forget to enter 1BlessedNatural's Fall Giveaway!

Related Articles: Prayers and Love for Lauryn Hill
1BlessedNatural Spotlight: Lauryn Hill Interview

Aborigines and Melanesians: Naturally Blonde Hair and Dark Skin

Melanesia: Solomon Island girls (photo courtesy of the -cropped-Flickr- Australian Civil-Military Centre http://www.acmc.gov.au/ ) Naturally blonde hair is often associated with white or Caucasian people. However, there are groups of dark skin people who have naturally blonde hair also. Some of these groups include the Aboriginal Australians (Aborigines) and the Melanesians. I love this fact because it goes against the idea that one group or culture must look a certain way or stay in a certain category. The Aborigines have dark skin. Some of them also have blonde hair which tends to be straight, but can be curly. Scientists first believed they were descendants of Eurasians. In 2011, scientists found evidence against the theory from a sample of natural hair. The sample of hair, which was said to be more than 100 years old, helped scientists determine that Aborigines were descendants of Africans. The New York Times confirmed this finding: "The Abo...

Asian Hair Trend: Afro Perms

Asian afro perm (photo courtesy of www.afrohair.net) When we talk about the topic of natural hair, we often talk about African-Americans or Black people perming their hair to look more like Caucasian or straight hair. But, what about people of other races attempting to make their hair kinky or textured like that of African-Americans? Afro perms, along with other Black hairstyles have been a long time trend in Asia. Because Asian hair grows naturally straight, the afro perm gives the hair a textured look. The afro perm is not an actual relaxer or perm kit, it's the use of perm rods to make the hair curly. The beautypot.com says, " An afro perm is made by not straightening the hair. It is made by creating hair bonds that make the hair curl. The hair stylist makes the hair into a new shape, using perming rods or rollers, and allows the new shape to develop ." Preparation for afo: perm rods in Asian hair (photo courtesy of http://www.redefini...

Priscilla Shirer Shares Her Natural Hair Story and Tips on IG Live!

Actress and minister of Going Beyond Ministries Priscilla Shirer shared her natural hair story and secrets on IG Live today. After receiving numerous questions about her long thick natural hair, she decided it was time to do a video. Shirer said, "I've decided that sometimes, to a woman, hair = ministry." Shirer started getting a perm at about 13 years old. During previous years, her mother would use the hot comb to straighten her hair. When Shirer was 24 years old, she noticed a circular patch of hair that had broken off on the side of her head. After she visited a doctor and they plucked a few strands from different parts of her hair, the doctor concluded that Shirer's hair was growing in healthy. However, it was something that she was doing to her hair that was making it break off. As a result, her doctor told her to stop relaxing her hair for 6 months. While driving home, Shirer had a breakthrough. She originally had no intention of following the doctor...

1Blessed Natural Mag

Search This Blog