Words and Photos by Madelyn Griffith
There are very few artists whose debut and only album can continue to transcend and reach generations after almost two decades of its release. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a rare gem recognized for this anomaly.
For a short 4-stop tour, Ms. Lauryn Hill blessed the ears of East Coast audiences in a unique acoustic concert experience. I was extremely fortunate to catch the final show of the tour in East Hampton, NY, on July 25.
After a long ride from the city via the LIRR to the Hamptons, I stepped off the train into the cool sea breeze and rushed to grab some food and charge my phone — although my name was on the guest list, ensuring I was front row to Ms. Lauryn was the only thing on my mind. East Hampton is easily one of the most hallmark beachy towns I have visited.
After a quick bite at a local diner, I arrived at the isolated venue, The Clubhouse, around 4:25p.m. on the earlier side as doors were listed to open at 4 p.m. However, when I arrived, there was still a frozen line of waiting fans. While standing in line, I began to talk with those around me and discovered the run of the show had been pushed back as Ms. Lauryn Hill had arrived later than anticipated and was still completing soundcheck. It was not until an hour later, around 5:30 p.m., that the audience began making their way through security to quickly grab food or immediately secure their viewing spot.
The outside venue was set up in an almost backyard wedding aesthetic. Fairy lights hung from poles, there were decorated picnic tables, and linen couches with white side tables spaced out about the yard. Seemingly, the venue’s team managed to turn a beautiful backyard lawn into a concert space. The stage appeared a bit smaller than expected to fit a band with various instruments and an enthusiastic performer like Ms. Lauryn. With how intimate the venue was, all worries of not being able to see Ms. Lauryn were no longer looming over me – especially since I was able to secure a cozy spot right in front of the stage by the speakers.
The venue website had indicated the show would adhere to a 6-9 p.m. schedule. Around 6:45 p.m., the opener, Nigerian-American artist Manny Wellz, made his way onto the stage for a very brief setlist showcasing his R&B and Afrobeat song collections. Immediately after, two captivating DJs, whose names I didn’t catch, took over the stage, bringing their home country, Jamaica to East Hampton. They played Jamaican and Black American classics that got the crowd moving and warmed up before Ms. Lauryn took to the stage. As the DJ set neared an hour, the crowd, while still grooving, began to grow antsy for Ms. Lauryn’s arrival. Just when frowns were beginning to appear on surrounding faces, around 8:05, stepping out in a cheetah print dress and tall heels was the iconic Ms. Lauryn Hill. Of course, the crowd erupted with loud cheers as she took her center stage seat and began playing “Mr. Intentional” on her acoustic guitar. With no exaggeration, I felt my body start to ascend. As the show continued, it became impossible not to take your eyes off Ms. Lauryn Hill. Her setlist was stacked with classics like “Ex-Factor,” “To Zion,” and “ I Gotta Find Peace of Mind.” Although at times when she would announce, “I’m going to play a throwback” or “Let’s see who knows this one,” it felt like a joke because they were obvious classics that I figured everyone would know! Maybe that just exemplifies how much of a diehard Lauryn fan I am.
What I noticed most about this show was Ms. Lauryn Hill’s desire for creative perfection. She would perform her songs while also directing her band and crew. Whether she was directing for more perfection or noticed mistakes amongst her band was indistinguishable from an audience perspective.
The peak of the night came from a surprise appearance from her former Fugees bandmate Wyclef. He joined her on stage for “Ready or Not,” “Fu-Gee-La,” and of course, “Killing Me Softly.” The energy in the room continued to rise, especially when Wyclef hopped off stage and into the crowd to rap amongst the audience, leaving jaws dropped. A reunion as such had fans shocked, as the band had not been active since their 1996 hit album The Score. According to a recent interview with the BBC, Wyclef asked Ms. Lauryn Hill if there would be new music in the future, to which she simply stated, “Absolutely.”
Everything from the live band of varying instruments and Ms. Lauryn Hill’s enchanting voice alone to her outgoing on-stage presence marked this concert as one for the books. Her impeccable flow while rapping was incredibly more impressive in person than the soundtracked versions. Even after 20 years, her voice, only slightly deeper, sounded the same as the produced tracks and her former performances.
If people thought Ms. Lauryn Hill staled during her hiatus, this concert was a reminder of why she will always be remembered as a treasured poet and artist in the music industry. Her legacy is not simply held up by nostalgia alone, but also by her sheer cultural impact on the Black community and the world of music.
