Quadron "Ex-Factor" (cover)

Quadron performing "Ex-Factor" by Lauryn Hill while on tour. Beautiful cover. Absolutely beautiful. Enjoy.

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On Lauryn Hill and Shaking the Vending Machine

A week ago Jay Smooth took to facebook and said:

“The more I see people posting variations of “Lauryn gave birth to another baby? She needs to give birth to another album!” the more I hope she keeps raising her kids and never makes another album for your greedy selfish asses.”

I jumped in and offered up:

“Being a parent use to be a respectable career choice. Remember? Ha! And with six, they definitely need her attention. Besides, the wolves will never be satisfied if she doesn’t deliver another Miseducation and the chances are, she won’t. And that’s fine with me … *cues Everything Is Everything*”

Today Jay drops the video. Another great point from a dope dude. Enjoy.

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TMB's Throwback Video of the Day ... Lauryn Hill - "Ex Factor"

Now I know we've all been like, "where the eff is Lauryn Hill?" We miss her music! I know she has been in concert a few places, but that woman has disappeared from the music game for over a decade. I don't know about you guys but I'm personally starting to get offended by her absence. I'm just saying. Anyhow, this song popped into my head earlier today and I thought I'd share. If you've heard her one and only studio album, then you know this is a classic and that it sounds just as good now as it did 12 years ago. So enjoy the rest of your Thursday afternoon and mellow out to the sounds of "Ex Factor" from her 1998 debut album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.




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Check It ... Lauryn Hill at Toad's Place (Pics and Vids)

Soon as I found out that Lauryn Hill was coming through to perform around my area, I had to be on it for several reasons. I didn't know what to expect from the show and from Ms. Hill but was down to see for myself. Having to wait 3 hours for her to get on stage from what supposed to be a 9pm show start and dropping $50 on a ticket, I wasn't feeling too good about what I thought was to come. After hours of waiting in a packed spot, antsy, agitated, cramped, her band members started filling the stage. I figured then she had to show up and that she was late. Her DJ even had stated earlier in the night that she was running late due to a fire in a hotel or something. Don't take my word for it because it was hard to hear when he gave the explanation.

Finally, after about another half hour of her band setting up she was spotted. Crowd went bananas. Song after song she performed her hits with minimal stops and maximum energy. It was hard to hear some of her singing and therefore hard to figure out what songs she was performing, but overall it was a decent show. But, I think that's enough about me trying to describe it with my words. Check out the videos by clicking READ MORE to view them and see for yourself. Enjoy.

Throwback Sessions w/ EMS ... Carlos Santana feat. Lauryn Hill & Cee Lo - "Do You Like the Way"

This is my absolute favorite song off of Carlos Santana's Supernatural. When I bought this album, I ran "Do You Like the Way" into the ground. Supernatural is Santana's most successful album to date going 15x platinum in the U.S., 27x platinum worldwide, winning 9 Grammy awards and 3 Latin Grammy Awards. I mean, who really does THAT anymore? Supernatural also remained at the top of the Billboard charts for 12 non-consecutive weeks. Mad kudos to Clive Davis and Pete Ganbarg for conceiving sheer brilliance. Oh, how I love being an 80s baby!!


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Where tha Lady Was: Rock The Bells Wrap-Up

On Saturday, Hip-Hop invaded Governor's Island in a major way. Rock the Bells 2010 was on deck and it was the best Saturday I had spent in awhile. Great music, great company and best of all, I witnessed the return of Lauryn Hill. Yes, Lauryn Hill, whom we have been summoning back to existence since I started Tweeting last year, finally blessed us with her presence. Since this is the biggest RTB news, I will start with her. I have been hearing people's opinions about her performance. Now I am going to give you mine. Granted, she is not the Lauryn we knew from '95 but, she can still do the damn thing. No, her voice is not the same but she can still flow. She took us through her hits with re-vamped beats and melodies. I caught up with Ms. Hill backstage where we had a brief chat. The area backstage was hectic so we had to do things quick and when we could get it in. She basically expressed to me that she had been to "hell and back" but that she "remains positive". I made sure to tell her that she is almost a daily conversation topic when discussing the best female rapper. The smile on her face made me wanna cry. She shook my hand and said. "Thank you sis. I appreciate the love folks are sharing with me here today. I really am." And then she went about her way. The look in her eyes still seemed distant. I can't imagine what she went through but it definitely took it's toll.

Lauryn Hill performing "Ready or Not"

*wipes tears* Okay enough of that...

Old school represented as usual. Eric B and Rakim, KRS-One, Slick Rick (and his entourage of chains) all represented their respective albums, performing the classics. It is a shame that albums are not created like those any more. People are focused on the single, not the album.

The show was on point from beginning to end. Aside from seeing Miss Hill, I was excited to see A Tribe Called Quest. Their set was amazing. Their energy was through the roof. I dug deep into the "lyrics learned" section of my brain and went in as if I was a member of the group. They went through all the classics, "Bonita Applebaum", "Scenario", "Electric Relaxation". They did a J. Dilla tribute and out of the mouth of Q-Tip, "J.Dilla The best producer ever..." while Swizz Beats stood on the stage... LMAO

Tribe performing "Scenario, Check tha Rhyme"...

Backstage View of A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star

Consequence and Phife Dawg

The Wu shut it down as usual. If you have ever been to a Wu show, you know what it is. With the entire Clan in tow, including Old Dirty Bastard's son who performed his father's parts from the songs on the 36 Chambers album. He looks and sounds just like his father. It is a little freaky.

Wu performing "Da Mystery of Chessboxing" with an appearance by lil ODB

A Wu performance is definitely something you have to see. Outside of the Dogg Pound, they are the only other Rap "Group" that can deliver a hardcore performance. The Snoop moved through Doggystyle and enlisted the help of the Dogg Pound usual suspects. Warren G, Lady of Rage and RBX were also on hand to perform. It was amazing to see this crew, created so many years ago, still come together and deliver a Class "A" performance. Snoop did the damn thing, long blue bandana suit and all.

Snoop on his way to the stage, focused on tearin' it down

Snoop doin' the damn thing... "It Ain't no Fun"

Ladies Rage and Blogga playing with the Blackberry taking self pics before she hits the stage.

Jay and Bey...

RZA choppin' it up with my camera ace @IRunsNY

I did a few interviews and have a few cameos on film. Footage coming soon!!! There were a lot of people on deck to see the show as well. Jay and Bey, Swizz and Alicia, Chris Rock, John Legend, Mary J. Blige were all backstage enjoying the show. Rock the Bells is a show that I make it my business to attend. If you have never been, you need to re-evaluate your love for music and get to one.

Battle of The Voices

Listening to my Zen on random is a beautiful thing when you have 7000+ songs in it. That's exactly what I was doing and that's exactly what it was when out of nowhere, it lands on a Lauryn Hill song titled "To Zion". Got me thinking about how much I missed her voice, her videos, her impact to the game of R&B and Hip Hop music. She was a very talented and uniquely amazing individual that comes once in a blue moon. A rare voice that can penetrate the soul of millions of listeners.

I can remember the first time I ever heard and saw Ms. Lauryn Hill when she was still Ms. before she became Mrs. Lauryn Hill-Marley. I was watching Sister Act 2 and there she was on a piano with another singer practicing off somewhere apart from the group. She didn't start singing until after her friend had trouble with a part. So she ask Lauryn, "Rita" in the movie, to join in to help. That moment there gave me goosebumps as soon as I heard the first 5 seconds. "I sing because I'm happy." And so I listen because you make me happy. Amazing, amazing, amazing. Check it out.



'To Zion' by Ms. Hill got me to thinking, I wonder who people would choose if they had to in a Battle of The Voices between Lauryn Hill and Beyoncé Knowles. I'm only asking about their vocal talent. Not about the overall package. If it came down to singing ability, plain and simple. Who can sing better?




You can go by Grammy's if you'd like. Beyoncé has 7 as a solo artist, 10 total. Lauryn has 5 as a solo artist and 8 total. You can argue the amount of years, albums and collaborations it took to win those Grammys, but my question was purely looking for people's opinions about their voice and nothing else. Here's the answers I received.

@thaLadyBlogga no question. Lauryn Hill. She wasn't running around in a leotard and heels but she could lay a track lyrically and vocally.

@djkoast just straight singing? B. But Lauryn has her beat with lyrics 20 fold.

@clarity4kia Lauryn. She made you feel. Beyoncé has gorgeous voice, but there is no depth to her songs or her interpretations.

@Karlnova Lauryn Hill's voice has more soul and she's more vulnerable in her singing. You can feel her. Beyoncé is strong but guarded

@CUTE_NESS Lauryn Hill hands down. Even on her live album when her voice is breaking she sounds amazing.

@CUTE_NESS Lauryn Hill also because of content. She has something to say and she says it beautifully..

@42TheGreat Lauryn Hill, hands down. She delivers her message with more sincerity, while I believe B knows her ish is mainly for the club.

@fancyxpaants no doubt Lauryn will make a grown man cry .. but vocally Beyoncé has more range.. =/

@ThroatChopU Lauryn! Beyoncé got a look, a sound and an audience. Lauryn has the same but is more genuine tho!

@BORNININIQUITY Lauryn, hands DOWN! and I'm a Bey fan..

@blunted215 Lauryn Hill, hands down.

@ReadBeanpie Vocals Lauryn. Beyoncé has 1 sound. L-Boogie has range!

@DontBeASkeptik Lauryn had more emotion in her voice than bey ever can

@BelascoBlack Beyoncé sound like she devoted her whole life developing her voice. Hill sounds like she had her skill down from jump.

@BelascoBlack Beyoncé = polished. Lauryn Hill = effortless.

@fiveeightyseven RT @BelascoBlack Beyoncé = polished. Lauryn Hill = effortless. <---- I agree. My vote goes to Lauryn hill.

@MellyMelss Lauryn Hill... Damn it now I'm gonna listen to her "The Miseducation...". "Loving you is like a battle and we both end up wit scars."

@Da_Bean_Counter Lauryn Hill... HANDS DOWN!!!

@_peech: I'd say Lauryn Hill - she's flexible in the sound she brings. Beyoncé can do a lot of runs but at this point, who can't?

This can go all day with opinions going back and forth for so many reasons. I thought it was a good debate to start and a good challenge considering both parties involved are vocally incredible singers. Completely jaw-dropping talent.

So, what are you thoughts, reasons, choice as to who's your winner in this Battle of The Voices?




P.S. We miss you, Lauryn.

Talib Kweli - Ms. Hill




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Happy Birthday Lauryn...

A shout to Lauryn Hill on her birthday.

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