Lauryn Hill released a lengthy response to Robert Glasper and rumors about her career.
On August 13, Glasper was open about his disdain for Lauryn Hill. He accused her of stealing music and remarked about her demanding behavior and docking musicians’ pay without notice.
"You've already stolen all of my friends' music. Miseducation was made by great musicians and producers that I know personally. You got a big hand off of music you didn't even write," the jazz musician said. "Those songs were written by other people, and they did not get their credit."
Hill addressed Glasper’s claims of stolen music and demanding behavior directly in the Medium essay. The “To Zion” singer said she doesn’t “have the details or recollection of cutting the band’s pay in half” and said she wouldn’t do so “unless I had a legitimate reason.”
Glasper was also offended at Hill’s insistence he audition. Hill said she asked for an audition to see “whether we vibe well, whether they understood my particular musical vernacular or direction at the time.”
She questioned Glasper’s choice to work with her.
“I’m confused as to why such a principled musician, who thought I ‘stole’ from his friends, would show up to work for me anyway. If that was hypocrisy or opportunism instead of genuine interest, it would further explain why an artist would feel the need to put his or her guard up,” she wrote.
The mother of six admitted she required collaborators to refer to her as Ms. Hill.
“And yes, Ms. Hill was absolutely a requirement,” she wrote. “I was young, black and female. Not everyone can work for and give the appropriate respect to a person in that package and in charge. It was important, especially then, for that to be revealed early.”
The Sister Act 2 star said the rumor about her not being able to play her original music is “a myth,” and she also addressed her chronic tardiness.
“Me being late to shows isn’t because I don’t respect my fans or their time, but the contrary, It can be argued that I care too much, and insist on things being right,” Hill wrote. “I like to switch my show up regularly, change arrangements, add new songs, etc. This often leads to long sound checks, which leads to doors opening late, which leads to the show getting a late start. This element of perfectionism is about wanting the audience to experience the very best and most authentic musical experience they can from what I do.”
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