Seraphina Lotkhamnga on April 16th, 2011

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Who: Lauryn Hill on the main stage
In 3 Words Or Fewer: The Rasta Miseducation
I’ll Remember This Until: Ms. Lauryn Hill wins another Grammy if she actually puts out that long-waited follow-up to her monumental debut “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” Known to be talented but quite an outspoken diva, Hill arrived on stage 20 minutes late. However, considering who she followed [see Cee-Lo’s train wreck], her set immediately provided salve for the overheated fans. Working the main stage with optimism instead of doctrine, Hill pleased old and new fans by putting Rastafarian spins on “Ex-Factor” and “Doo Wop (That Thing)” in addition to beloved Fugee tracks. Hill is no doubt still vivacious, but her age and hiatus has taken a toll on her once-flawless croons – which led to one of her backing vocalists taking many of her vocal runs. Her flow, however, was still on-point as ever whether it was melody or rhyme.
What I’d Tell My Friends Who Chose To See Tame Impala Instead: Those Aussie kids may be on to something with reinventing psychedelic rock, but Ms. Lauryn Hill brought hip-hop to the masses.
– S.L.
Photo by Jim Donnelly