Lauryn Hill - Part 2

Overcoming Adversity

Lauryn Hill is an internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter and record producer. Born and raised in South Orange, New Jersey, she was only 13 when she joined the innovative hip-hop group the Fugees. Academically accomplished as well as musically gifted, she took time off from her musical career to attend Columbia University. The worldwide success of the Fugees' album "The Score" thrust Lauryn Hill into the international spotlight. She exceeded her admirers' most ambitious expectations with her debut solo album, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill." Writing, arranging or producing nearly every track on the album, Hill created a brilliant collection of songs, embracing rap, soul, reggae, old-school R&B and Motown styles in a modern hip-hop context. Songs from the album, including "Doo Wop (That Thing)" and "Every Ghetto, Every City" ruled the airwaves for months. Hill also dominated the 1999 Grammy Awards, taking home five trophies -- a record for a female artist -- including Best New Artist and Album of the Year. Following the success of Miseducation, Lauryn Hill stepped away from the spotlight to concentrate on raising her growing family. In 2002, she released "MTV Unplugged No. 2.0," a collection of live performances featuring quieter, more contemplative songs, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar. In 2010, the music industry celebrated the 12th anniversary of the release of The Miseducation, and Lauryn Hill, now a mother of five, embarked on a national tour, her first in years. Word has it that the reclusive Hill is now at work on a new collection of songs. This podcast was recorded at the 2000 Achievement Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona.