Lauryn Hill -Trevor Paolone

In many of the albums we have listened to in this class, racism or poverty is the driving factor behind their music but this album changed that.  In many songs, women are treated horribly through language such as “bitch” or “hoe” but in Lauryn Hill’s she gives women a voice saying that they can be their own person and do not have to be the object of men.  In Lost Ones, she talks about how she had an ex who she is better off without and that he lost the best thing that has ever happened to him: her.  She also speaks on topics that men cannot such as when she was pregnant and everyone was telling her to get an abortion.  While it would make her life better, she believes that her child is a blessing not a curse and writes To Zion about him.

Each Song:

Lost Ones is about a breakup Lauryn went through and her Ex is now badmouthing her.  She states that she is better off without him.  While he may win some, get some girls, he lost her, who was the best one he had.

In Ex-Factor Lauryn Hill talks about her relationship with a guy and she believes that it is getting better and they are growing but every time he does something to prove her wrong.  She keeps trying to get away from him but in the end she always takes him back.

To Zion is Lauryn writing a song to her young son Zion.  She makes a biblical reference to the Angel Gabriel coming to Mary.  Everyone is telling her to get an abortion to keep her career alive but she decides that her child is blessing not a curse.  The previous to songs talk about her ex’s but she claims that she has never been in love like this before.

Doo Wop is about her idea that women don’t need to overly sexualize themselves to feel worthy.  She brings up the idea that women can be their own person and don’t need to rely on men.  In the second verse she talks about men and states that they only look at women as objects.

In Superstar, Lauryn satirizes the people that are only in the rap game to make money.  She believes that music should come from your heart and should have the intention to inspire people, not receive a paycheck.  This person believes that they can raise themselves up by putting everyone else down.