Lauryn Hill Defends Her Chronic Punctuality Issues: 'Consider Yourselves Lucky I Show Up on This Stage'
Lauryn Hill defends her notorious tardiness to her shows, reminding fans that they are fortunate she even graces the stage every night
There are two things that can be considered certain: death, taxes, and the fact that a Ms. Lauryn Hill concert will never begin punctually. Hill, who is currently 48 years old, has gained a reputation for frequently delaying her performances. In fact, The Atlanta Black Star ran an article in October titled "Fans Express Surprise as Lauryn Hill Arrives Two Hours Late to New Jersey Concert - Some View It as 'Progress'."
Hill addressed the issue during her November 4th show at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, boldly stating, "They always say I'm late, but they should consider themselves lucky that I even make it on this stage every night."
She went on to emphasize that her motivation to perform does not stem from permission or approval, but rather from her unwavering faith. As she declared in a video recorded by VIBE's Mya Abraham, "I do this because I stand here in the name of God. God is the one who grants me this opportunity. He surrounded me with family and community when I had no support, even after the immense success of my album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1998, when no one stepped forward and said, 'Would you like to make another one?'"
Hill concluded, "I traveled across the globe, persistently playing the identical album repeatedly. We, the ones who have endured, are not only survivors, but also achievers."
Lauryn Hill will be performing at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California on November 04, 2023. She gained wide acclaim and awards for her debut album released in 1998. In 2002, she released a live album called MTV Unplugged No. 2.0, which received negative reviews from critics. Hill has not released any new albums since then, citing various obstacles such as politics, unrealistic expectations, and sabotage, as explained to Rolling Stone magazine.
Fans in Los Angeles lucked out with Hill's concert, as she had postponed several previous shows due to ongoing vocal strain. On October 30, she took to Instagram to share that she had been pushing through her last few shows, relying on medication to conceal the injury. However, she acknowledged that this was neither safe nor sustainable and rescheduled her Fort Worth, Texas show for another time.
Lauryn Hill takes the stage on the first day of the 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™, held on June 30, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. In a message to her fans, Hill expressed her concerns about her vocal condition, stating that she was struggling to speak, let alone perform. Hill emphasized the importance of rest and recovery in order to complete the tour, promising to reschedule the Texas date in the near future.
In 2016, Hill addressed her persistent difficulty in starting her concerts on time. Via Facebook, she clarified that her tardiness is not due to lack of concern or disrespect for her fans. Instead, she finds it challenging to align her energy with the scheduled time, as her creativity cannot be easily confined or defined. To give her best performances, she needs to be in a state of openness, rest, sensitivity, and liberation to truthfully express herself.
She acknowledged that although she has been late to some performances, there have been numerous instances where she has exceeded the contracted duration, pouring her heart and soul into the stage. The aim now is to find the optimal way to accommodate the vitality, spontaneity, and essence that make her performances extraordinary, while ensuring that this experience can be shared and accessed by others.
