Considered an iconic, landmark album, Ms. Lauryn Hill’s debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, still has fans clamoring for more from the New hip hop legend. Music lovers never got an actual sophomore album to follow up on the tremendous success, as it was probably hardcore fans who picked up her MTV Unplugged album. Still, many of us want to know what happened. Thankfully, during a recent interview, the 46-year-old living legend revealed what was going on behind the scenes amid her success.

“With ‘The Miseducation,’ there was no precedent. I was, for the most part, free to explore, experiment, and express. After ‘The Miseducation,’ there were scores of tentacled obstructionists, politics, repressing agendas, unrealistic expectations, and saboteurs EVERYWHERE.” She would go on to say: “People had included me in their own narratives of their successes as it pertained to my album, and if this contradicted my experience, I was considered an enemy.” The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was and still is an impressive offering from an artist whose worldly view was not always mirrored by the general public.

“I wrote an album about systemic racism and how it represses and stunts growth and harms (all of my albums have probably addressed systemic racism to some degree), before this was something this generation openly talked about. I was called crazy. Now…over a decade later, we hear this as part of the mainstream chorus. OK, so chalk some of it up to leadership and how that works — I was clearly ahead, but you also have to acknowledge the blatant denial that went down with that.”

Despite the lack of support and understanding of her vision, Ms. Lauryn Hill acknowledged her debut album's profound impact. “I also think the album stood apart from the types and cliches that were supposed to be acceptable at that time. I challenged the norm and introduced a new standard. I believe ‘The Miseducation’ did that and I believe I still do this — defy convention when the convention is questionable.”