Lauryn Hill vs. Nicki Minaj
On monday evenings I work with a bunch of inner city kids and we inspire them to want to come to college and do something positive with their lives. A lot of these kids have had trouble with the law, or in school. So we try to be positive influences to them. some of the kids were having a conversation, and one of the girls started asking me if I listened to various artists. Then she asked if I listened to Lauryn Hill, but of course I do. She's one of the greatest femcees that ever picked up a mic, if you ask me. However, this particular girl said something that made my soul cringe. She said. "I think if Nicki Minaj were to battle Lauryn Hill, Nicki would win." I'm sorry for the little Harajuku barbies out there, the Nicki stans, but lyrically? Nicki has NOTHING on Lauryn. NOTHING. I had to step away for a moment and regain myself before I had responded to her ludicrous statement. I thought about it, then I understood. The people that the majority of young people, at least the ones in this program, want to listen to are what, for lack of a better term, I am going to term "non-socially aware rappers." I think that in order to appreciate the lyricism of Lauryn Hill, you have to be a thinker. That's what her music makes you do, think. If you don't want to be mentally stimulated then you'd appreciate something that you'd "turn up" to more. Previous to Nicki Minaj signing with Young Money, there was some substance in some of her songs, she wasn't just a sex toy. The more money she got, in my opinion, the more herself she lost and the more she was changed by her record label. But, I guess that's how the game works, huh? I think that Lauryn Hill is one of the greatest femcees that ever opened her mouth to spit and she should be respected for it. Thinkers, hip-hop heads alike all know this.
bless.
Ps.
If you NEVER heard Lauryn spit, 1. you're missing out on life. But you can find a few favorites here and here