By Karu F. Daniels, BlackVoices.com



Finally, someone is speaking on behalf of Lauryn Hill.

And it's not a media savvy record label publicity staffer or an unnamed source; it's the reclusive rapstress' five babies' father, Rohan Marley.

In the Aug. 18 issue of 'People' magazine, the fourth son of late reggae music legend Bob Marley breaks his silence about Hill, who set the country ablaze with her critically-acclaimed solo album, 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' ten years ago.

Since she released the multiple Grammy Award-winning opus and its subsequent hit singles, Hill became an international music icon in its aftermath. With spotty recording projects throughout the years, and somewhat bizarre public outings, the New Jersey native has left many wondering "Whatever Happened to Lauryn Hill?"

Marley offers answers to that often asked question.

"She loves [suburban life], being with her children, seeing them grow and instilling our teachings of righteousness to them," the 36-year old former college football player explained. "[She does] what regular people do: She cooks, shops, goes to restaurants, regular things ... She became more in tune with the earth."



Hill, the former front-woman of the chart-topping, groundbreaking hip-hop trio, The Fugees, did not go off on the deep end, as many believed -- even after a series of odd appearances, most notably her 2001 'Unplugged' album (which caused 'Los Angeles Times' music critic to refer to her as "unhinged.").

"Down and depressed? No," Marley maintained.

The couple, who Marley says is "spiritually together," has five children: sons Zion, 11; Joshua, 6; and John, 5; and daughters Selah, 9; and a still unnamed seven-month-old.

Hill, herself, declined to comment for the 'People' magazine article – which seemed to have come from out of nowhere. But fellow Fugees members Wyclef Jean and Praz Michel was quoted throughout.

"When you're so successful, if you don't have one person around you that can talk some sense [into] you, it's over," Jean, also Hill's former lover, said. Meanwhile, Michel revealed that the she told him "she was gonna have people call her Empress.'"

Marley retorted: "They tell the record label, 'She's crazy,' and then the next minute they say, 'Oh, Rohan, can you call Lauryn [for me]?' It's hypocrisy."

So what's up with the renewed interests in Lauryn Hill?

Well, like a few legendary musical geniuses before her – Nina Simone, Miles Davis and Sly Stone come to mind -- her timeless tunes juxtaposed with her enigmatic persona continues to cast a spell on music aficionados and media buffs, alike.


It was on August 25, 1998 when Columbia Records released the masterfully produced 'Miseducation' project, which spurred tracks such as 'Ex Factor,' 'Everything Is Everything,' 'Lost Ones,' 'Sweetest Thing,' and the chart-topping hit single, 'Do Wop (That Thing).'

Hill's then-record company publicist Miguel Baguer helped bolster her through the mainstream media stratosphere with coveted magazine cover stories in 'Time,' 'Rolling Stone,' 'Entertainment Weekly,' and 'Harper's Bazaar,' among many others.

The career defining album, which garnered five Grammy Awards including the prestigious 'Album of the Year' honor, has stood the test of time causing its listeners to yearn for more.

Hill is still signed to the major record label but, unfortunately, there are no plans to release a follow-up in the near future.