Neurotic Society is a song about people not being, or not being able to be, who and what they truly are, due to the current social construct. I am not targeting any particular group of people, but rather targeting everyone in our society who hides behind neurotic behavior, rather than deal with it.

The world we live in now is, in many ways, an abhorrent distortion, an accumulation of generations and generations of response to negative stimuli. Many don’t even have a concept of what normal is, by virtue of having lived afraid, ashamed, as victims of abuse, or inadequately handled for so long. I believe in coming up from under that fear and allowing the psyche/soul to truly heal. I understand that healing is a process, but I also believe that it is our responsibility to seriously care for ourselves, so that we can extend that level of concern for others and positively affect our environment.

I want what is best for Humanity. Humanity, aligned with the Spiritual principles, that help each individual conquer fear, and transcend limited circumstance. I believe in healing and dealing with the traumatizing events of our lives, both in this lifetime, as well as those passed down to us, or inherited, so we can live as fully as possible.

The whole world suffers from a lack of honest dialogue. Character and integrity have suffered at the hands of political correctness and corporate agenda, while our society moves further and further towards unhealthiness and breakdown. I oppose these trends.

Everyone has a right to their own beliefs. Although I do not necessarily agree with what everyone says or does, I do believe in everyone’s right to protest.

The overarching message of my music is to get up and stop compromising! And hopefully it will stimulate and motivate the changes that our society needs.

Artists are constantly under media and public scrutiny. This is not a one-way street. Those of us with the charge of putting out faithful vibrations, have a responsibility to report what we see, and to write about what we know. I have seen some of the best and also some of the worst representations of human behavior. The same way that I exalt that which is high, is the same way I expose that which is abusive, in order to motivate and remind if not all of us, than as many as possible, of the Higher Calling.

I want to extend a sincere thank you to the following people, who wrote letters to the judge on my behalf:

Linda Banks, Edison, NJ

Davonne Breedlove

Binna Choi, Beijing, China

Hafiz Farid, East Orange, NJ

Miriam Anne Banks Farrakhan, Union, NJ

Vincent Gardner, New York, NY

Michael Green, Fair Bluff, NC

Elitta Harden, Ft Worth, TX

Mrs. Valarie Hill, South Orange, NJ

Maureen Hogan, Jersey City, NJ

Walter Jones, New York, NY

Alicia Keys

Elena Lau, Toronto, Canada

Jerald Miller, New York, NY

Tracy Morris, Jacksonville Beach, FL

Elise Munoz, France

Bunmi Olukoya, Laurel, MD

Jimmie Pierre, Trenton, NJ

Cherisse Pittman

Gabrielle Fulton Ponder, Atlanta, GA

Dominique Reese, Oakland, CA

Chris Schwartz, Philadelphia, PA

Ashley Scott, Brooklyn, NY

Derek Singletary, Astoria, NY

Dr. Sara Tai, Manchester, UK

Suzette Williams, Teaneck, NJ

Lisa Willis, Philadelphia, PA

Stevie Wonder

Jonathan Wunderlich, Cabarete, DR

And thank you Jerald Miller, for taking the initiative to put this together.

I also want to thank all of my family, friends, business associates, and fans who have called, emailed, sent texts, and posted messages of concern, encouragement, and support. I appreciate the well wishes, and I thank you for your prayers.

Also, to anyone who may have written letters that we did not know about, thank you also, all of you.

I will have more to say soon, but did not want to further delay expressing my appreciation.

Thank you again,

MLH

Hello All:

Here is a link to a piece that I was ‘required’ to release immediately, by virtue of the impending legal deadline. I love being able to reach people directly, but in an ideal scenario, I would not have to rush the release of new music… but the message is still there. In light of Wednesday’s tragic loss (of former label mate Chris Kelly), I am even more pressed to YELL this to a multitude that may not understand the cost of allowing today’s unhealthy paradigms to remain unchecked!

- MLH

CLICK IMAGE FOR iTUNES LINK 

It has been reported that I signed a new record deal, and that I did this to pay taxes. Yes, I have recently entered into an agreement with Sony Worldwide Entertainment, to launch a new label, on which my new music will be released. And yes, I am working on new music.

I’ve remained silent, after an extensive healing process. This has been a 10+ year battle, for a long time played out behind closed doors, but now in front of the public eye. This is an old conflict between art and commerce… free minds, and minds that are perhaps overly tethered to structure. This is about inequity, and the resulting disenfranchisement caused by it. I’ve been fighting for existential and economic freedom, which means the freedom to create and live without someone threatening, controlling, and/or manipulating the art and the artist, by tying the purse strings.

It took years for me to get out of the ‘parasitic’ dynamic of my youth, and into a deal that better reflects my true contribution as an artist, and (purportedly) gives me the control necessary to create a paradigm suitable for my needs. I have been working towards this for a long time, not just because of my current legal situation, but because I am an artist, I love to create, and I need the proper platform to do so.

The nature of my new business venture, as well as the dollar amount reported, was inaccurate, only a portion of the overall deal. Keep in mind, my past recordings have sold over 50,000,000 units worldwide, earning the label a tremendous amount of money (a fraction of which actually came to me).

Only a completely complicated set of traps, manipulations, and inequitable business arrangements could put someone who has accomplished the things that I have, financially in need of anything. I am one artist who finds value in openly discussing the dynamics within this industry that force artists to compromise or distort themselves and what they do, rather than allowing them to make the music that people need. There are volumes that could (and will) be said.

MLH

I’d like to set the record straight: I am not squatting, and I do not owe any money to my landlord.  I have always stayed current on rent.  I was raised in South Orange, which is why these allegations are not only false, but insulting.  I am in talks with the town about resolving an unrelated issue, regarding how I use my home to work on my music, which has nothing to do with my financial obligations.  

Won’t it be great when real journalism returns to replace inaccurate tabloid harassment.

MS. LAURYN HILL and NAS

Life Is Good/Black Rage Tour!

Tickets Go On Sale this Friday, September 21^st

Pre-sale in Select Markets to Begin this Thursday, September 20^th

Hip-Hop and music superpowers Nas and Ms. Lauryn Hill announce the Life Is Good/Black Rage tour, dates this fall. Both musicians, who are responsible for influencing a generation of music lovers, will share the stage for an experience that fans have long been waiting for. Tickets can be purchased beginning this Friday, with a pre-sale in select markets beginning Thursday.

The tour takes its name from Nas’s groundbreaking #1 album, Life Is Good and “Black Rage,” a new song by Ms. Lauryn Hill about the derivative effects of racial inequity and abuse. The track, which will be released this fall, is described by Ms. Hill as a juxtaposition to the statement “life is good,” which she believes can only be so when these long standing issues are addressed and resolved.

“I use the performance platform as an opportunity to express the energy of that moment, and the intention behind it,” said Ms. Hill. “I’ve been a long standing rebel against the stale, over commoditization. As artists we have opportunity to help the public evolve, raise consciousness and awareness, teach, heal, enlighten and inspire in ways the democratic process may not be able to touch. So we keep it moving.”

“This is history,” Nas said. “Better late than never. Life is good!”

Dates for the ‘Life Is Good/Black Rage Tour:

•   October 29, Palladium Ballroom, Dallas, TX                           

•   October 31, Bayou Music Center, Houston, TX                       

•   November 2, Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA                          

•   November 4, DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC               

•   November 7, Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA

•   November 11, House of Blues, Boston, MA

•   November 14, Congress Theatre, Chicago, IL

•   November 16, Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO                         

•   November 17, Salt Air, Magna, UT

•   November 19, Fox Theater, Oakland, CA