I want to extend a sincere thank you to the following people, who wrote letters to the judge on my behalf.
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
Lauryn Hill's jail sentence for tax evasion is good news for her fans
Age: 37.Appearance: Actor in a legal drama.
Reality: Singer in a tax drama.
The girl from the Fugees? Yes, that Lauryn Hill; the one whose 1998 debut album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill sold more than 19m copies, won her five Grammy Awards and made her one of the biggest pop stars in the world.
Sure but that was for ever ago. What has she done since? All sorts. But musically, not a lot. Fans are still waiting for a second studio album.
After 15 years? Yep.
Do you think it might be time for them to just give up? Actually, no. It's the perfect time for them to start celebrating.
Why? Because Hill has just been sentenced to three months in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of tax evasion.
And that's good news for her fans? It's great news for her fans.
How exactly? Because she now owes the state of New Jersey a total of approximately $1m in unpaid taxes and fines.
And her fans are notorious for taking delight in her financial hardship? No, but nothing better persuades a great but temperamental artist to make art than the crushing weight of a colossal unpaid bill. And with that kind of debt to work off – not to mention three months' first-hand experience of prison life to write and rap about – that follow-up album should be ready in no time.
I'll believe it when I see it. You can see it on her Tumblr. She told fans a week ago: "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."
Ah. I guess money does make her world go round. Yep. Although that's Des'ree.
Oh. What's a Lauryn Hill lyric then? One at random: "Now tell me your philosophy/On exactly what an artist should be/Should they be someone with prosperity/And no concept of reality?"
Do say:"I'm definitely buying the new album."
Don't say:"Is it called The Miscalculations of Lauryn Hill?"
Mods, this has not been posted because it's not the story of her arrest--it's more about the long-time, dejected fans.
And, Lauryn, girl. This is what it took for you to make a new album? Not impressed.