Lauryn Hill and Fugees announce Bay Area concert, but questions remain

Few rappers in the history of hip-hop are as revered — and as complicated — as Ms. Lauryn Hill. 

She came to prominence as a member of the Fugees in the early 1990s. After releasing her universally acclaimed, Grammy-winning 1998 solo album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” legal and personal struggles derailed her career, and she never produced a proper follow-up LP. To hip-hop fans, she’s always been a mysterious and mercurial character whose brilliance typically comes with a dose of unpredictability. But in just a few months, the Bay Area can expect to be treated to a rare performance from Hill, as she is scheduled to perform at Oakland Arena on Nov. 7. 

On Tuesday, it was announced that Hill will embark on a 17-date national tour alongside her former Fugees bandmates, Wyclef Jean and Pras. This comes on the heels of a cancellation of a scheduled group tour in 2022, which was intended to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their album “The Score.” The Fugees claimed that the cancellation was due to COVID-19 concerns, but reports after the cancellation indicated that the tour was canceled due to a lawsuit against Pras regarding charges of conspiracy and falsifying records.

Although fans will undoubtedly be thrilled by the news that these legends are scheduled to come to Oakland, a few big question marks remain. Hill is notorious for showing up late to concerts, often by several hours, which has extended to reunion shows with the Fugees as well. Former collaborator Robert Glasper made news a few years ago by remarking on the tumultuous nature of playing in Hill’s band, which has resulted in a reputation for rocky performances. Also, fans shouldn’t expect the original versions of the songs they know and love, as Hill is known for playing alternate arrangements of the songs from “Miseducation.” This was long rumored to be due to a lawsuit over songwriting credits, an idea that Hill dispelled; she ascribed the remixing to a desire to keep the material feeling fresh.

However, the biggest question is the participation of Pras, who was found guilty in April of 10 criminal counts related to his affiliation with a Malaysian businessman and what the Justice Department described as a “clandestine foreign influence campaign scheme.” Pras faces a maximum of 20 years in prison but has not yet been sentenced. The Fugees camp has not specifically addressed how his legal troubles might affect the tour, but in June, he told the Los Angeles Times that the Fugees had not yet played their final show.