Robert Glasper Calls Out Lauryn Hill for “Stealing Music,” Mistreating Band Members
Jazz pianist and producer Robert Glasper has called out Ms. Lauryn Hill for “stealing music,” allegedly cutting her touring band members’ pay at whim, and allegedly firing musicians shortly before shows. Glasper made the remarks on “The Madd Hatta Morning Show” on Houston’s KBXX (as Vulture points out). During the interview, Glasper said Hill has “stolen all of [his] friends’ music.” He continued, “Miseducation was made by great musicians and producers that I know, personally.... So you got a big hand off of music that you didn’t even write.” He reiterated, “OK, you steal music,” referring to Hill. Later, Glasper stated:
I’ve met Stevie Wonder and hung out with Stevie Wonder. I’ve met Quincy Jones and hung out with Quincy Jones. I’ve met Herbie Hancock; hung out with Herbie Hancock. If those three people can be cool, Lauryn Hill should be able to be cool. You haven’t done enough to be the way you are. You just have not. The one thing you did that was great, you didn’t do.
She took the credit for making the classic album. Those songs were written by other people, and they did not get their credit. She likes to take credit so she can become this super person. If you’re a super person and you’re that talented... do it!”
She couldn’t tune her guitar in rehearsal. We were in rehearsal, she had my boy Benji tune her guitar. She would come into rehearsal and say, “Benji, guitar.” And just hold it out like this. And he would run and tune her guitar.
In 1998, New Ark—a group of musicians who worked on Miseducation—sued Lauryn Hill, claiming that she “used their songs and production skills but failed to properly credit them for the work.” They asked for partial writing credit on 13 of the LP’s 14 songs. The suit was settled out of court in 2001.
Earlier in the interview, Robert Glasper was asked, “How is it when you have to deal with those personalities—those egotistical, hard personalities—when you have to do what you have to do?” He replied, “In 2005, that’s when my career changed, and I didn’t have to do anything I didn’t wanna do.” He then revealed that he’s turned down opportunities with Lauryn Hill due to difficulties, and continues with a story about a 2008 show he played with her. According to Glasper, there was a week of 10-hours-per-day rehearsals for a 20-minute show. He stated:
Every day she comes in and changes the show, changes what she wants to do. Completely. The last rehearsal, she doesn’t show up. Her manager comes in and says, “Lauryn’s not really feeling the way you guys have been learning the music, so we’re gonna cut your pay in half.” The last rehearsal. The day before the show. “We’re gonna cut your pay in half.” First of all, we weren’t getting paid that much anyway, but understand she’s getting half-a-million dollars. So, seriously? You’re gonna take these five musicians and cut their pay in half?
Glasper said that he attempted to walk away from the gig, but was convinced to perform. He also defended the musicians’ rehearsal work, calling them a “super band.” “She likes to fire bands,” he added, “She will go on tour with a band, and in the city that they’re doing a show, she’ll hold auditions for her band.”
Watch the Lauryn Hill discussion below. Check out Glasper’s full interview here, and find a transcript at MadameNoire. Pitchfork has contacted Ms. Lauryn Hill’s representatives.
