Ms. Hill Lyrics

[Hook]
Another night, slips away
In other words, I should say
There are no words, you should say
There are no words

Another night, slips away
In other words, I should say
There are no words, you should say
There are no words
Ms. Hill, you got skills, that's a gift, it's real
Get ill, what you spit got the power to uplift the heel

[Verse 1: Talib Kweli]
I wish I could talk to Lauryn
I mean excuse me, Ms. Hill

And let her know how much we love her is real
The industry was beating her up
Then those demons started eating her up
She need a savior that'll bleed in a cup, yup

We used to kick it in the salad days
When she look at me like she ain't know me when she see me nowadays
I nod, she nod back, that's how it stay

Her songs still better than anything out than "Hot" or "Power" play
Remember how they accused her of saying, he did her album without help
Then she went to Rome to sing and tell the Pope about herself
Just after she left the Fugees, started rolling with the Marleys
Got back with her crew at Dave Chapelle's Block Party
She made songs about Zion and trying to be faithful
Took Black Star on tour in Europe, I was so grateful
Speaking for myself but I'm sure I could speak for Dante

I got to watch a show with Nina Simone and Harry Belafonte
We used to chill at Nkiru, her moms was a customer
She used to love to buy the books by Octavia Butler
Parable of the Sower, the main character's name was Lauren
What the album did for black girls' self-esteem was so important
I got concerned when she got sick on the road
She ain't healthy, I'm a brother
And I wish that I could pick up the load, but no
[Hook]
Another night, slips away
In other words, I should say
There are no words, you should say
There are no words

Another night, slips away
In other words, I should say
There are no words, you should say
There are no words
Ms. Hill, you got skills, that's a gift, it's real
Get ill, what you spit got the power to uplift the heel

[Verse 2: Talib Kweli]
Got your assistant on the the phone, "I need to talk to Lauryn"
And I wanna walk through the storm, and I could be the umbrella when the rain is pouring
Please, this no disrespect to whoever your man is, though
This relationship is strictly music like D'Angelo
I know you hate Babylon, and wanna see it fall
But they won't let you read your poem at the BET awards
You give us hope, you give us faith, you the one
They don't like what you got to say
But still they beg you to come, whoa
Now that's powerful sis, it's black power

We get money, keep our eyes on the final hour
And no I ain't saying you Christ, that would be sacrilegious right?
But you can blow and you nice, sisters them raps is vicious
The raps the sisters recite with their black fist up
The devil's last wish is a queen that rise past bitches
We used to read Francis Crest or anything
By Third World Press impressed
But what the power of the word suggest
Hatched ideas in our heads like birds in the nest
You gave birth to a new sound like Donda West, yes
Should I be saying all of this while the mic is on?
I might as well let it out because one day I might be gone
I write this song and hope you feel how much we love you
And you play it, cause I really ain't got the words to say it
But yo

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About

Genius Annotation

“Ms. Hill” is Talib Kweli’s dedication to legendary hip-hop/R&B artist Lauryn Hill. He’s a fan, and in this song he mentions what he interprets her mission to be and why he thinks it is important. He also offers encouragement for her to continue her work.

While playing a game called “Special Education” during an interview with MiSS SPECiAL, Kweli posted this song as the answer to the question, “What was your hardest song to write”:

As you’re writing about somebody that you know personally and you’re talking about things that [are not about you]. I’m talking about things that have become a part of the public discourse, but are really about someone’s personal stuff, which is their art. It’s kind of difficult to talk about that and not seem arrogant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoevYqObtjg&t=182

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

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