Lauryn Hill Opens Up On Tax Issues, Record Deal and New Album

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In the last couple of months, Lauryn Hill who was a member of the old group “Fugees” has been making the news for the wrongest reasons. Mainly her problems were related with Tax issues which could lead her to being sentenced to one year in prison if she doesn’t pay up.

She is accused of owing taxes between 2005 – 2007 of $1.8million.  Lauryn pleaded guilty to the crime and stated she stopped paying the taxes when she withdrew from the society due to  perceived threats  against her and her family.

On the 22nd of April, the ex-Fugees star had a court hearing but the  judge (U.S. Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo) postponed the sentencing of the star after scolding the celebrated artist – ‘This is not someone who stands before the court penniless. This is a criminal matter. Actions speak louder than words, and there has been no effort here to pay these taxes.’ – until May 6 where she could face jail for a year, if she doesn’t meet up with the agreed terms of payments of $650,000 by May 3.

As at the court hearing on Monday, Lauryn Hill had only paid $50,000 so far with more than $500,000 still outstanding.

Lauryn Hill who was reportedly quiet during the hearing  and after took to her tumblr account instead to speak after it was said that she was escaping jail time because of a new record deal with Sony Records.

Lauryn Hill arrives at court to face tax evasion charges in Newark, NJ

Read Lauryn Hill’s note below:

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