It’s time to give Ms. Lauryn Hill’s Unplugged the recognition it deserves, at scale. While The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill has been hailed as her magnum opus, praised by the most visible media critics and showered with Grammys, Unplugged has been relatively relegated to the basements of musical commentary.
For those who were transformed by Unplugged in ways that Miseducation could not begin to accomplish, this series will argue for the superiority of Unplugged as a spiritual text which will far surpass Miseducation in its intergenerational influence.
Unplugged is a masterpiece of not just lyrical and musical genius, but an ocean of spiritual teaching, with a raw authenticity, and a creative freedom that is essential to the application of value for this kind of work. Often misunderstood when evaluated through a Western lens, this series seeks to apply an African epistemological lens to the analysis of the work.
In the analysis, we will draw from African epistemologies such as Ubuntu, which emphasizes communal healing and interconnectedness, Nommo, and the Dogon concept of the power of the spoken word to create reality. Hill’s stripped-back, spiritually charged performance perfectly illustrates how these frameworks see art as a tool for truth-telling, spiritual awakening, and collective liberation, rather than commercial success.
We will explore the album’s musicality, its lyrical content, and its cultural and spiritual significance. In contrast to Western standards of art criticism, which often focus on how a piece compares to a Eurocentric or white-dominated canon, this series will center the inherent value of Unplugged as we examine its influence on the communities it was meant to serve—particularly Black communities and creatives—and consider its enduring legacy across generations.
A Work of Divine Inspiration
One of the most important aspects of Unplugged is its origin as a channeled message, a spiritual transmission. From the very beginning of the album, Hill sets the tone, stating that she is merely sharing what has been given to her. She makes it clear that this work is not polished or packaged for mainstream acceptance—it is raw, unfiltered, and untainted by the need to meet Western aesthetic standards or cater to the white gaze. Hill’s Unplugged was not designed to conform to traditional industry expectations. It was made to be shared as it is, coming from a place of divine grace, the source of our greatest creativity as humans.
While the most visible media critics struggled to engage with the album’s structure, sound, and message, Black artists, creatives, healers, and those on the path to liberation recognized its power. Unplugged resonated deeply within Black communities, not just as a piece of music, but as a work of spiritual healing and transformation. It is a testimony of the artist’s journey, and it offers listeners a window into Hill’s own process of liberation—an invitation to join her in a collective, spiritual evolution.
Beyond the Western Gaze
Western critics, unfamiliar with or uninterested in understanding the cultural and spiritual frameworks that shape Black art, dismissed Unplugged as disorganized, too raw, or not “refined” enough. But what if the very qualities that were critiqued are the album’s greatest strengths? In rejecting the need for polish and gloss, Hill gave us something far more valuable: authenticity. The album doesn’t strive to be neat or perfect; it strives to be real. And it is this authenticity, this unvarnished truth, that makes Unplugged a superior work of art.
Rather than filtering her message to appeal to a Western aesthetic, Hill made a choice to deliver her music in the purest form possible. This decision was a rejection of the notion that art must conform to external expectations to be valid. It was a statement that Black art, spirituality, and knowledge systems have their own inherent value, and that they do not need to be translated or watered down for broader acceptance.
The Unseen Legacy
As we continue this series, we will examine the lasting influence of Unplugged on Black creatives and communities. Hill’s work, though underappreciated by the larger music industry, has become a beacon for Black artists, healers, and those on the journey toward self-liberation. Her message has resonated in ways that transcend the music industry, informing movements of spiritual and cultural resistance.
This series will articulate why Unplugged should be celebrated as a monumental piece of art, why it is not merely a reflection of Hill’s personal journey but a mirror for the liberation of others. Through an African epistemological lens, we can begin to appreciate the spiritual depth, the melodic genius, and the cultural power of Unplugged in ways that more traditional critiques have overlooked. It is time for this album to be honored as the masterpiece it truly is, and for Hill to receive her due recognition while she is still here to witness it.
This is more than an album. It is a legacy.
