LAURYN HILL EXPLAINS HER TAX SITUATION, AND OTHER THINGS

[Reginald Hudlin]

Why can't you believed that Lauryn is a beautiful, talented but troubled woman?  I don't know her, but everything about her behavior indicates that to me 

And yes, the tax situation is one that could be dealt with easily. So why the rambling letter about the world being out to get her?  Why not just say I'm on a regular payment program, not "I intend to deal with that". 

Sometimes it's not a conspiracy.  Does the system deal with black folks more harshly than their white counterparts?  Usually. But that doesn't mean they aren't in a situation that was avoidable if they had either a) paid their taxes in a timely fashion, or b) managed their lives to maximized their money making abilities to deal with the tax bill, or c) reduced lifestyle costs while they worked out a deal with the IRS.

To be fair, I know several black entertainers who lost millions. They are smart hardworking people with no drug habit or bad attitude.  The money is new, and there's usually no one trustworthy that gives good advice. Or they don't listen to good advice and blow it.  The money goes fast, the opportunities dry up, and there's nothing put aside for a rainy day.

But the talented and hardworking ones climb their way back.   

[jefferson L.O.B. sergeant]

Why can't you believed that Lauryn is a beautiful, talented but troubled woman?  I don't know her, but everything about her behavior indicates that to me 

And yes, the tax situation is one that could be dealt with easily. So why the rambling letter about the world being out to get her?  Why not just say I'm on a regular payment program, not "I intend to deal with that". 

Sometimes it's not a conspiracy.  Does the system deal with black folks more harshly than their white counterparts?  Usually. But that doesn't mean they aren't in a situation that was avoidable if they had either a) paid their taxes in a timely fashion, or b) managed their lives to maximized their money making abilities to deal with the tax bill, or c) reduced lifestyle costs while they worked out a deal with the IRS.

To be fair, I know several black entertainers who lost millions. They are smart hardworking people with no drug habit or bad attitude.  The money is new, and there's usually no one trustworthy that gives good advice. Or they don't listen to good advice and blow it.  The money goes fast, the opportunities dry up, and there's nothing put aside for a rainy day.

But the talented and hardworking ones climb their way back.   

The "Troubled" portrayal of Lauryn Hill seems to be taking on the same "Troubled" dynamic with Dave Chappelle. Basically, these niggas must be troubled not to sell out their principles for x amount of dollars and play the game. Hill could've easily put out some half-assed projects for Columbia and fulfill her contractual obligations. Chappelle could've phoned it in for the 50 million from Comedy Central.

Troubled or triumphant?

[Vic Vega]

You can't claim triumph when you only put out 2 albums in a decade.

Especially when you are working in a genre that prized productivity like hip hop.

I guess she lost her creative muse about the same time that she found out she was gonna have to pay her ghostwriters.

Prince and Ani Defranco didn't like their record deals either and they managed to be both prolific enough to fuffill all their obligations and pay they damn taxes while they were at it.

[Battle]

The "Troubled" portrayal of Lauryn Hill seems to be taking on the same "Troubled" dynamic with Dave Chappelle. Basically, these niggas must be troubled not to sell out their principles for x amount of dollars and play the game. Hill could've easily put out some half-assed projects for Columbia and fulfill her contractual obligations. Chappelle could've phoned it in for the 50 million from Comedy Central.

Troubled or triumphant?

Boom.

Prince and Ani Defranco didn't like their record deals either and they managed to be both prolific enough to fuffill all their obligations and pay they damn taxes while they were at it.

Yeah, and If I recall, Prince wore his shame on his face (literally) yet continued to play the game.
Sorry, I have no idea who Ani Defranco is.




Is the issue here in this discussion that Ms. Hill absolutely refuses to pay her taxes?

[jefferson L.O.B. sergeant]

You can't claim triumph when you only put out 2 albums in a decade.

Especially when you are working in a genre that prized productivity like hip hop.

I guess she lost her creative muse about the same time that she found out she was gonna have to pay her ghostwriters.

Prince and Ani Defranco didn't like their record deals either and they managed to be both prolific enough to fuffill all their obligations and pay they damn taxes while they were at it.

When one of the 2 albums is THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL you can certaintly claim triumph as it is one of the seminal albums of all time. MISEDUCATION is also one of the best-sellling albums of all-time. The UNPLUGGED album is also great and better than most of the material produced in both Rap and R&B in the past decade.

Ghostwriters- Are these the same ghostwriters that wrote all of Hill's lyrics during her tenure with The Fugees? The same ghostwriters that produced hits for Aretha Franklin and Mary J Blige? Would these be the ghostwriters that wrote the unreleased material from MISEDUCATION?

Where are these Ghostwriters now?

It is funny how these people pop-up and are attached to the greatest albums of all time and yet don't have one damn project of their own of any note. I'll go with the multi-platinum writer/producer with undisputed credits in the form of Hill than the hodgepodge claims in the MISEDUCATION suit.

Prince protested by scribbling a word on his face. The "Troubled" Lauryn Hill WALKED AWAY from a corrupt situation. I think Hill's stance is more impressive by far.

P.S. Wyclef attached himself to the MISEDUCATION project as well so ghostwriters make room and get your lawyers!

[Vic Vega]

Prince and Ani Defranco didn't like their record deals either and they managed to be both prolific enough to fuffill all their obligations and pay they damn taxes while they were at it.

Yeah, and If I recall, Prince wore his shame on his face (literally) yet continued to play the game.
Sorry, I have no idea who Ani Defranco is.




Is the issue here in this discussion that Ms. Hill absolutely refuses to pay her taxes?

The actual issue here is that from her rambling blog statements she seems not to know how she got into her current financal situation.

I just choose to call B.S. on her alleged ethical stance because her pretentious ass annoys me.

Just say you are gonna pay what you owe and be done with it. Don't cry about the evil recording system.

She is famous and hot. She could very likely get paid without ever recording an album again.

And that would have been true even during her "exile".

The recording industry wasn't preventing her from paying her her taxes.

[Hypestyle]

meanwhile.. What's Pras and John Forte' up to?   

[Vic Vega]

meanwhile.. What's Pras and John Forte' up to?   

Forte' did part of the score for the movie Night Catches us and allegedly has an album coming up.

I have no idea WHAT Pras is doing.

[Rockscissorspaper]

I have no idea WHAT Pras is doing.

Somewhere being a terrible rapper as usual, I'm sure.

[Reginald Hudlin]

In the cases of both Lauryn Hill and Dave Chappelle, they could do anything they wanted to creatively.  No one was forcing them to do bad work.

As for Lauryn's creative partnership with the band, I don't know what music was made, how the collaborated, or where that product was used.  I don't think "they did everything".  But it's not farfetched to say other people made meaningful contributions.  They were fine with not getting credit, they just wanted to get paid.  This happens all the time in the music business.  She didn't want to give them money or credit.  I can't judge the situation, I wasn't there, but the lack of output after the squabble is not a good look.

There are plenty of outlets where Dave could do his show, or something like that.  Other networks, online, etc. where he could have complete control.  He has chosen not to do it at all. He does stand up, where he feels most comfortable. 

I think the biggest challenge for an artist is living up to their own expectations after great success.  It can be paralyzing.  Prince talked about the importance of putting out the AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY album just after PURPLE RAIN and I understand why he felt that way. 

When you are the "conscious" artists like Dave and Lauryn, there's social and political pressure as well as creative and commercial. People want you to literally save the race.   If you don't let it all go and just be an craftsman, it can crush you. 

Because successful performers make so much money so fast, they can "afford" to self destruct.  But running away from show business often goes hand in hand with running away from all responsibility, which is why folks get hit with taxes.  Their financial advisers aren't doing them any favors by letting these tax bills pile up, but these performers are grown.  They know taxes must be paid.

[stanleyballard]

Well it's hard to find excuses for people making large sums of money like Lauryn Hill or Wesley Snipes when it comes to taxing and then finding a reason like race not to pay said taxes.  They are not poor people struggling and they should be able to manipulate funds to pay what is owed.  Love Lauryn from back in the day but she is full of it and needs to handle her business.

[Reginald Hudlin]

EURWEB:

R. Kelly Working Out His $4.8 Million Tax Bill
June 14, 2012
   


*A rep for R. Kelly says the singer is settling his debts with tax authorities and is confident he’ll soon be in the clear, reports TMZ.

The crooner is accused of falling behind with his federal income taxes and has been hit with bills amounting to $4.8 million from the Internal Revenue Service.
He’s now attempting to work out a payment plan to resolve the debt, which dates back to 2005.
“R. Kelly is in the process of working everything out with the government and is confident that all his obligations will be satisfied,” said the rep.

[Kristopher]

Singer Lauryn Hill pleads guilty in N.J. to tax charges

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2012
BY JAMES QUIRK
STAFF WRITER
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Eight-time Grammy winner Lauryn Hill, who has remained out of the public eye for most of the past decade, pleaded guilty Friday in Newark federal court to failing to pay more than $1.5 million in taxes.


Hill, 37, a South Orange resident, was charged earlier this month  with failing to file tax returns for three years in which she earned a total of about $1.8 million from music and film royalties.

Hill rose to fame as a member of the New Jersey hip-hop group The Fugees, which also launched the career of musician Wyclef Jean. Hill’s star rose even higher in 1998, when she released the critically-acclaimed solo effort “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” which netted her five Grammys, including Album of the Year.

But Hill’s stratospheric rise sputtered in the following years, and her only subsequent album, “MTV Unplugged No. 2.0,” met with a tepid response - Rolling Stone described the album as “a public breakdown.” Hill, a mother of six, has since remained a reclusive figure, though she emerged earlier this month to perform at the annual Hot 97 Summer Jam festival in East Rutherford.

After she was charged with tax evasion, Hill posted a lengthy response on her Tumblr page, which is titled “Ms. Lauryn Hill.” In the post, Hill states that in the years that she is charged with not filing tax returns - 2005 to 2007 - she withdrew from society to protect her family.

“I kept my life relatively simple, even after huge successes, but it became increasingly obvious that certain indulgences and privileges were expected to come at the expense of my free soul, free mind, and therefore my health and integrity,” Hill wrote. “So I left a more mainstream and public life, in order to wean both myself, and my family, away from a lifestyle that required distortion and compromise as a means for maintaining it.”

Hill explained that during this time, there were “no exotic trips, no fleet of cars.”

But federal prosecutors were not swayed but her explanation and moved forward with charges.

“My intention has always been to get this situation rectified,” Hill wrote. “When I was working consistently without being affected by the interferences mentioned above, I filed and paid my taxes. This only stopped when it was necessary to withdraw from society, in order to guarantee the safety and well-being of myself and my family.”

[BPStorm4ever]

Is it too late to just, you know, PAY the taxes now? If not, well, she at least admits wrong doing, something Wesley didn't (which is what I think played into them giving him three years), I'm sure they can work something out with her. If not...PAY YOUR DAMN TAXES!

[Reginald Hudlin]

GAWKER:

Lauryn Hill Admits to Tax Evasion, Faces Three Years in Prison
 Neetzan Zimmerman
Lauryn Hill pleaded guilty today to tax evasion on over $1.5 million she earned between 2005 to 2007.

The Fugees front woman appeared today before a judge at the U.S. District Court in Newark, along with her attorney Nathan Hockman. Asked if she had "intentionally and willingly" neglected to pay her taxes, Hill responded "yes."

Sentencing will take place in late November, and the singer faces up to three years in prison — one year per count — and as much as $75,000 in fines.

Hockman attempted to excuse his client's behavior using the "everyone does it" defense. "There are many people in society who fail to file their taxes on time who only face civil liability," he said. "They chose Ms. Hill in particular because of who she was."

Hill herself penned a rambling apologia earlier this month in which she claimed her failure to file taxes stemmed from being driven "underground" by "the climate of hostility, false entitlement, manipulation, racial prejudice, sexism and ageism that I was surrounded by."

She went on:

I did not deliberately abandon my fans, nor did I deliberately abandon any responsibilities, but I did however put my safety, health and freedom and the freedom, safety and health of my family first over all other material concerns! I also embraced my right to resist a system intentionally opposing my right to whole and integral survival.

Hill says the "danger" she faced was "not accepted as reasonable grounds for deferring my tax payments" by the authorities, who refused to find "an alternative solution."