Hard Choices: Lauryn Hill v Mary J Blige

[stanleyballard]

Both have sold a ton of records during the hip hop era....both are respected within the hip hop world...both have been around for more than 10 years....my vote goes to L Boogie 'cause she is the best at what she does... her vocals are constantly at a higher level (better live shows), she is versatile with her ability to sing and rap without breaking a sweat and she can write and produce her own songs with great skill.  Now if she can get over her personal drama and return to being a true artist it would be all good.

BTW, the fact that she is fine as wine has nothing to do with my vote....LOL

L Boogie all the way!

[Francisco]

Lauren Hill in a heartbeat...

[Curtis Metcalf]

I'm going the other way.  I love The Fugees and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.  If she would get back to work, I'd take her over just about anybody out there.  Still, 2-3 great albums just doesn't stand up to Mary J.'s body of work in my view. 

[stanleyballard]

Mary only has one album that is anywhere near the level of L Boogie and it took her years to do her most recent work where she is vocally there.  Her voice has fallen flat consistently even in the studio...she often has sang off key even in a recording studio and 70% of her material has been a remake of someone else's song...check it out even back to her very first album...she is the queen of remakes...not soul. 

L Boogie beats her hands down even with only 3+ albums out and a string of solid concert performances. She has more diverse talent and a better voice!  She does not need anyone to produce her songs...she does it herself...seemlessly.

[Magic Wand]

L Boogie beats her hands down even with only 3+ albums out and a string of solid concert performances. She has more diverse talent and a better voice!  She does not need anyone to produce her songs...she does it herself...seamlessly.

I agree with Stan.

[Jenn]

NO choice. Lauryn is a fraud who cracked under pressure. Mary's been in the game for as long as I can remember.

[stanleyballard]

Untrue...would a fraud be a mother to her children and put them before her career?  L Boogie has devoted time to getting her priorities in order and didn't have to lose herself in drugs to do it....she may not be perfect but she has been a true artist willing to take a chance and sometimes you don't end up getting all the props.  Mary J plays things much closer to the chest and has cracked (literally)....her sister saved her from drug abuse and her husband also helped to ground her more.

L Boogie also has done some acting before joining The Fugees...another diverse effort.

[Curtis Metcalf]

Yeah, I was just grooving to that new L. Boogie joint... 
(Forgot the smiley)

[Toya]

Lauryn Hill.

[Wise Son]

Lauryn.
'Why you imitatin' Al Capone?/I be Nina Simone/An' defecatin' on your microphone.'

[Toya]

Lauryn.
'Why you imitatin' Al Capone?/I be Nina Simone/An' defecatin' on your microphone.'

She is one classy lady.

[Curtis Metcalf]

Both have sold a ton of records during the hip hop era....both are respected within the hip hop world...both have been around for more than 10 years....my vote goes to L Boogie 'cause she is the best at what she does... her vocals are constantly at a higher level (better live shows), she is versatile with her ability to sing and rap without breaking a sweat and she can write and produce her own songs with great skill.  Now if she can get over her personal drama and return to being a true artist it would be all good.

BTW, the fact that she is fine as wine has nothing to do with my vote....LOL

L Boogie all the way!

Mary only has one album that is anywhere near the level of L Boogie and it took her years to do her most recent work where she is vocally there.  Her voice has fallen flat consistently even in the studio...she often has sang off key even in a recording studio and 70% of her material has been a remake of someone else's song...check it out even back to her very first album...she is the queen of remakes...not soul. 

L Boogie beats her hands down even with only 3+ albums out and a string of solid concert performances. She has more diverse talent and a better voice!  She does not need anyone to produce her songs...she does it herself...seemlessly.

Untrue...would a fraud be a mother to her children and put them before her career?  L Boogie has devoted time to getting her priorities in order and didn't have to lose herself in drugs to do it....she may not be perfect but she has been a true artist willing to take a chance and sometimes you don't end up getting all the props.  Mary J plays things much closer to the chest and has cracked (literally)....her sister saved her from drug abuse and her husband also helped to ground her more.

L Boogie also has done some acting before joining The Fugees...another diverse effort.

So Stanley, do you plan to argue with everybody who answers Mary J to your Hard Choice?  Might tend to skew the results. 

[karaszero]

I hope not Stan but for real Lauren Hill is a Nut Job! The long awaited fugees reunion was sidetracked due to Lauren being a lunchbox! What about that ridiculous unplugged album a few years ago? didn't that go concrete? Don't get me wrong I like Lauren I bought the first album but it seems like she began to become distracted/diconnected after the first album garnered critical acclaim. She is too young in the music/movie business to be a diva...is she talented? No Question! is she a bag of Drama? it appears so

[Marvelous]

This is a hard one, since I just listened to MJB's "Im goin down".

[Mastrmynd]

Toya, have you ever heard Nina Simone's Microfone Defication?  Just wondering.  And Nina Simone has a voice only a mother could love, but darnit if she doesn't make it work for her.

anyway, at this point their careers, neither women can sing.  MJB can't sing live. nuff said.  And ... Miss Hill, her pain ate away at her voice...so now she can't sing live either.... it hurts to hear her sing now.

but if we are goin' ol' skool, then I'm choosin' Lauryn 'cuz i've been in luv with her since Fugee-la: Tranzlator crew.
nuff said!