(Todd A. Smith/Photo Credit: Kevin Bussey for Bussey One Photography)
Lauryn Hill and the Fugees having to cancel their North American tour should come as no surprise because the fan reaction to Hill, specifically, has been a long time coming.
Like many of the elders, my grandfather Warren would often tell my aunt Alfreda if she made her bed hard, she would have to lay in it.
Because of Hill’s reputation of tardiness at concerts, if she even shows up at all, she has made her bed so hard that it makes the cardboard beds at the Olympic Village in Paris seem like pillowtop mattresses.
And those beds are so hard at the Olympic Village that some Olympians have opted to sleep on the hard concrete outdoors instead of those poor excuses for a bed.
When word of a Fugees reunion tour hit the press, many fans got cautiously excited about seeing one of the best hip-hop/R&B groups of the 20th century.
People of a certain age can remember how huge the Fugees became after their sophomore album “The Score” dropped in 1996.
Songs on that album included “Ready or Not” and a cover of the Roberta Flack classic, “Killing Me Softly.”
Their fanbase grew even larger when Hill released her solo debut album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” in 1998.
Even though fans still wait for a follow-up to that classic debut, few could doubt Hill’s greatness after dropping such gems as “Doo Wop (That Thang)” and “Ex-Factor.”
Fugees leader Wyclef Jean exploded as a solo artist too with his solo debut “The Carnival,” which came out in 1997 and featured hits like “Gone Till November” and “We Trying to Stay Alive” featuring Pras Michel and John Forte.
Meanwhile, Michel dropped a hit single with R&B songbird Mya and late Wu-Tang Clan rapper Ol’ Dirty Bastard called “Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)” in 1998.
Even though the group only had one great album and Hill literally had only one studio album, their fanbase remained solid because their solo success, in addition to their songwriting and production for other artists, made the trio a supergroup.
But after missing so many shows over the years, being late to shows and singing unrecognizable versions of hit songs, it looks like fans have finally grown exhausted with Hill’s shenanigans and disrespect.
When she showed up late to one concert years ago, she told her restless fans that they were lucky that she showed up at all.
Some fans have said that they have had to leave concerts without seeing Hill because of her tardiness and the fact that as middle-aged adults now, many of her fans now have responsibilities like parenting.
I believe that I read a couple had to leave a concert early because their babysitter had to be home by a certain time.
When people attend concerts, they often must do so on weekdays after a hard day of work.
They spend money on outfits, babysitters and trips to the hairstylists.
Sometimes they even travel to different cities and states if they do not live in a location that gets many urban music concerts.
Those fans pay for gas.
They pay quite a lot to park close to the venue.
Food and beverages are ridiculous in costs.
And often fans purchase souvenirs to remember the time they saw an icon of the music industry.
Because of that, one would think that artists like Hill would show more respect to the people who are so important to their success.
While Hill has next-level talent as a singer, instrumentalist and rapper, no one should forget that talent and ability is worthless without fan support.
A lesson that all people should remember in business is that you need your customers, not the other way around.
Unfortunately, Hill forget that reality along the way.
Now, her concerts cannot sell enough tickets to justify not cancelling them.
Because of low-ticket sales, the North American leg of her tour with the Fugees has been canceled.
Luckily for fans in the United Kingdom, those concert dates will go as planned.
Speaking about the cancellation, Hill took a shot at the media for creating a negative storyline around her past shows and this canceled tour.
She said that an injury kept her from fulfilling certain concert dates in the past.
The problem with that excuse is even though she might have indeed suffered an injury that caused concert dates to be postponed, her past arrogance and erratic behavior does not give her the benefit of the doubt.
If Hill had a reputation of being punctual and professional, no one would begrudge her for postponing or cancelling concert dates.
But because of her history, fans were hesitant to buy tickets.
In fact, I was one of those hesitant fans.
I have seen Hill perform live as a solo artist.
But I would have loved to have seen her perform with the Fugees.
However, like many people I do not have money or time to waste on an artist who may or may not show up.
Even if they show up, fans might not get their money’s worth.
Therefore, I chose to purchase Chris Stapleton tickets instead.
Thankfully, Hill, Michel and Jean are extremely gifted in the recording studio.
And rumor has it that a Fugees album and Hill solo album are coming soon.
While I will not hold my breath waiting for those potential albums, releasing new music is what Hill must do to rebuild her fanbase.
When she proves she is capable of being professional in the studio, maybe fans will take a chance on her on the concert stage.
If not, Hill represents a cautionary tale of how not to handle fame, success and fan support.
