Lauryn Hill, “Tell Him” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

On the 24^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Tell Him” by Lauryn Hill.   

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he vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! On the 24^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Tell Him”, performed by 🎙 Lauryn Hill (Ms. Lauryn Hill). 

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Theme & Lyrics ✍ 

It’s shocking that 🎙 Lauryn Hill (or Ms. Lauryn Hill) only released one studio album. The good news, of course, is she made her sole 1998 album a masterpiece.  Honestly, albums the likes of 💿 The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill are few and far between.  It is an R&B/hip-hop album that transcends genre and ranks among the best LPs of all time.  There’s a reason it won multiple 🏆 Grammys, including the highly coveted 🏆 Grammy for Album of the Year.  Both R&B and hip-hop have rarely come out victorious in the AOTY category with Hill being one of the rare exceptions.  Basically, any song from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill qualifies as a throwback gem in my book – R&B/hip-hop isn’t built the same way it was in the late 90s.  So, how about a fantastic record that doesn’t get the same love as the biggest songs from the album: 🎵 “Tell Him”.

“Tell him I need him

Tell him I love him

And it’ll be alright.” 

Despite the fact that “Tell Him” isn’t the biggest song from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the closer still kicks some serious a$$.  Lauryn Hill sounds incredibly soulful singing as she makes it clear that she needs ‘him’ in her life.  Or, is Hill referencing HIM – God? Because of the way that “Tell Him” is written, embedded with Biblical and spiritual references, it’s hard to tell who the intended recipient of this record is.  Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter – it’s awesome from either perspective!

“Now I may have faith (I may have faith) to make mountains fall

(To make mountains fall)

But if I lack love, then I am nothin’ at all

I can give away (I can give away) everything I possess

But left without love then I have no happiness.”

Backed by hard-hitting beat, robust bass line, and rhythmic guitar, Hill has the perfect musical canvas to paint her gorgeous voice on.  Furthermore, the harmonized background vocals only amplify the celestial nature, sigh.

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Final Thoughts 💭 

“Tell Him” speaks for itself as one of many great songs from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.  While Lauryn Hill sadly only released one studio album, it was the right one – a perfect one.  “Tell Him,” The closing cut, marks one of the best moments without receiving the same notoriety as the best of the best.  That’s a testament to how much of a masterpiece Hill created.

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🎙 Lauryn Hill • 💿 The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill • 🏷 Ruffhouse • 🗓 1998

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Lauryn Hill, “Tell Him”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 24 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, cotton bro,  The Musical Hype, Ruffhouse]

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