After seeing Childish Gambino and the Lumineers in concert, I told myself, “Damn, I need to go to more concerts,” but never followed through. Similarly, when I hear a track from a new artist, I think about how I should explore their music further, but I never do. However, I finally defied this effect with Ms. Lauryn Hill as I explored her discography.

 At first, I was mesmerized by her hits, such as “Ex-Factor” and “Killing Me Softly.” Although this column dives deeper into Hill’s talent, I have to mention that these two songs are some of my favorite tracks of all time despite their evident popularity. This touches on another one of my musical opinions — there’s nothing wrong with enjoying popular songs: There is a reason they’re popular.

 Hill’s sound stands alone in modern hip-hop; her ability to mix R&B styles with the emerging rap style in the late ’90s is unparalleled. What I also discovered is that Hill doesn’t need taboo themes or controversial statements to convey her message. She excels at forcing her listeners to reconsider their concept of love – a common topic many assume they already understand. But why do Hill’s simple love songs feel so deep? Her approach is counterintuitive yet effective; the pleasing melodies and simple lyrics of her songs, coupled with their uncomplicated, organic messages about love, make her music accessible to a wide audience and force the listener to reflect. 

 In her album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” Hill ends and starts various tracks with segments of conversations or voices. At the end of “To Zion,” backed by a playful guitar track, a preacher talks with a group about their definitions of love (“Don’t tell me what Webster says”). One man has trouble with creating a profound definition, to which the preacher replies, “If I asked him to talk about a fancy car, he’d be right on point.” This resonated with me. Most people could describe why they love a material possession but would take a second to think before describing why they love someone close to them. “To Zion’s” outro poses this provocative question: Why is it easier for some people to confess their love for superficial things than to explain why they love someone in their life? It made me reflect upon myself: What qualities do the people close to me have? Why do I love who I love? It was a refreshing process of appreciation that made me more thankful for the people closest to me.

 In the same album, “Tell Him” also stands out as one of Hill’s most beautiful pieces, one where she keeps the music simple and lets her powerful voice and ebbing melodies sway the listener. The track starts with a mellow drum track and progresses to a swelling and mellow arpeggiating guitar while Hill’s sweet voice sings, “But if I lack love, then I am nothing at all.” I understand her message here as portraying love as a double-edged sword; love can be a guiding force in life, allowing people to appreciate those around them on a deeper level. But, at the same time, putting some sort of love – a person, an activity, anything — as paramount to other parts of your life can be harmful. For Hill, by putting that love before herself, she feels like she’s “nothing at all.”

 Hill’s ability to let her music speak for itself is what distinguishes her. Often, modern artists attempt to address the latest controversial issues through graphic lyrics and images, employing a shock factor. Other love songs attain mass appeal by outlining a perfect story. Not everyone can relate to “Love Story” by Taylor Swift because it’s a specific song about a certain romance with a storybook ending. Hill’s messages are widely accessible sentiments about her raw feelings toward her lover, and their relationship has a vulnerability that I’ve never felt in another artist’s music. That’s why the prompt “define love” is such a difficult question: People rarely stop to consider it. Despite her limited discography, many people jump to label Hill as one of the best female artists of all time, but that’s selling her short. I don’t know of any artist more effective at conveying complex relationships and love than Ms. Lauryn Hill.

 Many things that Kanye West says nowadays are unfathomable to listen to, but I do now understand what he said on his 2016 track, “No More Parties in LA”: “I’ve been uninspired since Lauryn Hill retired.”