Rapper Lauryn Hill Stirs Controversy With New Track [UPDATED]

Lauryn, Lauryn, Lauryn …

The question here isn’t so much, “Did she cross the line?” as it is, “How far did she cross the line?” And by the look of these lyrics, she took one Olympian-sized leap.

Here are the lyrics in question, in the context of a running list of why today’s world is (apparently) in shambles:

“Commerce and girl men, run the whole world man … Quick scam and drag queens, real likely to blast fiends … Social transvestism, subliminal dressed up as piety …”

And these are just the lyrics that are homophobic!

The lyrics of the rap track, “Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)” (titled “compulsory” because she claims she was forced to release it early), are a bit of a shock, considering the former “Fugees” member is a well-known advocate for the oppressed in much of her music. Well, the oppressed who aren’t LGBT, that is.

Chimed in Monica Miller of BET:

Whether or not Hill is merely using these comments as examples of the smokescreens and sleight-of-hands that pervade this “Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)” is unclear. Beyond intention, these sorts of statements suggest that society is in a shambles because it’s been taking too many cues from the LGBTQ community, acting like “girl men,” “drag queens,” and “transvestites.” Is her beef with oppressive society or is her issue with people who don’t abide by a traditional family structure?

Neither Hill nor Sony has commented on the lyrics since the song sparked outrage earlier today. The only commentary she has provided on the song does not address the lyrics that have activists in an uproar, but instead laments having to release her track before it was ready.

Hill was previously sentenced on May 6 to three months in prison for federal tax evasion of more than $1.8 million in unpaid taxes between 2005 and 2007. She is to report to prison by July 8.

“Fantasy is what people want,” Hill famously told her audience at an MTV Unplugged concert in 2001, “but reality is what they need.”

So be it: someone get this girl a reality check — stat!

Listen to the song and judge for yourself below:

UPDATED [9:03 a.m., 6/5/2013]: Lauryn Hill responds to anti-gay-lyric controversy. Click here to read her statement.

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