My Publicist Note Book

Nearly two weeks after the release of  Straight Outta Compton , producers still trying to understand what its success means for hip-hop. There are now  111 million reasons  why they should be paying attention to the pivotal hip-hop biopic and its accompanying press. Undoubtedly, it makes a claim for the return of engaging, big-budget Black films that do not star a man in a dress. Its careful storytelling and well-rounded edge means that hip-hop history is capable of gripping a vast audience.  More importantly, hip-hop biopics are filmed through an empathetic lens: by practice, it often regards the artist (or those closest to them) as subject matter experts. For many Black artists, a biopic places the national narrative into their hands for the first time. Dr. Dre and Ice Cube’s presence during the film’s production no doubt influenced the finished product. Inevitably, their revisionism led to the absence of certain stories. Despite the group’s noto...

American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actress , Ms. Lauryn Hill Celebrates her 41st Birthday today! Hill is known for being a member of the Fugees and for her critically-acclaimed solo album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," which won the 1999 Grammy Award for album of the year. Happy Birthday Lauryn Team My Publicist Back in the early '90s, Hill started out her career as an actress. After landing a recurring role on the television soap opera,  As the World Turns,  she then worked her way to a starring role  in the 1993 film,  Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.  Before long, though, Hill decided to pursue music, and she and rapper Pras Michel formed a hip hop group, later known as the Fugees. Today, the multi-talented artist turns 41. In celebration of Hill's major success as an artist and incredibly eclectic music career, we rounded up her most memorable music videos in honor of her birthday, belo...

American R&B star and former member of The Fugees, Lauryn Hill, announced Monday that has been forced to cancel her performance in Israel that was scheduled for Thursday . Lauryn Hill on Monday canceled a planned concert in Tel Aviv after a coordinated effort by activists and fans pressuring her to boycott Israel over its discriminatory policies towards Palestinian citizens and other minorities, as well as its military occupation of Palestinian territories. In a statement posted to her Facebook page, Hill attributed the cancellation to her team’s inability to host concerts in both Tel Aviv and the West Bank city of Ramallah — not pressure from activists who spearheaded the campaign. “When deciding to play the region, my intention was to perform in both Tel Aviv and Ramallah,” said Hill. “Setting up a performance in the Palestinian Territory, at the same time as our show in Israel, proved to be a challenge.” “It is very important...