Hill’s Concert Confirms Her Star Status

Grammy-winner Lauryn Hill is on the kind of high-profile roll that can be dangerous to pop careers because expectation levels can become so high that they are virtually impossible to meet.

But Hill’s sold-out concert Friday at the Universal Amphitheatre was a warm, frequently thrilling affair that suggested the 23-year-old hip-hop star can live up to everything expected of her.

Reflecting the same purpose and poise as in her appearance on the recent Grammy telecast, Hill--whose Chicago concert was reviewed at length in these pages Feb. 22--is part musician, part preacher and total entertainer.

Not only did her themes evoke the social consciousness of Bob Marley and Stevie Wonder, but she and a dozen musicians also wove a wide range of musical influences--from reggae and rap to gospel and R&B--in; a freewheeling, funk-accented feast.

Moving on stage with the dynamics and style of an accomplished dancer, Hill told the crowd that she is thankful for all the Grammys and other awards, but that she won’t let them distort her vision. Such a vow might seem pretentious, but Hill’s tone was humble and reassuring, which mirrors the most enchanting qualities of her music.

Hip-hop has been looking for more than a decade for a defining artist who can reach out to the pop mainstream without sacrificing integrity. It looks like it finally has one in Hill.