It has been 20 years since The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart with hit tracks “Doo Wop (That Thing),” “Ex-Factor” and “Everything Is Everything.” Still riding the success of this groundbreaking, iconic album, Ms. Lauryn Hill embarked on a nationwide tour in July to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Miseducation. No stranger to New Orleans, Hill returns to the 504 on October 3 at UNO Lakefront Arena.  

She received a conveniently-timed career boost when both Drake and Cardi B sampled “Ex-Factor” on their songs “Nice For What” and “Be Careful,” respectively.

Notorious for both her stellar talent and performance antics (showing up late, ending her set early and arguing with fans), Ms. Hill recently penned an open letter addressing her critics. In typical Lauryn Hill fashion, several dates on the 2018 tour were cancelled or postponed due to “unforeseen production issues.” Hill’s unreliable attendance makes fans hesitant. But when she does show, it’s iconic. Hill has been disproportionately loyal to New Orleans fans by honoring her commitment to perform, albeit sometimes late (she rocked Jazz Fest in 2016). In order to encourage ticket sales, Hill recruited a strong line-up of special guests including Dave Chapelle, Nas, Dave East, SZA, Busta Rhymes and more.

Nas is a longtime fan of Hill and is scheduled to open the New Orleans show. “[The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill] is a timeless record, pure music…She birthed her sound, and that’s timeless. She didn’t try to be cool, she was already cool,” Nas wrote in XXL in 2013.

Lauryn Hill will appear at the UNO Lakefront Arena with special guests Nas, Shabazz Palace and Patoranking on October 3, 2018 at 7 p.m. Standard ticket prices range from $41 to $125 and can be purchased here.