A history of the reclusive artist’s spotty returns to the stage. By Mawuse Ziegbe Lauryn Hill Photo: Brendon Thorne/ Getty Images Lauryn Hill is making a much-heralded return to the stage — and the spotlight — at this year’s Rock the Bells Tour. However, die-hard fans of the Grammy-winning singer/MC hope the appearance breaks L-Boogie’s decade-long tradition of mounting rare and spotty shows. Hill, who shot to fame as a member of the pioneering hip-hip trio the Fugees, became a critically-acclaimed media darling and the subject of arguably cultish fan worship after the breakout success of her solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Yet, in the wake of the chart-topping success of Miseducation and her then record-setting five Grammy wins in 1999, the artist began to withdraw from the world stage. Sure, she rocked the VMAs, scored a Best Dressed nod from Vogue, and continued to nab a bevy of music trophies. However, by 2001 Hill had nearly vanished from the scene. She released the live album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 in 2002 but since then, public sightings of Hill have been relegated to the odd festival appearance. Here’s a timeline of Hill’s stage shows after the success of Miseducation:
