Ever since the release of 1998′s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, fans have been longing for more life lessons from Hill. The album sold over 19 million copies worldwide and won the former Fugees front-woman five Grammy awards. Since that time, Hill has taken time off to give birth to 5 more children and her music has arguably been hit or miss.

Read some of her letter below:

It has been reported that I signed a new record deal, and that I did this to pay taxes. Yes, I have recently entered into an agreement with Sony Worldwide Entertainment, to launch a new label, on which my new music will be released. And yes, I am working on new music.

I’ve remained silent, after an extensive healing process. This has been a 10+ year battle, for a long time played out behind closed doors, but now in front of the public eye. This is an old conflict between art and commerce… free minds, and minds that are perhaps overly tethered to structure. This is about inequity, and the resulting disenfranchisement caused by it. I’ve been fighting for existential and economic freedom, which means the freedom to create and live without someone threatening, controlling, and/or manipulating the art and the artist, by tying the purse strings.

Only a completely complicated set of traps, manipulations, and inequitable business arrangements could put someone who has accomplished the things that I have, financially in need of anything. I am one artist who finds value in openly discussing the dynamics within this industry that force artists to compromise or distort themselves and what they do, rather than allowing them to make the music that people need. There are volumes that could (and will) be said.
http://forbezdvd.com/blog/2013/04/27/lauryn-hill-writes-letter-speaking-on-tax-trouble-and-confirming-record-deal/