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Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Hill has spoken her part. 

Following a day full of headlines that stated Lauryn Hill was escaping jail time by signing a $1 Million record deal with Sony Records, Lauryn Hill fought fire with fire by taking to her own blog to set records straight about what exactly is going on in her pockets and in her personal life. 

STORY: Lauryn Hill Postpones Prison Sentence & Signs $1 Million Sony Deal

In her ever-so-eloquent manner with words, Lauryn wrote on her mslaurynhill Tumblr page: 

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.

It took years for me to get out of the ‘parasitic’ dynamic of my youth, and into a deal that better reflects my true contribution as an artist, and (purportedly) gives me the control necessary to create a paradigm suitable for my needs. I have been working towards this for a long time, not just because of my current legal situation, but because I am an artist, I love to create, and I need the proper platform to do so….

The blog comes after the former Fugees member pled guilty to tax evasion for the years between 2005 and 2007. Lauryn Hill has since worked out a deal with the judge, and surprisingly, a new deal with record label Sony. 

Lauryn’s presiding judge scolded the “When It Hurts So Bad” singer for making “no effort” to pay her taxes back, but showed some leniency by postponing her sentencing until May 6. 

In return, the judge has now given Lauryn Hill a May 3rd restitution date, where she is expected to pay back $650,000 in owed taxes. 

Our very favorite part of the letter has to be when she says “There are volumes that could (and will) be said.” We’re pretty sure that’s a promise for some real music. 

Head over to her Tumblr to read the entire note.