Lauryn Hill's recent tax evasion problems have put a twist on her music career. While in court today, Lauryn Hill revealed she has a new record deal with Sony. Alongside the report, she was also able to push back her court sentencing for another two weeks til May 6th.
The former front woman of the Fugees is facing prison time after pleading guilty to tax evasion on her $1.8 million earned from 2005-2007. Lauryn appeared in court earlier today and a federal judge postponed her sentencing for two weeks giving Lauryn a chance to repay a chunk of her $968,000 tax debt.
According to TMZ, Hill's attourney said Lauryn has signed a million dollar recording deal with Sony and is planning on taking a loan of 650,000 to put toward her tax debt.
Lauryn Hill is facing several years in prison, but her attourney is hoping probation. [Via]
Update: Lauryn Hill explains the details of her new Sony deal and her financial situation. Read Lauryn's statement 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.
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 nature of my new business venture, as well as the dollar amount reported, was inaccurate, only a portion of the overall deal. Keep in mind, my past recordings have sold over 50,000,000 units worldwide, earning the label a tremendous amount of money (a fraction of which actually came to me).
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."
MLH
