Lauryn Hill dropped her first new song in five years. Take a listen.

It's not every day you hear a new song from the iconic Ms. Lauryn Hill. Actually, it's such a rarity that her most recent drop on Friday, Nov. 15, was the first solo song she released in half a decade.

Despite her impressive discography and influence on hip hop history, Hill has only ever released one full solo album to date, the inaugural The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1998. But according to Rolling Stone, she's been performing this new song, "Guarding the Gates," at live performances for years now.

'Guarding the Gates' was released as part of the Queen & Slim soundtrack, an upcoming romantic-thriller starring Daniel Kaluuya that confronts issues of race and police brutality. These subjects are all personal to Hill, as she dedicated her last solo song, 2014's "Black Rage," to Ferguson. The lyrics of "Guarding the Gates" describe a narrator finding love while feeling perpetually persecuted, making it ideal fit for a film about the "black Bonnie and Clyde."

READ MORE AT MASHABLE

Views: 142

Reply to This

Best guide to hip hop, soul, reggae concerts & events in San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles & New York City + music, videos, radio and more

Subscribe to E-Blast

WIN TICKETS

Nas
Wednesday, Nov 5 @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, SF

Raekown & Mobb Deep
Saturday, Nov 15 @ UC Theatre, Berkeley

How the Grouch Stole Christmas
Friday, Dec 5 @ UC Theatre, Berkeley

Atmosphere
Friday, Feb 13 @ Fox Theater, Oakland

Connect

Members

Photos

  • Add Photos
  • View All

Latest Activity

Editor's Pick posted discussions
yesterday
Editor's Pick posted discussions
Friday
Editor's Pick updated an event
Thumbnail

Elevation (1st Fridays) with Davey D (KPFA) at Golden Ratio, Oakland

January 2, 2026 at 9pm to October 3, 2026 at 1:45pm
FRIDAY, JAN 2 True Skool in association with Days Like This present ELEVATION (1st Fridays)Featuring:Davey D (KPFA)@ Golden Ratio, 1517 Franklin St., Oakland 21+ / Doors 9pm / FREE B4 10pmFree B4 11pm with RSVP: http://bit.ly/elevationfirstfridayABOUTELEVATION is a brand new party series! Curated by renowned DJ and crate-digger Renoir…See More
Friday
Tampa Mystic posted blog posts
Friday
Editor's Pick posted videos
Friday
Editor's Pick updated an event
Thumbnail

THROWBACK featuring Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist at Hello Stranger Bar, Oakland

December 24, 2025 at 9pm to July 8, 2026 at 1:45am
WEDNESDAY DEC 24 THROWBACK (2nd & 4th Wednesdays)Experience the ultimate Throwback party! 🎵 DJ Audio1 spins all your fave jams from back in the day! 🕺 Featuring DJ Audio1at Hello Stranger Bar, 1724 Broadway, Oakland. Doors 8pm. DJ Set starts at 9pm. No cover!RSVP: https://bit.ly/throwbackmusic…See More
Friday
Editor's Pick posted discussions
Thursday
An event by Editor's Pick was featured
Thumbnail

Feel Good Fridays with Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist at Mad Oak Bar, Oakland

December 12, 2025 at 9pm to December 13, 2025 at 1am
Fri, Dec 12 Kick off your weekend at Feel Good Fridays! 🎧 Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist brings the best Hip Hop, Top 40, House & Throwbacks. Come dance and feel the good vibes! 🙌🔥Mad Oak Bar, Oakland • FREE entry | 21+ | 9pm-1am>>…See More
Thursday
Editor's Pick posted an event
Thumbnail

Feel Good Fridays with Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist at Mad Oak Bar, Oakland

December 12, 2025 at 9pm to December 13, 2025 at 1am
Fri, Dec 12 Kick off your weekend at Feel Good Fridays! 🎧 Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist brings the best Hip Hop, Top 40, House & Throwbacks. Come dance and feel the good vibes! 🙌🔥Mad Oak Bar, Oakland • FREE entry | 21+ | 9pm-1am>>…See More
Thursday
Editor's Pick posted discussions
Tuesday
UrbanElite PR posted a blog post

New York rapper & producer duo Tone Chop & Frost Gamble drop new single "Beautiful Foundations"

New York State rapper & producer duo Tone Chop & Frost Gamble celebrate their three decades of working together with the release of the new album “Beautiful Foundations” on May 15th 2026 through New Dawn Records.From the early days of recording demos in their Binghamton basement to becoming one of the most prolific partnerships in recent years with a quite…See More
Tuesday
Artistpr posted a blog post

JTMsocial's "Mind On a Mission" Ignites Listeners with Motivational Hip Hop Anthem

Charlotte Artist JTMsocial's New Single Features Epic tha Dawn, Phylia Adam’s, 1Chedda & MoreCharlotte, NC - JTMsocial, also known as Jeffrey Travis Mcmillian, is making waves with his latest single, "Mind On a Mission," a powerful blend of hip hop, pop, and…See More
Tuesday

© 2025   Created by Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service