4.6 + Beautiful and deeply personal, and as outstanding as I remember. Listening to this record a dozen years older and somewhat wiser, I’m struck by Lauryn’s naive worldview, built from a narrow sense of right and wrong. Promiscuous women are cast off as unchristian (“Doo Wap”). Greedy money-grabbers are unrighteous (“Forgive Them Father”). It’s fascinating how this self-righteousness is such a source of strength that would also ultimately lead to her reclusiveness as an artist. All this aside, the brilliant moments on this record sound brilliant as ever. The touching ode to her baby (“To Zion”), the vulnerable closer (“Tell Him”). On some of the duller tracks, Lauryn tries to gussy things up with slabs of her fluttery glissando (“When It Hurts So Bad”). A new standout for me is her “Sir Duke”-esque tribute to her neighborhood, “Every Ghetto, Every City.”