Promotional single by Lauryn Hill featuring Carlos Santana
from the album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Released
November 18, 1998 (1998-11-18)
Recorded
1997
Studio
Chung King (New York City)
Perfect Pair (East Orange)
Circle House (Miami)
Genre
Hip hop
Length
6:09[a]
Label
Ruffhouse
Columbia
Songwriter(s)
Lauryn Hill
Producer(s)
Lauryn Hill
Che Guevara
Audio
"To Zion" on YouTube
"To Zion" is a song recorded by American rapper and singer Lauryn Hill for her debut solo studio album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). It was written and produced by Hill herself.
Featuring American guitarist Carlos Santana, "To Zion" is an acoustic Spanish guitar-driven hip hop track. It is one of only two tracks from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill on which production by someone besides Hill was credited, as Che Pope received a co-production credit under his pseudonym Che Guevara. Lyrically, "To Zion" is a tribute to Hill's oldest son Zion David Marley, to whom she gave birth in 1997, during her relationship with Rohan Marley. The song discusses Hill's decision not to terminate her pregnancy in favor of her burgeoning career, while further lyrical themes derive from spirituality, rebirth and Hill's relationship with God. While it was never issued as a commercial single, the song was released as a promotional single from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill on November 18, 1998, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records.
Upon the release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, "To Zion" received unanimous acclaim from music critics, predominantly directed towards its lyrical themes and production, while being highlighted as one of the album's standout tracks by numerous reviewers. Commercially, it peaked at number 77 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Hill performed the song live with Santana at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards (1999), and has included it on set lists for all her concert tours. In retrospective commentaries, the critics have acknowledged the influence "To Zion" has had on artistry of numerous rappers who achieved mainstream prominence decades after the song's release, as well as the impact its lyrical message of encouragement to pursue motherhood simultaneously with a career has had on various female celebrities. In addition, multiple recording artists have sampled or referenced the song in their respective works.
^Hill, Lauryn (1998). "To Zion". The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (CD). Ruffhouse Records, Columbia Records. CK 69035.
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