Legendary singer and rapper Lauryn Hill reaffirmed her powerful bond with Montreal this week, delivering two rousing performances at Place des Arts that challenged her reputation for unpredictability. The concerts on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier served as a testament to an artistic relationship spanning over three decades.
A Montreal Love Story Spanning Decades
The connection between Lauryn Hill and Montreal audiences dates back 31 years, almost to the day. Her journey in the city began on December 12, 1994, when a then-little-known Hill and her group, the Fugees, opened for Spearhead and Ben Harper at the Spectrum. Even then, she was a magnetic force, stealing the show as a singing and rapping dynamo who captivated the crowd.
The Fugees' ascent was rapid. They returned to Montreal in March 1996 to play Metropolis alongside The Roots and Goodie Mob. Merely six months later, propelled by the monumental success of their album The Score and the hit single Killing Me Softly With His Song, they graced the stage of the Molson Centre, now known as the Bell Centre.
The Solo Journey and Enduring Live Legacy
Hill's solo masterpiece, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, released in 1998, earned her five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. It remains her last proper studio album. She followed it in 2002 with the raw and defiant MTV Unplugged No. 2.0, which polarized critics at the time.
Despite a career path that diverged from mainstream industry expectations, her Montreal performances have been consistently remarkable. She first played Place des Arts in June 2002 as part of the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Subsequent shows included a late-night marathon at Metropolis in 2011, a return to the Jazz Festival in 2016, and an appearance at Place Bell in 2019.
Contrary to her reputation for tardiness and unreliability, including a well-documented 2013 jail sentence for tax evasion, Hill has never delivered an off night in Montreal. Each performance has been a powerful demonstration of her unique artistry.
An Unforgettable Night at Place des Arts
For her latest outing, Hill took the stage just over an hour past the announced 5:30 p.m. start time. Backed by an impressive 14-piece band featuring two drummers, three keyboardists, and a three-piece horn section, plus two dancers, she commanded the room for 75 minutes.
Dressed in a patchwork trench vest and pinstriped pants, with dreadlocks spilling from her knit hat, Hill held court like a true grande dame. The setlist was a thrilling journey through reimagined classics, including:
- Everything Is Everything
- Lost Ones
- Ex-Factor
- Fugees favorites like Ready or Not and Fu-Gee-La
A poignant moment arrived when she brought her son, Zion Marley, to the stage. He performed a song she wrote for him at his birth in 1997, followed by some of his own material, his voice echoing the tone of his legendary grandfather, Bob Marley.
The concert crescendoed with electrifying renditions of Doo Wop (That Thing) and the iconic Killing Me Softly With His Song, leaving the audience enthralled. Hill concluded the generous performance by signing autographs from the stage, a final gesture to her devoted fans.
This latest chapter proves that Lauryn Hill, often unfairly labeled as "difficult" or "washed up," remains a one-of-a-kind artist who consistently delivers profound and exhilarating live experiences. Her three-decade dialogue with Montreal continues, and the city eagerly awaits her next visit.
