The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill: Pro Life and Catholic Themes in Hip Hop

Hip hop is more than music—it’s a cultural tradition that insists on human dignity and overcoming injustice. That’s why so many rap songs naturally carry themes of pro-life and pro-family, all framed through the lens of Christian love. Few albums express this love as beautifully and powerfully as The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. This work didn’t just shape my relationship with hip hop—it planted the seeds for my own conversion to the Catholic Church. Lauryn’s artistry speaks to something deeply Marian: a reverent devotion, an understanding that love is not just an emotion but a calling. In this video, I begin my Catholic analysis of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, unpacking four foundational tracks—Lost Ones, Ex-Factor, To Zion, and Doo-Wop (That Thing). We’ll explore Lauryn’s journey from Eve to Mary, the right way to call someone to repentance, and the ways this album affirms that we can only love our unborn children as much as we love ourselves—and we can only love ourselves as much as we accept the depth of God’s love. I hope you’ll join me in this conversation, and I pray it resonates with you as much as it has with me.