Lauryn Hill Took Career Break to 'reclaim Individuality'

Reclusive singerrapper Lauryn Hill has revealed she shied away from the spotlight for years because she wanted to "reclaim" control of her private life.

The former Fugees star garnered critical acclaim in 1998 when she released her debut solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, but she subsequently took a step back from the limelight after becoming disillusioned with the music industry.

Hill recently admitted she wanted to focus on her role as a mother to her five kids with longtime partner Rohan Marley, and she also needed to put her career on hold because she felt she was losing her identity.

She tells Fuse TV, "I wanted a real life as well, out of public scrutiny. "I wanted to be able to live, to reclaim my private life, to reclaim myindividuality outside of mass media scrutiny.

I wanted that freedom to do whatever I wanted to do". Hill staged a successful concert comeback at the Rock The Bells festival in California last month (Aug10) and is now said to be working on her first new release in 12 years.