Lauryn Hill has signed a new five-song, $1 million deal with Sony Music in order to get out of going to prison on tax evasion charges. As previously reported, Hill owes about $504,000 after failing to pay federal taxes on the $1.8 million of income she made between 2005 and 2007. After receiving a new postponement of sentencing, she now has until May 6 to pay off the total and avoid three years in prison—hence Sony attempting to save her with this new deal, much to the court's irritation. As the judge put it in scolding Hill, "This is not someone who stands before the court penniless."
Anyway, if Hill manages to get her shit together and make an entire album, not just those five songs, she’ll obviously make even more money. Though, of course, according to Billboard, Hill has yet to record or write anything as of yet. Still, (potential) new Lauryn Hill songs, made just to get out of prison!