Mystery of Iniquity
| "Mystery of Iniquity" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Lauryn Hill | |
| from the album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 | |
| Released | May 7, 2002 |
| Recorded | July 21, 2001 |
| Genre | Acoustic hip hop, spoken word |
| Length | 4:58 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter(s) | Lauryn Hill |
| Producer(s) | Alex Coletti |
"Mystery of Iniquity" is a song by American singer and rapper Lauryn Hill, released in 2002 as part of her live album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. Blending spoken word and freestyle rap, the live track offers a critique of systemic injustice, particularly within the American legal and political systems. Hill invokes biblical imagery to confront themes of corruption, capitalism, and institutional hypocrisy.
"Mystery of Iniquity" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female Rap Solo Performance and gained renewed attention when Kanye West interpolated it in his 2004 single "All Falls Down", his first major commercial hit. It has since been cited in academic, political, and spiritual contexts for its critique and remains one of the most discussed pieces from Hill's Unplugged set.