2. "If I had to guess, the connection is through the track's producers" In response to Reply # 0
Who were Hakim and Muhammed Bell, sons of Robert Kool Bell aka Kool of Kool and the Gang (hence the Kool and the Gang sample).
The Bell family and Lauryn share a New Jersey connection. I'd also heard **years** ago that the Robert Bell was one of the people that "discovered" her.
So, I would imagine that Paid and Live was the Bell kids' artist, they recorded a jam, and they called in a favor from Lauryn during a time when she was mega hot. It's as good of an explanation that I can think of.