The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (album)

## **Singles from *The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill***

1. "Doo Wop (That Thing)"
Released: August 10, 1998
2. "Ex-Factor"
Released: December 14, 1998
3. "Everything Is Everything"
Released: May 3, 1999

***The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill*** is the debut and only solo studio album by American singer and rapper Lauryn Hill. It was released on August 25, 1998, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records. The album's title was inspired by the film and autobiographical novel *The Education of Sonny Carson*, and Carter G. Woodson's *The Mis-Education of the Negro*.

The album debuted at number one on the *Billboard* 200 chart, selling over 422,000 copies in its first week, which broke a record for first-week sales by a female artist. It was promoted with the release of the hit singles "Doo Wop (That Thing)," "Ex-Factor," and "Everything Is Everything", while "Lost Ones" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" were released as promotional singles

*The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill* was among the most acclaimed albums of 1998, as most critics praised Hill's presentation of a woman's view on life and love, along with her artistic range. At the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, *The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill* earned ten nominations, winning five awards, making Hill the first woman to receive that many nominations and awards in one night. The album's success propelled Hill to international superstardom, and contributed to bringing hip hop and neo soul to the forefront of popular music. New Ark, however, felt Hill and her record label did not properly credit the group on the album; a lawsuit filed by the group was settled out of court in 2001.

Since its release, the album has been ranked in numerous best-album lists, with a number of critics regarding it as one of the greatest albums of the 1990s, as well as one of the greatest albums of all time. In 2021, the album was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America, for estimated sales of 10 million copies in the US, making Hill the first female rapper to accomplish this feat. Worldwide, the album has sold over 20 million copies, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time, the best-selling album by a female rapper, and the best-selling neo-soul album of all time.

## Synopsis

To understand the significance of *The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill*, it's important to remember what mainstream hip-hop was like in 1998. Materialism and misogyny were rampant, fanned by music videos that presented women as objects or conquests. Hill's first solo album provided a sharp counterpoint by injecting the perspective of a young black woman dealing with identity and sexuality. The response to it was universal—Miseducation was a juggernaut, earning five Grammy Awards including Album of the Year. She put her Fugees past behind her, seizing the spotlight to showcase her rapping skills and amplify her emotional singing voice. "Doo Wop (That Thing)" and "Lost Ones" are vital crowd-movers, while "Ex-Factor," "To Zion," and "Everything Is Everything" collect Hill's penetrating insights on life, love, and motherhood. Percolating with hip-hop, reggae, and R&B, Miseducation was right on time and ahead of its time, encouraging a generation (including future stars like Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar) that it's okay to show your soul.

## Track listing

All tracks written by Lauryn Hill, except where noted. All tracks are produced by Hill. "Lost Ones" and "To Zion" were co-produced by Che Pope, and "Lost Ones" was additionally produced by Vada Nobles.

## Personnel

Musicians
* Al Anderson – guitar (track: 12)
* Tom Barney – bass (tracks: 11–13)
* Bud Beadle – alto/tenor saxophone, flute (track: 7)
* Robert Browne – guitar (track: 2)
* Rudy Byrd – percussion (tracks: 3, 6, 8)
* Che "Guevara" Pope – drum programming (tracks: 5, 6, 8–10, 12, 13)
* Jared Crawford – live drums (track: 4)
* D'Angelo – Rhodes piano (track: 12)
* DJ Supreme – DJ (track: 5)
* Francis Dunnery – guitar (tracks: 11, 12)
* Paul Fakhourie – bass (track: 3)
* Dean Frasier – saxophone (tracks: 5, 10)
* Loris Holland – keys (tracks: 12, 14); clavinet (track: 11)
* Quartet Indigo – strings (tracks: 5, 13, 14)
* Julian Marley – guitar (track: 10)
* Chris Meredith – bass (tracks: 8, 10, 12)
* Johari Newton – guitar (tracks: 2, 3, 8)
* Tejumold Newton – piano (track: 3)
* Vada Nobles – drum programming (tracks: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13)
* Arun Pandian – guitar (track 16 – Tell Him)
* Grace Paradise – harp (tracks: 4, 6, 8)
* James Poyser – bass (tracks: 2, 4, 9); keys (tracks: 3, 5, 6, 12)
* Everol Ray – trumpet (tracks: 5,10)
* Kevin Robinson – trumpet, flugelhorn (track: 7)
* Ronald "Nambo" Robinson – trombone (tracks: 5, 10)
* Matthew Rubano – bass (tracks: 9, 13)
* Carlos Santana – guitar (track: 4)
* Earl Chinna Smith – guitar (tracks: 2,10)
* Andrew Smith – guitar (track: 7)
* Squiddly Ranks – live drums (track: 8)
* John R. Stephens – piano (track: 13)
* Elizabeth Valletti – harp (track: 7)
* Fayyaz Virti – trombone (track: 7)
* Joe Wilson – piano (track: 14)
* Stuart Zender – bass (track: 7)

Production
* Errol Brown – assistant recording engineer (tracks: 2, 10)
* Che "Guevara" Pope – co-producer (tracks: 2, 4), producer
* Lauryn Hill – producer, executive producer (tracks: 1–16)
* Matt Howe – recorder (track: 7)
* Storm Jefferson – recorder (tracks: 8, 9, 11, 12); mix engineer (track: 8); assistant mix engineer (tracks: 2, 9)
* Ken Johnson – recorder (track: 9); assistant recording engineer (track: 4)
* Vada Nobles – co-producer (track: 2), producer
* Tony Prendatt – recorder (tracks: 6, 7, 9, 12–14); engineer (track: 14)
* Warren Riker – recorder (tracks: 4, 5, 8, 12); mix engineer (tracks: 2, 9)
* Jamie Seigel – assistant mix engineer (track: 4)
* Greg Thompson – assistant mix engineer (track: 3)
* Neil Tucker – assistant recording engineer (track: 7)
* Chip Verspyck – assistant recording engineer (tracks: 3, 7)
* Brian Vibberts]] – assistant engineer (tracks: 6, 10, 12)
* Gordon "Commissioner Gordon" Williams – recorder (tracks: 2 – 6, 8 -12); engineer (tracks: 9, 14); mixer (tracks: 2, 4 – 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14)
* Johny Wyndrx – recorder (track: 4)

Vocalists
* Lauryn Hill – vocals (tracks: 2–16)
* Mary J. Blige – vocals (track: 9)
* D'angelo – vocals (track: 12)
* Shelley Thunder – vocals (track: 10)
* Kenny Bobien – backing vocals (track: 4)
* Chinah – backing vocals (track: 9)
* Jenni Fujita – backing vocals (track: 5)
* Fundisha Johnson – backing vocals (track: 5)
* Sabrina Johnston – backing vocals (track: 4)
* Jenifer McNeil – backing vocals (track: 9)
* Rasheem Pugh – backing vocals (track: 5)
* Lenesha Randolph – backing vocals (tracks: 4, 5, 9, 13)
* Ramon Rivera – backing vocals (track: 9)
* Earl Robinson – backing vocals (track: 4)
* Andrea Simmons – backing vocals (tracks: 4,9)
* Eddie Stockley – backing vocals (track: 4)
* Ahmed Wallace – backing vocals (tracks: 9,13)
* Tara Watkins – backing vocals (track: 9)
* Rachel Wilson – backing vocals (track: 9)
* Chuck Young – backing vocals (track: 3)