The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Retrospect: One of Soul Music's Biggest Albums, Ten Years Later
A look at how this ground-breaking album impacted the music world and how it continues to stand out today.
In the mid-1990s, Lauryn Hill was best known as the lone female member of the hip-hop group, The Fugees, and for her role in the film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. But by the end of the decade, she would be known as one of the most influential female solo artists of her time.
Breaking Away from the Pack
After The Fugees earned multi-platinum status and Grammy Awards for their album The Score, the three members of the group, Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel, and Lauryn Hill decided to work on solo projects. All three earned success individually, but Hill broke records with her solo debut.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was released in August 1998 and it spawned a slew of number one singles, award nominations, and rave reviews from music critics. The following year the album was nominated for 11 Grammys, and won 5, the most ever for a female artist at that time.
The Tracks
The first single released off the album, "Lost Ones", squashed any doubts that hip-hop critics may have had about her ability as a lyricist. The message of the song blatantly warns her adversaries about the consequences of underestimating Lauryn Hill and challenges anyone who even thinks about disrespecting her. Hill delivers poignant and powerful lyrics, without the collaborative efforts of her Fugees group mates (actually, some of the lyrics are thought to be directed towards Hill's group mate Wyclef Jean).
But it was the single, "Doo Wop (That Thing)" that catapulted her into mainstream pop stardom. Not only was the song popular, but it actually expressed an important socially conscious message about life. Hill combined an old school R&B feel with modern hip-hop, which resulted in a song that had a unique sound that appealed to both younger and older generations and also to people who weren’t particularly fond of or familiar with hip-hop or R&B.
Some of the best songs on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill were never released as singles; for example, “I Used to Love Him”, a duet with Mary J. Blige, is a song that reflects on past love. A story that many women can relate to, Blige and Hill sing about life after love and the feeling of relief that comes from escaping a relationship that was ignited by young love but plagued with heartache.
Ten Years Later
Even after the emergence of albums by other super-successful female artists, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill continues to stand out because of its display of strength, wisdom, and vulnerability. On this album, Lauryn Hill expresses a range of emotions and messages: whether it's dealing with a difficult relationship ("Ex-Factor"), motherhood ("Zion"), a warning about the ulterior motives of others ("Forgive Them Father"), or hope ("Everything is Everything"). What makes The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill special, even now, is the combination of brilliant, heartfelt songwriting and great production, topped off with Hill’s raw emotional vocal performances.
Although she’s been keeping a pretty low profile in recent years, fans are still waiting to see what else Lauryn Hill has to offer; but even if she never records another album, she’ll always be remembered for her unforgettable solo debut.
