The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

I like the theming of this album and the messages therein, but I do find it a tad too long for my personal tastes. I also don't gravitate to some of theses sounds typically, although I like the way she meshed some of the genres together (even if it does sound a bit dated at times in my opinion).

Wonderful vocals over some great tracks. Very close to a 5.

great

🐐

pleasant enough but not my thing

I somehow never listened to this whole album when it came out, even though I loved all of the singles. It took me 25 years and this challenge to finally hear the album (insert joke about being very late to things, just like Ms. Lauryn Hill — also the fact that it opens with a skit about her not showing up for roll call is chef’s kiss irony). I expected to like it a lot more than I actually did. The singles all still hold up, and some of the other songs have grown on me with repeated listens, but it just didn’t blow me away like I was expecting it to. It’s also very long as an album, with several songs running longer than they need to. To Zion and Doo Wop (That Thing) are the best songs on the album. —To Zion always sounded gorgeous with the gospel chorus (and it’s one of the few overtly religious songs on here that doesn’t bother me). Lauryn has always had one of the most beautiful voices in R&B, but I’d somehow forgotten about her whistle notes at the end of this song — I didn’t know her range was that impressive. I’d forgotten about the Santana feature on it too. —And, although some of the lyrics on Doo Wop haven’t aged all that well, it’s still catchy af. Lost Ones, Superstar, Final Hour, and a few other tracks are pretty good, but the length of this album and the number of songs that either don’t have a great hook or just seem to drag on forever (a couple have both problems) makes it a chore to get through after a while. And I know it’s an autobiographical project and her faith is a huge part of her life, but it gets really preachy and irritating after a while. I’m sure other people are fine with that, but it’s just not something that I connect with. The fake vinyl static on the title track is really irritating. I get that she’s trying to make it sound like an old song on a well-loved record, but it just sounds like someone didn’t take care of their music collection. It’s so distracting that I couldn’t even pay attention to the music. I feel like Lauryn’s words in When It Hurts So Bad sort of sum the album up for me — “And it sounds nice, but it may not always be right for you.” This album deserves to be on this list — it was hugely influential on neo-soul, and Lauryn’s voice is one of the best in the biz. However, while I don’t regret listening to this album and may give it some time to grow on me, I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to. 3/5

Straight up fire 🔥

It a good record.

To be fair, this is not my genre of music. However, a few of the tracks in the non rap genre were worth listening to. Nice voice. One tune worth mentioning is 'Can't Take my Eyes off of You'.

fantastic album added quite a few songs to my playlists

Loved it. 90s classic

Highlights: To Zion, Doo Wop, Nothing Even Matters, anytime she raps

Overall, this album tended to play as background music. The tracks all meld together with a similar tempo and few dynamics or heavy chorus to differentiate. Lots of talent and artistry, just didn't grab me on first listen.

absolutely brightened my day up! felt like having an hours long, very insightful conversation with a fellow girlie. <33 lost ones, to zion, and tell him are my favourites. i’ll definitely be blasting them on the regular. the album also has such rich history. i think it’ll take me a while to get done with reading about it lol. don’t be a hard rock when you really are a gem. MWAH 5/5

Very good. Beautiful voice.

Is it finished yet? Lauryn Hill has an absolutely amazing voice: beautiful golden, velvet. But every song is like being beaten senseless by that voice. Individually, each song is great but the cumulative effect is, to me, unlistenable en masse. From about four songs in I was counting the number of tracks remaining. It decreased very slowly.

It's a no from me

it took a decade but i finally fully love this thing this thing this 10/10

I have this album shelved away squarely in "the most overrated lp of all time" collection. I remember when this dropped, every magazine, every critical hailed this as one of the greatest things to ever have been released. 26 years later(?!) I'm still not buying it

Might be the first time I’ve listened to this album all the way through. She has a beautiful voice. Some songs are better than others (the x-factor is a favorite). I’d listen again!

A wonderfully crafted album that really speaks to a specific time and place, and it was groundbreaking for the genre when it came out. Would listen any time and any place

Not bad musically, but did not enjoy the classroom interludes.

Rap in der Form ist nicht so meine Musik, aber ganz ok.

To make an album that stands the test of time must feel so special. Everything about this album is a five, the overall theme of being in a classroom learning about real world things. The classic songs that will never get old, and I mean never. The B Sides that you don’t hear too often but they make this project so well rounded. The lyrics that hit you deep and help you step into her world, her perspective. Just a phenomenal project and the true definition of a classic album.

it is exactly what people say about it. i was ready to hit a peter griffin godfather moment, but nah it really is fantastic. i still dont agree with apple musics placement of it on their list, but it isnt unfounded. this record is front to back fantastic in production, vocals, and storytelling.

Good album. I am reminded of the history of the era which this was released. A time when the music industry was not manufacturing vinyl, it was all CDs or mp3. Yet the musicians had effects put on their songs to replicate the sound of listening to vinyl. This amuses me.

Perfectly good R&B album, not as convinced by her rapping. I think the topics on the back half of the album are good, and it sonically improves as it goes. Honestly I don't really understand the praise it receives

Another one I know by heart. I've listened to it about 100 times but always happy to listen again. Still one of the best albums of all time, every song is uniquely good and a classic. 5

Good Friday listen, only every really heard this in background.

Pretty boring and repetitive but still better than the shit they make today

Yeah pretty good she should make more music

This white boy likes her music!!!!

Always liked this. Great songs.

Lauryn Hill has a lovely voice, but the amount of vocal riffs she packs into a single song is exhausting. I much prefer her rap songs, and as such, could do without the back half of this album.

One of the best albums everrrrr When it hurts so bad is me today

Classic from my high school days

If I would've been into this album in high school instead of Life of Agony maybe I would've actually had a girlfriend

I’m finding I don’t love the R&B sound

That thing is great, but nothing else left much of an impression on me. It was decent though.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a landmark album that showcases Lauryn Hill's exceptional vocal talent and musical versatility. Blending elements of hip-hop, R&B, soul, and reggae, the album is a rich tapestry of sounds, with Hill’s powerful and emotive voice at its core. Tracks like Ex-Factor and Doo Wop (That Thing) highlight her ability to seamlessly merge personal storytelling with sharp social commentary, making the album both deeply personal and universally relatable. The production is lush and varied, with each song offering something unique, whether it’s the soulful melodies or the intricate beats. However, at over an hour in length, the album can feel a bit stretched, with some tracks not quite matching the impact of the standout singles. Despite this, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is rightly considered a classic, with its influence still felt across genres today. Hill's debut remains a powerful statement of artistry and empowerment, solidifying her place as one of the most important voices of her generation. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 4 STAND OUT TRACK - Ex Factor

Not my style...

How is this influencial? All it is is an example that bad music was also made

It's fine. I know this tries to be a huge statement and such, but for me it falls flat. There's not a ton of cohesion in the tracks, and the talky bits at the end of most tracks feel like they try to reveal some grand truth, but it's just spewing tired cliché after tired cliché. Maybe you should have been there when it was made? Maybe that's what makes it great? Standouts - 2/5

Good album, does kind of drag on, but still amazing

Good album, lots of character.

Understandable how, despite everything, people will still risk a no-show to buy tickets to a Lauryn Hill concert. When she's on, she's unbeatable. Feels like this is one of those rare albums that basically everyone on the planet agrees on— I don’t even really mind the skits!

Not my kind of music, didn’t really listen past the second song

-for some reason this feels like a sister album to Songs In The Key Of Life. Very consistently good and innovative, especially with the fusion of soul and hip hop. Can def see why it was number one on the Apple Music Top 100 Albums chart thing -Favorites are Lost Ones, Ex-Factor, Doo Wop (That Thing), and I Used To Love Him

Confesso che mi dispiace molto ma non mi ci sono connesso. Sono certo che ci sia un motivo per cui è un album così acclamato e premiato però io non ho trovato una sola canzone che mi facesse dire "questa devo assolutamente salvarmela".

Not my music, but nice production

I will never forgive Apple Music for calling this the best album ever.

It's ok. I wouldn't complain if someone put this album on, but I would probably be waiting my turn to choose the next one. I wouldn't pay money for it. Low three stars I think.

Enjoy the message and the beats in this album. Missing a few real standout tracks. “Doo Wop (That Thing)” is a truly amazing song. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again

I love hearing the kids talk about love in between some of the songs. It's not what I usually listen to, but I understand the importance of this album, and I look forward to studying the lyrics and listening again.

Lauryn successfully blends hip-hop, R&B, and soul in a way that's both powerful and personal. She explores love, identity, and social issues. The production feels organic, with filling instrumentation that adds to its quality. Overall, it's an impactful listen.

Die R&B Laier hat nicht überzeugt. Die Mischung aus Hip-Hop, Rap, Soul und R&B ist einfach nicht mein Fall. Positiv hervorzuheben ist, dass ich das Album ohne Kopfschmerztabletten durchhören konnte. Lauryn Hill’s Stimme und die Produktion mögen vielleicht von hoher Qualität sein. Dennoch musste ich ein paar Mal die Skip-Taste nutzen, da mich einige Tracks ärgerten und wie die Vorgänger wirkten. Einzig “Can’t Take My Eyes Off (I Love You Baby” war ein winziges Licht im Dunkeln des Albums. Insgesamt trifft das Album nicht meinen persönlichen Musikgeschmack trifft und ich werde es bestimmt nicht nochmal hören.

Classic

excellent featured artists

Impeccably crafted, smartly written, and a pretty fun listen to boot? Surely Lauryn Hill became the next hip-hop mega star and broke the doors down for women in—oh. I don’t want to dwell on Lauryn never really capitalizing on this album because it’s more sad than anything, but it is too bad this is basically all we ever got from someone who seemed to be a budding master. Thankfully, the album is still here and is still great. Best song: Doo Wop (That Thing)

Pelotazo y según algunos mejor disco del siglo. Para m´no está mal pero muy lejos de ser excepcional.

Musically it is lovely. Lauryn has a great voice. I didn’t know she could reach the Mariah Carey notes! Tho sometimes the songs are too screamy for me. I also don’t feel hood enough for this, somehow.

I liked the more chill songs, but other ones where she is rapping are really not my thing

After the first song I thought I was going to hate this, but fortunately, it got better from there. Still not my jam though

This is arguably one of the greatest albums of all time, hitting home on just about every level. It opens with a school register being taken and the theme continues with a young woman figuring out life, love and everything, drawing from diverse musical influences and producing something that sounds almost effortlessly perfect. This was Hill’s only solo album but it stands as a genre defining achievement for all time.

Funny thing is that I was convinced that Kill Me Softly was on this record. My mistake. Apart from that, that's a really good rap/R&B album with strong backup instrumental, nice collaborations and Hill's voice that is impressive. Although I really like her flow, so I wouldn't have complained with more rap and less melodic singing. The album is a bit long, and the interludes are a bit much.

amazing. 4.5/5

When this album first came out it was on fire. Everyone loved it - critics and fans. I never listened. It wasn’t my thing. I wish I been more open-minded when it came to music. But here I am now, 26 years later, and I finally listened. It’s nice but I don’t connect.

Songs are way too long. Feel like this is an overrated album. 3 stars is stretching it

My wife has a theory that the Fugees ruined pop music. They took everything and slowed it down with generic "beats" and wailing. She's onto something with this bland procession of blah.

Liked the Caribbean sounds and the overarching theme of love. Favorite song: Doo-Wop.

Echt een fantastisch album, dat reggae, hiphop en R&B eigenlijk moeiteloos combineert. Dit album laat wat mij betreft wel zien dat The Fugees stiekem gewoon Lauryn en de rest was. Qua stemgeluid en presence overtreft ze de rest echt flink. Dus dit is dan een easy 5 toch? Nou nee. Want hoewel de eerste nummers echt fantastisch zijn en het einde ook echt prachtig is, vind ik het middenstuk een flink stuk minder. Ik heb sterk het idee dat als het album korter was dat het dan beter was, voor mij althans. Niettemin een geweldig album, geen 5 sterren. Das ook geen schande! Ik ben natuurlijk een zeer kritische muziekreviewer. FAVO: Lost Ones, Ex-factor, To Zion, Doo Wop(That Thing), Nothing even matters, Everything is everything

I’ve never enjoyed rap music (I lack the vocabulary to define why) and was expecting to rate this album a 2, but I listened to it a couple of times and it grew on me—I might even listen again! This kind of discovery is why I am doing One Album a Day.

Whoa, what a great album! It just keeps giving. It really is all killer, no filler. I'm glad to learn of this one. It only took me 25 years. :-D

I know this is a seminal album for hip-hop, and it does have a nice laid-back, R&B-feel to it. Plus I like the message and emotion behind the lyrics throughout. There's just not a lot of songs here that really stick in my brain the way some others do.

It stands the test of time. Still a good listen!

Her masterpiece. Stood up well

El inicio esta increible Los interludios entre canciones complementan cada cancion y el ritmo es excelente, lo volveria a escuchar

The issue with some of the mainstream US music is, that it tends to play too safe and to value production effect over musical depth and actually diminish the value of the songwriting and artistical performance. This record feels like many US movies that don't dare an open end, or a sad ending. Like how the Blade Runner director's cut is way darker than the cinematic edition. So sad, there could be more to this, given lyrics, songs and voice.

Correcto

4.5. So good

yet another album that's frankly a contender for a perfect example of a genre. everything from hill's voice to the production value is immaculate, her songs often involving real-life stories and lamentful tales about heartbreak and convictions. the bouncy and lowkey beats weave a collection of songs that feels like a fairytale.

The ultimate one album wonder. This should have made Lauryn Hill a superstar with a lengthy career. Instead, we got a blazing shooting star with a lot of unanswered questions about her musical direction. This is a great album marred only by over length and a couple of filler tracks.

Already listened to. That thing is a BANGER!! THAT THIIIiiiIIIiiiiiinG!

Thank you 1001 for reminding me to listen to this classic again. Imagine dropping this fucker and then never putting out any music ever again. Queen shit right there 👑 9/10

When we had a Missy Elliott album, this is why I was disappointed. There's some real chops here. Her voice is great but man this album goes on for a bit. Not a masterpiece. Good to listen. I think if this was tighter it could do more.

Her voice is a decent instrument. I found myself getting bored and checking how much was left. The singles hold up but most of the tracks are very forgettable.

This album is one of the best (if not the best) album of all time. Lauryn's vocals are beautiful and the songs are just so good. Of course there's "Doo Wop", "Ex Factor" and "To Zion", but even the deep cuts are amazing. She really devoured with this one.

Outstanding album that will improve your mood

Already listened.

For the lovers of the genre, it's probably a masterpiece. For me, it was a decent listen, but I found myself growing bored the longer it went on; I don't really get why it's supposed to be different/better than other, similar albums I'd heard before. 3.5 stars

This album is very highly praised. Like very highly. I like the classroom skits, and there's some bangers here, but I think I'm just missing what's what about it. It's okay. Good even, outside that shit cover of Frankie Valli. But one of the best of all time? Nah

Not my thing

This wasn't terrible, but I really don't understand how this was number 1 on the Apple all time best album list?

one of the easiest 5s you'll come across everyone knows its good, but then you get to that guitar solo in Ex-Factor, those beautiful vocals. Incredible. It earns it's length and its just increase, what an unbelievable talent

I listened to this for days on end when it came out. Still can’t stop myself from singing along.

Ok back at it. I first heard this when I worked at a record store and was like whooooooa this is DOPE. Haven’t listened in years though. Lots to sift through here but for the most part it’s a chill record. Soulful, some dancy stuff, lots of groove. I definitely got used to skipping through the skits but it makes for a good story, as far as the overall experience. There are a few standout tracks like Doo Wop (That Thing) but it mostly blends together. My favorite track was always I Used To Love Him with Mary j Blige, which is a smooth track for sure. Their voices work so well together. Every Ghetto, Every City is also up there for top tracks. Honestly though this is a great record to listen to start to finish since it’s so cohesive. Sometimes the tracks do blend together but that’s definitely not a bad thing. Her raps and her vocals shine BRIGHT here. In the Fugeees it was a bit more pronounced, but this record absolutely showcases her talents. Everything is Everything is probably my current favorite track, listening from a 2024 perspective. It’s a great song with lots of cool vocal layers. This is also a fairly lengthy listen at over an hour and 15 min but it’s worth it.

Solid

This exists in that nebulous area where it isn't bad, but there's just nothing that pulls me in enough to get excited about it. I find my mind drifting as it plays and allowing it to become background noise. I can certainly see why others enjoy it. The vocal delivery is competent. The instrumentation is well performed, and is certainly more evolved than the average hip-hop from this era. It has a very "modern R&B" feel to it, which I've never really preferred. Maybe that's the turn off? Overall it's just nothing I can get passionate about either for or against.

7/10 Thus was good but a little too inconsistent to get the super high marks Great singing, great production. When it all comes together it is wonderful Unfortunately some of it is a little pedestrian, I much prefer the rapped songs Best: Doo Wap (That Thing)

The album is an incredible vibe from beginning to end. The interludes of the classroom talking about love is really wholesome and fun. The lyrics are excellent, and I was bobbing along from the get go. Favorite Song(s): Ex-Factor, Nothing Even Matters

The interludes have gotten old, but musically there is not a single miss on this album.

Not bad but also not that great. It had some good moments though.

This album is real good. In recent times (2024) this album has received a level of praise I’m not sure I understand. Lauryn does a great job of exploring emotional concepts all while tying all of the album together through a school education lesson. There were times on the album that lulled but overall this is a solid project. 8.2/10

Its good Favorite tracks: "Lost ones" and "Everything is Everything"

Don’t really have much to say about this, but I really enjoyed it.

10

Very good

I know how legendary this album is and how she is. Truly never listened to this album fully. Have heard some of these tracks individually. Yeah this album is definitely why Apple called it a top-100 all time

You're just too good to be trueeee

good album superior version of can’t take my eyes off of you

🎧Handful of really amazing songs, but pretty bloated overall. There’s probably a damn near perfect album in here if trimmed down to a single LP. Skits/dialogue are annoying and unnecessary too. Standout songs: Ex- Factor, Doo Wop (That Thing), Everything is Everything.

You won't usually catch me listening to 90s R&B and/or hip-hop, but this is actually pretty good. I wasn't really feeling it for the first four tracks, but by track eight I was sold. This is what a classic sounds like.

Excellent and very consistent. You really listen to the songs.

good but it made me realize i'm not into rnb :/

Me esperaba algo realmente disruptivo sabiendo todo el revuelo que tuvoy tiene este album. Esta bueno para escucharlo pero en lineas generales resulta bastante monotono.

good. classic.

Maybe this is a hot take but I think this album takes a while to get going. Once it hits its groove, though, it becomes great. 4/5

This album really exceeded my expectations. I was unaware of how thought-provokingly beautiful this record was gonna be. Lauryn's voice, the superb production, and the discussion of various social topics within the music all come together nicely. From start to finish, it was a joy listening to it all. The rendition of Can't Take My Eyes Off of You was fantastic. The song ending off the whole event that was this album was incredible and probably my favorite out of all I've heard. Nothing but positive things to say about this album. My ears were blessed today. Best - Lost Ones, Ex-Factor, To Zion, Doo Wop (That Thing), Superstar, Final Hour, I Used To Love Him, Forgive Them Father, Everything Is Everything, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, Can't Take My Eyes Off of You. Tell Him (MPF) Worse - Absolutely no bad songs on this whatsoever 5/5

Great album.

hyvä, muutama hajuilija. Isämme, joka on taivaissa, jotta sinun nimesi tuhoutuu tullakseen. Meillä on myös tekemistä kanssamme Sluk Sinun nimesi on tulla sinun valtakuntaasi, jotta sinun tahtosi on maan päällä, niinkuin taivas, anna meille päivämme parasta Olemme olleet niin, että olemme paenneet pahaa sinun tahtoasi niin maan päällä kuin taivaassakin, anna meille meidän velkamme anteeksi, niin kuin mekin olemme antaneet anteeksi velallisillemme kiusaukseen, mutta päästä meidät pahasta, sillä sinun on valtakunta, voima ja kunnia iankaikkisesti, amen. NEVER SURRENDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! final hour

Didn't get why it was so big back in the day, still don't get it some 20 years later. It's a collection of fairly bog standard boring songs with fairly listless melodies, if you even want to call them that. Just doesn't click at all with me. And it's way too long, too.

слышал этот альбом ранее, для марафона не переслушивал. претензия к песням одна - слишком долгие, причем дело не в хроне как таковом, а в том, что они просто уматывают в конце...

Absolutely Solid.

1001 Albums Day 4 The first album in this challenge that's in a genre I don't really listen to, being soul and R&B with slight elements of Conscious Rap, now that latter I can take, but the former two have never really appealed. I tend to find songs a bit slow, and mature in all the ways that makes me disengage from the art, feeling like artificially extended, idle musings on life with the gravitas of having something grander to say that it actually does. Maybe one day I'll get it, but that day is not today. Even on her first release Lauryn's songs are quite long-winded, which is a personal pet peeve of mine. I feel that all songs have a length that they deserve to be, and for most songs that is shorter than they are, and that is definitely true on this album, with most songs being around the 6-minute mark, while having enough material for about 4:30, being extended with beautiful - but in my opinion unnecessary - repetition. A song that really suffers from this is Final Hour, with the final 1:30-2:00 being the chorus repeated ad nauseum and then just the instrumental just playing over and over, doing nothing. BREAKING NEWS: The skit virus has infected The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. You can have skits that's fine, but I am a serial playlister, so having them at the ends of songs instead of as separate tracks basically guarantees that I won't return to these songs. Now, positives, Doo Wop (That Thing) is where things really click for me, the soul and R&B makes the song smooth and pleasant, while the rap elements lend a kinetic energy, that I feel is somewhat missing from other tracks, and maybe a bit too present on Lost Ones, to the point of being almost aggressive. Forgive Them Father is another highlight for me, with a good hook and and interesting harmony that sort of "rubs" against the main vocal, it's not quite dissonance but functions in a similar way, and sonically it introduces more Reggae elements giving the song its own distinct flavour. However, as I was listening to the song I kept thinking, "Please don't have a skit, I really wanna save this" it ended, and I had already added it to my good music playlist before I noticed that there was still 45 seconds left, DAMN YOU SKIIIIIIIIIIITS!!! Now, I am aware that this is a sacred cow, and that I am likely to be raked over the coals if anyone notices this review, so I just want to state that my dislike is purely down to not getting the genre, I am genuinely sure that if this genre hits for you, few things are as good as this album, and I fully respect that, I simply ask that you extend the same favour to me. I believe that no amazing album can be for everyone, and that if you like all music, even all music that is generally considered masterworks, you aren't engaging deeply enough with the medium or the music itself, it takes all kinds and all that. Beyond that, I don't know what to say, this is not my genre and listening to what many consider to be the prime example of the genre in more modern times has not convinced me otherwise, so I don't think I'm gonna convert any time soon. I honestly feel like a poser even just listening to this album. Though if I ever do get the album, I'll be sure to re-do this review. Favs: Doo Wop (That Thing), Forgive Them Father Least Favs: Final Hour, When It Hurts So Bad 45/100

3 star Already listened at recommendation of Kevin

FUCK YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

Very solid, R'n'B album, a bit overrated but still worth listening to. 4/5

Rap just doesn't do it for me

It's hard not to rank albums higher because you have good memories with it. However, just a couple of songs carried this one.

To zion - no idea that dilemma was a sample!

Not my usual but actually kinda good

So fucking good. Extremely strong 3.

She ate but she’s not my fav

An incredible album from front to back, full of hope and anger.

Some really great stuff on this album. As per the usual, the hits were not my favorite. Final Hour was excellent, and the piano on the ending track was so wonderful. 3.5/5

An engaging and enjoyable hip hop album made more interesting with the influences of reggae and soul. I usually don’t like skits, but I found the classroom scenes here pretty endearing.

oh my! one of the greatest albums EVER, let alone in hip-hop, or the late 90's! Amazing!

5/10

Amazing album! I'll be honest, I only knew Lauryn Hill as the girl from Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit... yeah. As a Stevie Wonder tragic, I particularly liked the apparent homage, both lyrically and instrumentally, to "I Wish" in the clavinet-heavy "Every Ghetto, Every City". The framing device of a high school teacher encouraging his student to talk about love was also a very cute way of tying the album together. Will definitely listen again.

This album improved over multiple listens. Still inky average but better then expected

No.

There's been a trend recently of this album topping a bunch of all time best album lists. I think that's pushing it a little, but it really is a fantastic album, rarely a weak song on it. Lauryn's voice and rapping are great, production slaps. Even the skits aren't too bad.

Disco esencial. Lauryn deja The Fugees, 2 años después del tremendo bombazo que fue The score, para tomar el control de su carrera y publicar un álbum que deja una profunda huella, al margen de excelentes canciones: Ex-factor y Doo Wop entre otras. El resultado es un tremendo éxito de crítica y ventas (más de 20 millones) que la lanzó aún más a un estrellato (5 Grammys) al que voluntariamente renunciaría. Como bonus una estupenda versión del Can't Take My Eyes Off You de Frankie valli. Todo el disco escrito (alguna canción coescrita), arreglado y producido por ella misma, además embarazada, y con tan sólo 22 años (su hijo sería Zion, al que le dedica un tema). Grabado en los estudios Tuff Gong de Jamaica (la portada es un claro homenaje al Burnin´de Marley) , entre sus colaboradores estuvieron D’Angelo, Mary J. Blidge, John Legend o Carlos Santana. Con samples de Bob Marley (Forgive Them Father) , Wu Tang Clan (Can It Be All So Simple) o Boogie Dowhn production (Lost Ones, que además contiene partes del Bam Bam de Sister Nancy que luego usaría Kanye West) El título es un guiño al libro The Mis-Education Of The Negro y deja claro que se trata de una obra tan personal como agradecida de escuchar con atención. Al nivel de What´s going on o cualquier disco de Curtys Mayfield, pero con la música actualizada al final de siglo. Una obra muy completa que abrió el camino a otras cantantes como Beyoncé (y Solange), Alicia keys, Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse o tantas otras. Después publicó una estupenda versión del Turn Your Lights Down Low (de la excelsa cara B de Exodus) de Bob Marley antes de cometer un suicidio comercial en forma de disco unplugged que apenas tuvo repercusión (es difícil de escuchar: mezcla canciones desnudas o apenas esqueletos de ellas, con spoken word) y despareció del mapa salvo algun escándalo (con paso por la cárcel al evadir impuestos) hasta su reciente reaparición con sus compañeros The Fugees. Su obra no solo ha envejecido estupendamente sino que se ha erigido como una de las mejores de la historia. Otros discos de 1998: Mercury Rev: Deserters Songs, Massive Attack: Mezzanine, Manu Chao: Clandestino, Air: Moon Safari, Black Box Recorder: England Made Me, REM: Up, The Afghan Whigs: 1965, Calexico: The Black Light, Belle & Sebastian: The Boy With The Arab Strap, Beastie Boys: Hello Nasty, Royal Trux: Accelerator, Placebo: Without You I’m Nothing, Pulp: This Is Hardcore, Fun Lovin’ Criminals: 100% Colombian, Portishead: Live Roseland NYC. Ash: Nu-Clear Sounds, Eels: Electro Shock Blues, Madonna: Ray Of Light, Jack: The Jazz Age, Tricky: Angels With Dirty Faces, Lambchop: What Another Man Spills, Manic Street Preachers: This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours, Make-Up: In Mass Mind, Elliott Smith: Either Or /// XO, Neutral Milk Hotel: In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Boards of Canada: Music Has the Right to Children, Air: Moon Safari, Fatboy Slim You’ve Come a Long Way Baby’ , Garbage: Version 2.0, Gomez: Bring it on, David Gray: White ladder, PJ Harvey: Is this desire?, The Smashing Pumpkins: Adore.

I’ve listened to this album in full one other time. And I liked it. I liked it a lot! There are incredible vocal runs on top of some memorable bars, but I thought it then and I think it now, the hooks just aren’t there. Yes, a handful of tracks have catchy melodies and whatnot, but so much of this albums hour and 15 minute runtime is padded with more or less forgettable songs. Apple’s recent list of 100 greatest albums of all time was rage bait, for sure, but even then, this record always feels like the odd one out when tossed around in “the GOAT” conversations.

Pencils down, ears open: Miseducation contains no misinformation on subjects of the heart or neo-soul.

Wow - can't believe I'd missed this one first time around. Amazing.

not my style, didn't like it at all

Just couldn't get into it

The one that started it all. Perfect!

Great great great album. Must revisit when not in Prague but wow lived up to the hype for sure. Only complaint is songs are mostly too long and skits should be their own tracks. But that’s nit picking. She’s insane.

Some undeniably great tracks but I never quite got the hype for this. As an album it's mostly good, occasionally great. But it's too long and there's plenty of filler.

Ha sido agradable volverla a escuchar después de tanto tiempo. Venga, un 4.

This one is worth the hype!

Pretty good! Apple should apologize to Lauryn for giving this album baggage and creating thousands of haters overnight.

Man, I didn't like this in High school and I didnt dig it this time around either. IT has the hits and D'angelo kills his feature but I'm not going to put this into rotation anytime soon.

Easy 5 stars. Absolute banger and classic.

Yeah. This is a good album. I'm surprised how young she sounds and the lyrics themselves. I suppose that's the theme of the album, but it just felt really fresh and new even 25 (!) years later.

One of the greatest albums of all time. Hard to argue against it, really. Its that fucking great.

Not terrible, but not my taste

Jammin album. Started off a little slow but then really hit its “groove” about 3 songs in. Some of my favorites were To Zion and When it hurts so bad. For the time period, I bet it was a landmark album. Chock full of A list guest stars like Santana and Mary J Blige, the album also features the insanely poignant rapping and lyrics of Lauryn Hill. She was spitting it and also singing her heart out.

Já havia dito que acho o RAP um som extremamente "de nicho", pois exige uma compreensão profunda do contexto e da língua, pois há rima e fala rápida, diferentemente dos outros estilos. Apesar de achar o album da lauryn um dos poucos audíveis no ambiente do rap, continuo a achar essa dificuldade incômoda. Mas, é bem mais melodioso e agradável que a maioria dos álbuns de rap e rythm and blues. Mas longe de ser número um de alguma lista pra mim. Parece ter uma história muito interessante por trás, com o negócio da escola e tal....

I get that this is a great album. I can totally hear it, I’m just not a big R&B guy and I took away a star for having skits between songs

Decent. Love the vocals. Not so keen on the talky bits between some of the tracks, but a great collection of songs!

I never understood why The Fugees and Lauren Hill were admired so much back in the 90's. It's all a bit tedious and up it's own arse with all the made up school recordings in between songs. The only song I actually liked by her is 'Everything is Everything' probably because it is a halfway decent R&B song in the style of TLC. The rest veers between hip hop, gospel and Blues. On occasion when she wants to, she shows she can sing, but not for me. 1.5 to 2 stars.

Je ne suis pas allé au bout ...

I knew this album would be great going in, it’s considered one of the best of all time for a reason - it is. The rapping and singing, both at such high levels, is endlessly impressive. The content is really powerful and surprisingly relevant too, even 26 years later.

Classic

ho oscillato tra 4 e 5 stelle per tutto il tempo. Ms. Lauryn, che voce. si sapeva da quando ha fatto la protagonista di Sister Act 2 che sarebbe stata una superstar. se fosse stato un album intero di lei che vocalizza e fa quello che le pare con quella mina di voce che si ritrova, sarebbe stato un cinque senza pensarci due volte. le parti conversazionali e il rap in generale mi sono piaciute un po' meno, e l'album è lungo, ma santo cielo che carisma e che progetto. poi penso che ha Mary J. Blige come feature su una traccia, ma allora come si fa a non darle cinque stelle. poi arriva la fine e c'è la cover di Can't take my eyes off of you, che mi ha conquistata senza prima portarmi fuori a cena, ma allora come si fa a non darle cinque stelle. poi ripenso ai vocals, ma allora come si fa a non darle cinque stelle. e allora cinque stelle siano e crepi l'avarizia. mi sono proprio divertita, grazie Ms. Lauryn.

Molto intenso, sincero, viscerale. Bello.

Confesso che mi dispiace molto ma non mi ci sono connesso. Sono certo che ci sia un motivo per cui è un album così acclamato e premiato però io non ho trovato una sola canzone che mi facesse dire “questa devo assolutamente salvarmela”. Non è brutto, ma è lungo. Mi è piaciuto lo stacchetto ricorrente nell’aula di scuola.

YASSSSSS actual queen. First time listening to this all the way through and I understand why Will and Sarah love miss Lauren so much. so good - she's got the soul. And fun album cover

There are some classic songs but this album is way too long and stuffed with multiple skippable songs. Not bad songs, but certainly ones that are not necessary. I'm OK calling it a classic but it has been canonized as an all time great album and I don't agree with that.

I really like how some of the songs are connected through the theme of a classroom. Overall, album is really solid. Every song is really well made and transitions well between each other. Only problem is it is a little long.

Talented, well-produced, but this genre is not for me

Loved the bits from the classroom talking about love. The album was sonically great, and the lyrics were interesting as well. There was R&B, hip hop, and even some reggae. Cool album, would definitely listen to it again.

Not a fan of conversational parts of songs and this album had a lot. Great songs though

Fantastic album

I don’t know, I just didn’t care for it. I thought some of the rap parts were good, but then I feel as though the group singing parts really ruined it for me.

This is a perfect album. Every single song is a bop, I cried multiple times, the message is absolutely amazing, the themes on love are perfect, the rapping ability is unmatched, and her vocals are also unmatched. This is by far the best album we’ve heard so far, and will stay that way for a long, long time.

Even though it isn’t my favorite rap album of all time, it games damn near close. Not a thing about the album that should ever be changed. 10/10

Mids

If you got a handjob in a girl’s dorm room in 1998, this album was playing.

Say what you will about her, but can't say much about the music besides TALENT. 4.

Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5

Ok. Good rhymes.

很酷的嘻哈

I really liked this. Might listen again, might not. Probably won't forget about it.

We've had some unremarkable albums citing this one as a major influence, & it's cool to hear the real deal now. It's good! There's a couple things holding this back from being something I'll really listen to again: missing the pop music centres in the brain means the smoother R&B gets the less it registers & the 'reggae-loving white hippies will love this' sensation is just too strong. it's like they're in the room with me wearing bandanas, plugging their piezo-pickup-through-DI guitars right into my headphones and groovin' along. digging that it's 'so real' and speaks to their experiences growing up as wealthy suburbanites who sold a bit of weed. Sorry Lauryn, it's not your fault. culture: regretted. (⌐♻_♻)

The more concept albums I hear, the less I appreciate concept albums in general. This one still easily falls on the good side of the concept album spectrum, which is refreshing. The production is really nice to me, borders on super slick 90s pop style while still sounding pretty organic and loose. Very good stuff.

More of a 3.5

Doo Wop - man, I remember this coming out just before I went to college.

Good

Not hip hops finest songstress

Ok

If you took away the warbles, the 16-track album would shrink to a 2-track EP, and be all the better for it. Some might say that her voice dances and weaves, but for me the frequent thought was a simple plead: "Make it stop!" (Tip to anyone that ever takes me captive and wants to break my will, play the last minute of track 9 on a loop and I’ll cave in and tell you everything you want to know)

Classic. No notes.

some all-time amazing songs brought down by too many additional songs that sound very similar, add little, and go on for 5 minutes.

There are a lot of good tracks on this album. I was familiar with a few tracks and really impressed by the album has a whole. Her mix of rap and singing is done quite flawlessly. Ex-Factor and Doo Wop are my stand outs. The “can”t take my eyes off of you” cover is excellent. I see myself returning to the album just maybe not frequently.

Apple's recently announced top album of all time. I had never listened to this record but I've been meaning to. It feels very personal and intimate. Her range on this record is very impressive. I love the themes of love and stuff as well. The snippets of conversations really made it feel intimate. I can appreciate this album a lot but in the end, it's just not really a genre that captivates me.

What a great album! For sure one of the best hip hop / r&B albums of the 90s. (maybe all time?) I love how this album flows from rap to singing with spanish guitar accompanying throughout. The synths are fun, but not overbearing. And the lyrics are real, important and visceral. I also really love the rasta / Zion elements intermixed with reggae. I really like how she never straight up samples other songs, but she homages them "Bam" "Light My Fire" "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." It's fun and creative. The only knocks for me are that the drum machines kind of sound dated. I get it for the time, and honestly, the beats are cool. But I think this album could be recorded today, it would be still be relevant and good. We'd probably just do something for the beats.

She's a very talented singer, but this doesn't hit me.

A couple of great songs but that's about it

Not the Number 1 album according to Apple. It's good but not the best of all time.

Maybe you had to be there but given how critically acclaimed this album is I was expecting something a lot more. It felt very middle of the road and nothing really blew my mind.

Mediocre RnB record

always down for a re-listen, just fuckin great really. 4.85

Great album. Too bad she did not make more of them.

Feels like a self aware magnum opus. I was hooked from Ex-Factor. Lyrically, To Zion is a masterpiece. Overall, it feels like Ms. Lauryn Hill knows the significance of what she has to say, and when she shoots, it hits.

Meditation on love lost, love spurned, love of community PLUS an absolute collection of dance jams? I will be relistening over and over again.

Good stuff.

Tras el éxito de The Fugees, Lauryn Hill inició su carrera en solitario de manera espectacular con este disco que concedió al hip-hop una autopista hacia el mundo pop a lomos del R&B más suave. Una colección de canciones, en las que la artista vuelca su pensamiento personal y político. Una de las más destacadas es la sensual "Doo Wop (That Thing)", en la que aborda el juego sexual desde la mirada de los dos amantes. También "Superstar", en la que critica a los músicos que dan más importancia al éxito que a la buena música. Y personalmente me gustan "Final Hour" ('puedes tener dinero, puedes tener poder / pero mantén la vista en la hora final') y sus colaboraciones con Mary J. Blidge ("I Used to Love Him") y con D'Angelo ("Nothing Even Matters").

Great listen.

Very good

Never listened at the time. The singles are all great and hold up nicely today. That Thing being the most everywhere. The song to her son Zion Marley is also lovely, first hear of this. The classroom bits in between almost every song are nice enough as a concept but they do preclude adding any of this to playlists. Strangely no skit after the skippable Superstar. Dude, I wasn't going to playlist that one anyway. The D'Angelo one is fine but nothing to write home about. Other non-single highlights - I used to Love Him. There's a blatant Stevie song (Every Ghetto) and this is fine because it's just the one and it's good. The album is pretty consistently good and just a little overlong. A solid 4 though, I understand the praise.

Listened probably 2.5 times now, it's never really stuck even though I want to love it. Still really good music, though, on most tracks.

album exqiuisito Cancion Fav: Ex-Factor

I knew this album was a big deal when it came out, didn’t care to listen. She’s definitely talented & I enjoyed this listen…I doubt I’ll ever listen again unless it’s by someone else’s doing.

This was incredible. Moving lyrics and the music is pretty much perfect. I never really delved into her stuff but damn. New fan here

not good not bad has a few good songs but no really bangers

I like this enough. Some nice beats and Melodies. I’d probably never listen to it again. But a lot of sample-able stuff on this. I can hear a lottt of things Kanye was inspired by on this. Songs drag on a bit. Good vibes tho.

A little weaker in the second half but still really good

I enjoyed it! Some bangers and it felt like a complete album.

I recently saw a list that had this as the greatest album of all time. I don't agree with that, but this is still amazing. 5.0/5.0: Iconic

i wanted to like this album. she has a great voice and most of the beats are awesome. the album just drags on for entirely too long and so i found myself counting down how many songs i had left which is never a good sign. the combination of the length and the overbearingly preachy lyrics made this feel like more of a chore than anything else. my assumption is someone told her that cds could fit 80 minutes and she was miseducated enough to think that meant the album had to be that long.

Okay album. Inspiring lyrics

Some decent songs.

Woot fucking wooooooooot!!!!!!!!!!!

Do not want white people to buy? No problem here. Boo.

Favourites: lost ones, final hour, forgive them father, every ghetto every city, Decent album but a little too long. 3/5

Classic album that I hadn't really had a chance to listen to in full before, but am glad to have finally checked out. She has a very nice voice and these are some certified bangers. Had many favourites, including Ex-Factor, To Zion, Doo Wop (That Thing), Superstar, I Used to Love Him, Forgive Them Father, Everything Is Everything, and the title track. Also loved her version of Can't Take My Eyes Off of You. Took me a bit to get through the whole thing but I loved it, strong 4

Loved a few of the songs that I already knew.

Wanted to like this more. Just a bit too slow paced for my tastes. Still some great songs.

Surprisingly good.

ae

Classic.

Shitty attitude, good collection of songs. Choice cut: Can’t Take my Eyes off of You

Didn't hate this, but also didn't like it. 1.5 stars. I know it's critically acclaimed and all that, but I'm not sure why.

good, but that's a little bit too much for me

This was recently listed as the #1 album on Apple's Top 100 Best Albums. I had never listened to the entire thing. Hill had always been associated with The Fugees for me, so her solo album, while revered was not something I sought out. My thoughts on it are pretty much status quo. She's fierce and sincere. The concept is timeless - the real life lessons we get are not always found in the classrooms. I like an album where you learn about an artist as it plays, but not as the throughline, but as a layer. The history is not dominant. It can be ignored and the melodies and rhythms can be the focus. Or that can be ignored, and the lyrical passion and personal identification can take over. Or just a combination! It's the reason this album is considered a masterpeice. Stand-out tracks for me are "Ex-Factor," "Every Ghetto, Every City" and of course "Doo-Wop." "I used to Love Him" is also solid - definitely guessing this is about Wyclef too? I think she's tapped into something here that redefined the genre for the coming millennium. Ultimatley it's a groove with some depth. I can't put it in 5-star territory for my tastes, as I prefer somethign more ecclectic, but the mix, the guitar (Santana!), the beats, the vocals, the overall messages are fantastic. Side note - What came first Lauryn Hill's Superstar or Aerosmith's Pink? Pretty damn similar musically.

R&B is not my thing. I listened to some of this but skipped through a lot of the songs. I recognize her talent but this is simply not my thing.

Favourite song - doo wop

Hip Hop meets Soul. I'll leave them alone. 1.5/5

Not really my thing, although I like the instrumentation & beats quite a bit. Hill has a great voice but there's often way too much ornamentation going on for me. Also a little preachy. I really liked the classroom snippets. And track 11.

This album is famous enough that even I had heard of it beforehand, and while it's certainly indicative of the 90s with all the r&b style embellishments in her singing, I did enjoy it. Nicely tied together with the classroom bits. Not my favorite of the hip-hop albums on this list though, sorry Ms. Hill.

Lots of skits. Nice flow. I am bad at picking up on lyrics on first listen so I am probably going to miss a lot.

this one isn't new to me but it's been a long time. Fantastic album, she can sing, she can rap her ass off. The beats are timeless, the message is still just as relevant. This album will never fall off. definitely a 5/5

Meh, not for me...I'm not the hip.I like some of the songs, there were parts that reminded of 70s soul that I was getting into, but I have never been into that rhythmic grunting into the mic and this album is full of that. Yo. uh. yo.

Sigh...a legendary album that I just cannot get myself to find anything besides boring. I'm so sorry everybody. R&B just sounds like elevator music to me

I feel like I respect this album more than I enjoy it, and I already enjoy it a good deal. One of the finest albums of the earlier days of the Hip Hop Genre that stands the test of time. Excellent writing, versatility, and production from a pioneer in the genre. While not every song is constantly in rotation for me, a good majority are, and it's impact is really something special

I’m slowly but surely warming to the hip-hop genre and the talent here is obvious, but might be worth revisiting once my opinions have set.

Gangsta rap is not my thing, 1/5

À very good one !

This...is worth the listen. Enjoy.

It was alright

Not my thing. The hits saved this from being a 2.

It's a solid 8 for me. Not the absolute peak that I was hoping it would be, but I think it's a very solid break on the mountain of music. It's because, you know, music is like a mountain: it's long, hard, tricky to maneuver, but every so often there's a crevice that helps you up. This album is a crevice that's just a little too small, but it's still enough for shelter. It's got warm production and solid lyricism, but the length is a bit much for me.

its a 7 i like it it feels a little preachy at times but its otherwise good. again sadly this website doesnt have half stars so just take this 3 with a grain of salt tbch

Before now, the only Lauryn Hill album I've really had any experience with was the one for her MTV UNPLUGGED 2.0 show. Defend that album all you want, I don't care, but to me it's for damn sure the worst introduction you could have to her music. I get that it's an unplugged show and that it's not supposed to be representative of her normal sound, but seriously, it's two straight hours of amateur plink-plonking on an acoustic guitar, ramble-y as hell lyrics, and babbling from Lauryn that to me sounds like the hook to Kendrick Lamar's "Real" on loop. When you take her mental condition into account, too, whatever exactly it is, the fact it was released at all just gets all the ickier and you gotta wonder, "**This** is the follow-up to MISEDUCATION?" I mean, be fair to Lauryn—if **I** put out an album as good as MISEDUCATION, I wouldn't be able to follow it up, either. On her first solo attempt, she put out a greatest hits record. I'm someone who's melody first, so I probably missed a lot of great lyrics, but just taking it as a vibe, it's pretty damn immaculate. The beats are probably some of the best from the hip hop albums my group has gotten so far. Lauryn's got a really good voice, too; it's fun to hear her rap, and it's pretty to hear her sing. I don't even mind this thing's length. I'm sure it could be cut down in a few spots, but it's still more than carried by what's here. Just on those merits alone I can hear why this was the highest charting hip hop album on the 2020 ROLLING STONE 500. I mean, do I agree 100% with it? At this stage, maybe not. It's the cliché music nerd answer, but I might still think something like TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY is better. Although, it's not just about quality, is it? It's about impact, too, The legacy. And I'm not aware of what exactly this album's done for the culture, though this just feels like an album that's changed everything. Mostly for women in hip hop, but in general, too. So, like, even if Lauryn never comes out with another album as long as she lives, she's got this under her belt. For anyone, that's damn more than enough. (And this all reads like a 5, I'm aware, but I'm giving it a 4 just because I don't think I've spent enough time with it yet for that. Once I actually do pay attention to and learn the lyrics, though, believe me, I'm gonna be wishing I gave this thing a 5.)

It's just so good, man. What more is there to say?

I knew I was giving it a 5, I just… ugh. Wow. It’s so good. I haven’t heard it in full in a bit, but it’s so goddamn good. There are some songs where the repetition becomes too noticeable to ignore at times, but when this album clicks, it clicks deeply. Her lyricism is great, her vocals are spectacular, and the instrumentals are really fun throughout, especially when they lean into live instrumentation. The biggest knock I have on this album is its length (it’s a little long), but it just doesn’t matter that much to me. It’s not a perfect album, but I love it regardless, and I really wish Lauryn Hill had tried to top herself, but if she never does, she left an absolutely stellar project here, and it’s so highly recommended. Easy 5.

I've never much been into the genre, but I can hear why this is an influential and important album, I liked a couple of songs but it's not something that I would listen myself on a regular basis.

Great Mix of Soul and R&B with a heavenly voice

Beautiful. A beautiful voice and a sick rapper.

Ha sido agradable volverla a escuchar después de tanto tiempo. Venga, un 4.

belle alcune parti cantate

Didn’t think much of it

I thought the opening Intro quite amusing. The second track (The Lost Ones) is pretty tedious cliched rapping. The vocals on the third track, Ex-Factor are just painful to listen to as is the fourth track, To Zion. This isn't looking good for this album. And it keeps on going. And I kind of lost the desire to listen to more of this. But I did play the whole thing and I frankly cannot see why this made it into this list of albums one must hear.

If you don't like this album you're an idiot or you just really hate great hip hop

Fortunately listened to this with a fan of her album and it helped me appreciate it just that much more. She can sing…And this is such a personal album that you feel invested and immersed in it. It;s not my genre, but it is a very good album.

Interesting album with some good songs. I recognized several of the songs from samples for newer music. Enjoy her and the album as a whole

Genre-Defining

Ex-Factor es la canción

Honestly: this was an album that I wanted to rate higher based on a few select songs and it's reputation. But upon listening to it for the first time all the way through in order it did not resonate with me. It came through as very staccato-esque to me and not "smooth." A surprise to me that it was not as strong as I would have thought coming into it.

Ok. I see now why it is so highly regarded, but it is not what I like. That’s all. Others who understand and love this genre know better than I do and will rate this album high, perhaps deservedly so.

Definitely a top 10 hip hop album of all time.

Well, I guess as R&B/Hip-Hop goes this would be average or above. The vocal quality is there. It’s a little repetitive and one note and I didn’t hear that stand out hook I would necessarily remember. It’s just not a style I engage with often or purposely seek out a full album. Mellow tone mostly though.

I guess I’m experiencing my own miseducation on this one. While there are a few songs that rise above most of the others, there were not many major standouts. It’s a bit long, most of the songs hang at the same tempo, and the overuse of the teacher v. student classroom samples I think helps lessen the impact of the intended message. Still, it’s obvious how talented Ms. Hill is and no doubt future female hip-hop/rap/soul artists would not be where they are without this record.

This album just makes me wish we got more out of Lauryn over her career. It holds up, great album that’s just as listenable today as it was when it was released.

Really nice album. So much soul, emotion and grooves. It’s consistently solid all the way through. And you got some late 90s Santana when he was teaming up with everyone! I’m at 3.5 and I’ve gone back and forth on rounding up or down. The thing that is giving me pause is that there wasn’t that one or two songs that I felt took this to the next level. All songs really good. But needed that one or two great songs for me. Maybe I’d feel different on another listen. But man, it’s just so consistent throughout, I gotta show love.

Blows my mind this is her only solo album. What a shame. Great blast from the past and great album. 4/5

Good music

The feeling in the toes and hips!

Cool songs here, got the vibe, but hip hop is not my thing. Maybe it's just me but i felt this really long lasting.

Some of the songs on this album that are more soul and less hip hop aren't terrible. I hate hip hop, it just does nothing for me at all. She's got a great singing voice and I wish this album had been more of that. The more reggae sounding songs were cool too. It's just ruined with the rap that sort of takes over. And what's with the skits? Like how did that become a staple on hip hop albums from this time? It's weird and takes you out of the album. 2/5

very cool sounds.

I could try to explain myself but it’s based in redundancy and over-length.

That's a pass for me.

Lauryn Hill would have loved Bradfield sixth form common room. These are exactly the conversations we were having.

Really don’t get the hype for this. Pretty standard hip hop stuff.

I remember the hype about this one, and listening to it again, I don't think it held up well.

Pop R & B isn't my usual taste in music but the further into this album I got, the more I enjoyed it. Especially like the socially conscious songs and the variety of influences (dancehall, rap). Always cool to get a feminist perspective. Really like the cover of "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You."

I thought I would like this album but really didn’t like it at all. It was too jazzy and the songs were forgettable and annoying at points when the reputation of lyrics over and over started. Not a fan of this one. 1/5

Not the genre that I usually go for, but I still enjoyed it.

Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You. A 90s classic.

she slays

This was an amazing album. I loved it and then once I learned she was from Maplewood, NJ... That was the cherry on top.

Liked some of it but not music I would ever seek out.

A classic, some really good tracks in here, could repeat and not get bored for a long while.

I wanted to love this but it was only like. A bit more r&b pop than I wanted. Good, but just a 3.

No