The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Classic. Killer R&B and soul with an intensely personal story in it's music and it's creation.

Наверное, нужно разбираться в афроамериканской культуре. Или я ещё чего-то не понимаю. Уныние да и только.

dude I fuckin love Lauryn Hill, easily one of my top five favorite rappers the whole album slaps - 10/10

Masterpiece

Boring, but I really like her voice.

If Lauryn was hungry in Fugees, here she is cooking for herself. Genre-bending, mind-rending, nerve-mending tunes here. It truly should be seen as one of the greatest records of all time.

Probably one of the best products of New Jersey, ever. A fantastic blend of sonic consistency in the production, beautiful songwriting, and flavorful performance. Top to bottom one of my favorite albums.

Great pioneering RnB.

This is an essential album in every sense of the word, a true masterpiece. It's one of the most beautiful, perfectly realized albums, gorgeously crafted but as warm and effortless sounding as anything I've ever heard. It's an album that would have easily fit in with the great soul albums of the 60s and 70s. But it has a modern attitude and sensibility that has stood the test of time, while a lot of music of that era has aged like milk. Musically, this is just insanely good, brimming with soulful, rich arrangements. Hill's vocals effortlessly run the gambit from velvety to strident, her lyrics full of passion, pain, spirituality and self affirmation. I'll add that this is the only album I can think of that uses interludes correctly and to brilliant effect. Other artists need to need to take note that using more interludes does not equal substance. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Ex-Factor, Doo Wop (That Thing), Lost Ones, To Zion, Tell Him, Nothing Even Matters, Everything Is Everything, I Used to Love Him, Final Hour, Forgive Them Father, Can't Take My Eyes Off You, Every Ghetto, Every City, When It Hurts So Bad, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Superstar, Intro

superstar is probably the best song

Her rapping is very good. But I HATE all the talking between songs. It ruins it for me. Without the dialogue it would be great.

4.5...I love the messages of strength and diversity.

De los mejores discos que he escuchado en mi vida. Lo tengo en mi colección de discos y siempre es un placer escucharlo.

tunesss

Un poco largo. Recuerdo que salió en 1999 el mismo año que The Fragile. Más tarde, años más tarde, lo redescubriría más allá de los singles.

Cool

Rólegt, einfalt og næs. Engin flugeldasýning imho

This takes me back to Summer 98. A lovely album suffers from the late 90s urge to have a ton of skits, and goes on a bit too long, but mostly really lovely!

A fantastic album

There‘s a 5/5, 50 minute album within the 80 minutes here. Unnecessary filler so not all killer!

Loved this, what a voice, so much going on. Really snoozed on it at he time.

Doo-Wop is one of the prettiest damned songs of the past 50yrs. TIL that this was Lauryn Hill’s only studio album.

Amazing

There's no denying that Lauryn's pretty magical but this isn't something I'm adding a future playlist. The album has a nice flow and the classroom bits add to the atmosphere. Fave: To Zion

Listened to on 5/10/22 3/5 Favorite song: To Zion, The Miseducation of Ms Lauryn Hill This album was so soulful and the lyrics were beautiful - great music that was easy to throw on and listen to

Doo Wop and Ex-Factor are total bops. Listenable all the way through the album with the fun classroom recordings in the background throughout.

Not my style, I’m sure there are plenty of people who enjoy it just doesn’t do anything for me.

Sub fugues effort. Too long. Too samey Cover art 3/5

Not for me.

Better than I expected. 3.5/5

i understand it's good, but it's not my thing

classic

Was expecting more but still good.

Fun, lighthearded sound. Was not expecting to like, but was pretty good fun. C+

Not really my kind of thing but I liked it more than I was expecting. Definitely ran a bit long though.

4/16/2022 Today's Album: "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" by Lauryn Hill - I like how this album opens ups up with a roll call with Lauryn missing, starting off a theme of her being against traditional education. The first rap track Lost Ones is a really solid opener, with a great reggae backbeat and some confident rapping from Lauryn. I like the way the chorus breaks off into this funky guitar riff before the third verse and damn does this lady just fuckin' rap. Every line sounds so natural and although her flow is pretty static throughout the track, it's a really solid flow so I'm not complaining. The ending interlude of the track adds even more to the education theme. The next track Ex-Factor is a silky sweet R&B track with some of the best R&B production I've heard out of the 90's. It's a really standout track and I love her vocal performance on this track. It really doesn't feel dated for being 24 years old. The guitar solo at the end of it is also absolutely killer. Zion continues this theme of outstanding R&B tracks with an amazingly chilled out guitar groove and calculated vocal performance. Doo Wop (That Song) gives me that classic R&B rap style that I've heard on Kanye's Late Registration, specifically Touch the Sky. The rap has a ton of personality and there are just great performances all around form the horns to the background vocals to the bass and drums. I like the critique of men on this track as well it's very tongue and cheek. It turns out Kanye actually has taken a lot of inspiration and samples from Lauryn Hill and it is obvious now considering how amazing the production is on this record. Every track just has a ton of personality and brings with it a unique beat and flow. It really just is no comparison from the other 90s rap I was seeing earlier in the generator and it is clear that this is one of the artists that bridged the gap from the rap of old and what is currently popular. Even the tracks that are more of just bridging tracks to the bigger hits are very pleasant to listen to and have solid hooks and choruses to bring me in. I love the low reggae accent she puts on in Forgive me Father and the heavy bass and flow switch ups makes this track an absolute banger to put on in the car. I think each of these songs could easily be 3 minutes and be just as enjoyable, but I think them being 5 minutes isn't the worst thing ever, as she does add something in the last 2 minutes to warrant it usually. I also just realized that this artist was the female front-person of the Fugees, and it makes a ton of sense given the similar genre, but I really think she did it better in a lot of ways. This project is a tiny bit long and I think either some tracks should have been cut or the lengths of some should have been trimmed, but it is never too much really. I like her rendition of Can't Take My Eyes Off of You and it really could have ended off the record, but the closer also does a decent job wrapping things up. Overall, this is a really really solid R&B hip-hop record that bridged the gap from 90s poet rap to what we hear today in Kanye and his contemporaries. Listen to this one if you like modern Hip Hop R&B like Kanye and Drake. Score: 8.5/10 Kanye before Kanye Highlights: Ex-Factor, To Zion, Doo Wop (That Thing), Superstar, Final Hour, Forgive Them Father, 'Every Ghetto, Every City', Nothing Even Matters, Everything is Everything, Can't Take My Eyes of You

Superb.

Very nice, obsessed w Lauryn's voice and lyrics as always Only thing is that it's a bit L O N G

Lauryn is so good, a top notch album with a couple of standout tracks, and we've definitely had worse skits on this list so far.

A great mix of hip-hop with R&B, soul and reggae. This is such a confident and skillful debut and has a great legacy for a very good reason

bright, nostalgic, mournful, loving, religious, and pretty beautiful rap soul gospel vibes. a breakup album for the ages 4.75

This album is worthy of all the praise it received at the time it came out. Groundbreaking, influential and soulful. It’s an album that does stand up over time, but I wasn’t feeling it yesterday. I can acknowledge it’s place in the history of great albums, hence my rating…

Heerlijke stem, maar ik vind alles wat met rap/praten te maken heeft gewoon niet zo leuk. Het album mist voor mij toch ook wel wat interessante beats. De zang van deze dame blijft echter wel mooi, dus toch niet de minimale score. **

I dislike the Fugees so I wasn't expecting to enjoy this album as much as I did when I picked a tape of it (yes a cassette) at a discount music store selling it as part of a 5 for $20 deal. I do love her voice, the production and some of the songs are amazing. It is a bit all over the place and a few of the not quite cover versions border on over indulgence. First time I have listened to this in ages and can hear the influence it has had and understand that it was ground breaking at the time. I still enjoy it just not as much as I used to.

Enjoyable 3*

It didn't help that I wasn't feeling very well but not really my thing.

Sudu kruva!

Much better Neo-Soul/R&B than some of the other albums on here. Hill can perform a range of styles successfully. She doesn't overly rely on gimmicks and warbling over the top vocals (though they are present natch) she remembers to include some choruses you can actually recognise a melody in. The god-bothering can be grating but the real issue here are the fucking pointless skits. There's a good album here getting buried by these naval gazing excerpts from a "classroom". Best Tracks: Doo Wop (That Thing); Every Ghetto, Every City; Everything Is Everything

This album overwhelmingly aged well

I really liked the fugees album, but this is just so much less creative. It has none of the clever lyrics, creative instrumentals

made my morning feel like a month

This album is fine. Lauryn Hill is clearly an incredible talent but there were only a couple of songs I really liked on the album.

Like the entire album, and like her version of Can't Take My Eyes Off You!

Vraiment un très bon album, définitivement à réécouter.

I hadn't heard this for years. Vastly overrated at the time but it still sounds pretty good I think. The good bits are brilliant

Beyond the hit songs I didn't enjoy this as an album.

Great album

Not bad

Such a fantastic album with masterful vocals. Long album but tons of great songs - an easy classic. 10/10.

Lost Ones, That Thing, Everything is Everything - the list of great soul/rap songs goes on and on. Hill sings and raps her way through songs of love, relationships, tension and growth. Holds up after all these years!

Better than i thought it would be. Some rap, but also some songs similar to Anita Baker.

Annie loves this one. For good reason. It's a crown jewel of 90s hip hop, right? And, Lauryn Hill is just so cool. Babe too. Sister Act 2 babeliness. Her voice is so great. Raps and melodies. And, just, like, the smoky sound of her voice is so appealing. This record jams. As a musician, I'm inclined to attribute this to her excellent band. But really, it's 80% Hill. She carries everything, including the Fugees. This record makes that clear. Her multi-tracked vocal harmonies are other-worldly. She uses harmony intervals that set her apart from others. Like CSNY and Alice in Chains do. Only with soul and attitude and smokiness. God this is so good.

Isn't this the girl from Sister Act 2? She made an album? (Just kidding). This is five stars. I don't see how it couldn't be. It's an authentic expression of (what I can only assume is) Lauryn Hill's lived experienced. It's one of those albums that feel like she just made it for herself, but also for everybody. It's gospel, reggae, soul, R&B, and hip-hop all smashed together. She probably could have put out an album an each of those genres and it would have gone to the top, but she combined them in a way that is uniquely hers. You know a Lauryn Hill song within 5 seconds of hearing it.

already loved this one

This is a strange one, it really felt like Lauryn was just beginning as an artist and this was just the first step for amazing things which never happened. Listening now what strikes me is how humble she paints herself asking questions about love and life and admitting she's just learning.

It’s ok, although she’s not got that much interesting to say at least she can sing even though it gets s bit warberly towards the end.

Best Song: Ex-Factor. The latter half of the song, when the vocals start to layer and the choir joins in, is good enough to be spiritual. Worst Song: I Used To Love Him. I just find Mary J. Blige over-sings on this track in a way that clashes with Lauryn Hill's laidback delivery. Overall: Beautiful, soulful album. Lauryn Hill's voice is pure honey. The lyrics manage to be both romantic and anti-romance. Even the clips with the kids are perfect at exemplifying the broader themes of the album.

The Talking/ conversations inbetween songs was distracting and long. Some good songs, a bit "preachy" for me.

Великий альбом

not my cup of tea

This album really showcases what an incredible talent Lauryn Hill is. She was only 22 and already a huge star from her time in the Fugees. Well-educated and from a relatively affluent background for your average hip-hop artist, her songs nonetheless have a power to them that speaks to real struggles at all economic levels. And damn can she sing about love, too.

I wasn't really sure I even wanted to listen to this as I don't really like much hip-hop. Ended up skipping through quite a few songs but some of the soul/R&B sounding cuts were enjoyable.

Love this record -

Favorites: Ex-Factor I Used to Love Him Superstar Everything is Everything

Love the oldschool vibe and I can tell this album inspired a lot of people since it's still being used in this day and age.

I get why this is good, but it’s not for me.

fucking quality. that thing has wormed it's way deep into my brain and idk where from.

Beautiful voice.

Just good stuff.

Such a classic. Melding neo-soul and hip-hop together in a concept album and it's done so well.

Pretty flawless, all parts working almost seamlessly together, Which so often doesn’t really come off when rap and hip hop are blended with soul, R&B, and reggae influences. In this it’s all unmistakably part of one work and message.

it was ok. not my bag particularly.

4.25

Yet to come across anyone with such an innate ability to sing perfectly while also laying down? spitting? unleashing? tight af rhymes? lines? bars?

Smooth album all the way through. Brings me back to 98 when it seemed like every car that went by had this album playing. This has stood the test of time and would still be a chart topper today.

Zenska czesc rapowej gry wreszcie doczekala sie kolejnej reprezentacji, po ostatnim picku od pani Missy Elliott, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill jest dobrym kontrastem, pani Hill jest znana glownie jako czlonek Fugees i wlasnie tego albumu, ktory jest jej jedynym studyjnym krazkiem do tej pory, 72 minuty i 16 trakow opowiesci o milosci, priorytetach zyciowych, rodzinie, dzieciach, kobiecie i jej roli w swiecie, wiec material bardzo autobiograficzny jak teraz czytam wiki, a to wszystko podane w stylu neo soulowym z mocnymi influencjami jamajskimi, album nagrywany razem z ekipa zwana New Ark w kingston, z ktorymi bylo sadzic sie potem o piniadze, bo nie byli featurowani jak wspoltworcy, a pani Hill starala sie stworzyc wrazenie jakby album byl jej solowym dzielem, a ile z tego co napisala jest jej, tego sie pewnie nigdy nie dowiemy, ale plyta ma na siebie pomysl i trzyma sie go od poczatku do konca, w budowaniu narracji pomagaja takze skity uzywane jako intra lub outra, ktore featuruja bande dzieciakow w sytuacji szkolnej rozprawiajacych o milosci, czyli o glownym temacie plyty, wiec na 72 minutach znajda sie traki bardziej rapowe jak doo wop, ktore maja rapowane zwrotki, ale nadal wykorzystuja beaty ktore mozna okreslic jako progresywne, bo takiego terminu najczesciej sie uzywa do opisywania fugeesowych trakow, a tutaj zadnej rewolucji nie ma, jedynie ewolucja, w strone tego neo soulowego spiewania, bo na kawalkach gdzie pani Hill spiewa, a nie rapuje dodatkowo pojawiaja sie chorki, czegos takiego u fugeesow nie bylo, bo to zazwyczaj Lauryn byla tymi chorkami, poza wspomnianymi New Arkami, przewijaja sie jeszcze takie postacie jak d angelo, j blige, czy pan santana, ktory nie tak dawno sie przewinal przez liste, wiec lista nazwisk dobija pod 40, wiec troche inne podejscie do tworzenia niz gdy nagrywala w grupie, ale i tak nie brakuje klasycznych sampli od wu tangow po doorsow, po przesluchaniu najbardziej zostanie traczek zion, ktory chyba najlepiej pasuje do mysli przewodniej krazka, wyboru dzieciaka i milosci nad krarierowaniem, biorac pod uwage, ze byl to jej ostatni studyjny krazek, to pani naprawde zyje tym o czym mowi na plycie, zion featuruje akustykowa gitarke pana santany, ktory hajlajtuje ten utwor, natomiast najciezsze zwrotki, ktore przywodza na mysl blunted on reality mozna znalezc na doo wopie, tak czy inaczej jak dla mnie zbyt rozciagnieta plyta i na dwunastym traku odpala sie alergia na pana d angelo, zion na plejke soulowa, a doo wop rapowa

It is a classic. Great lyrical content. Vocals are some of the best there have been. Features are great.

Wow, I'm really impressed. I love such way of producing, composing sounds and interpolating. A very inspirational album for both singers, rappers and producers from nowadays. The biggest artists from our decades keep sampling and reffering to Ms. Hill. A really remarkable thing for me would be an interpolate to "Heaven and Hell is on earth" randomly in the middle of the song. 5 stars with a clear conscience

Cava, beetje overrated wel.

This was good, I enjoyed it. It did not blow me away, however.

I already listened to this one a bunch in my teens because of my friends. Lauryn is straight up a goddess. This was a formative album for so many people i know. I wasn't into rap or hiphop R&B back then. But since then i've learned to love it, too.

I can see why people like it, just not my style.

fantastic samples, beautiful voice, mixed genres, mister Santana on featuring, 2 songs sampled by Kanye and Drake; solid 4,5

I've left this review for a while ago I have to keep listening to it again. Ah, memories abound.

The sound track of my youth. Bloody wonderful

Hip-hop-soul, un tanto tostón, pero buena voz.

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

nice r&b rap combo a bit more literate than the usual rap music

Just didn’t hit for me. It’s always a challenge when an album comes in at 60+ minutes

Love it

Could this album be any longer? I get that this is a progressive album hearing life perspectives from the female side, and the whole classroom vibe at the end of some of the songs being about learning fitting into the vibe of the album cover and title. But sheesh it gave me a headache and almost put me to sleep at work. Any way something could have been cut from it's 77 minute track list? Best: Can't Take My Eyes Off You (I Love You Baby) Worst: When It Hurts So Bad

Most overrated album of the last decades

A masterpiece. Hip-Hop, RnB, Soul just brilliant, an album that has lasted and will continue the last the test of time and will influence many more to come. 5 Stars.

I actually listened to this a year ago when finding new music before discovering this site. The opinion is the same, great stuff, but can't listen in one setting. Love that Lauryn Hill can go back and forth with singing and rapping easily, and the skits take a nice break from the music while providing context to the album. A couple of songs were not for me and some were average, but apart from that every track is good or great. Loved the title track, Doo Wop, even the bonus track Tell Him was great.

She's super talented and switches effortlessly between rapping and singing in a number of styles. Bit hard to rate this one as I was introduced to this album by my first serious girlfriend, so it's tangled up in my melon heart biz. I did really like the listen through, though. The classroom intermissions felt immersive rather than flow-breaking, like the skits often popular on hip-hop albums from this era. There are some absolute tunes on here, too... Fave track - "Forgive Them Father", maybe? "Everything is Everything" is a contender, and "To Zion" and "Doo Wop (That Thing)" are both very strong too! Fuck it, 5 stars!

Hip hop. Soul. Muy buena voz. R&B. Mejor de lo esperado.

Enjoyed some songs, To Zion and Doo Wop. the school audio was a bit distracting .

This one's not really for me sorry!

Woooooahhhhhh wooooaaaahhhhhh one star

3. Algunas canciones con una melodía más soul y pegajosa como forgive them father me molan. Aunque al ser tan largo se me hace un poco pesado y solo hay tres canciones en el álbum que me hagan levantar la cabeza.

Good singer, conscious funky soul Oh and pay your taxes Bono, sorry, Lauryn...

Musically the album sticks to one style, sometimes leaves me wanting for a bit of variety, but she does that style so well. Ex Factor, Doo Wop, the title track, and Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You are my favorites. Queen.

Wonderful, amazing vocal ability and impeccable flow. Cohesive through and through. Thoughtful, emotional. Bravo.

glided by in the background. Will have to revisit when I can be attentive

It is a crime that she never released another album.

Very good. Enjoyed it a lot.

Unique blending of jazz and hip hop. Easy to listen to in the background. Beautiful.

Iconic. Possibly one of the most iconic albums of all time. Soulful, bopping, energetic and refined all at once. Easiest call yet.

Listened on repeat while making dinner and then for some time after. It’s as moving and beautiful and touching and soulful and ground-breaking now as it was almost 25 years ago. We’re all sad she never did anything but this album, but LH can do whatever she wants with her talent, and I’m grateful we got this out of it.

Loads of hits, could do without the interludes. Great album.

Always a great listen. Voice is so purely amazing.

I remember this being really popular when it came out, but I thought it was shit. It was everywhere for some reason. Yeah, still shit. Just boring rap/r&b, riddled with dumb skits and of fucking COURSE it goes for over an hour. Didn't anyone in this genre take any interest in quality control after about 1993? Fuck's sake. 2/5.

Great album if a little long. It's length is probably going to be the only reason I don't listen to it as much as it deserves to be listened to.

She's talented for sure, but not my style. 2/5.

brilliant

Not really but my bag - but I can see why it's such a classic album - Lauryn has such a beautiful soulful voice.

nah

lost ones is a bopping track, already like this a lot more than a seat at the table by solange. to zion is a really good song i enjoyed it. doo wop is deadly, such a good tune. wasn't a fan of superstar.

voll nice aber nicht so mein ding

I like this but would like it more if it wasn't 77 minutes and 16 songs. Most of the songs are in the 5 - 6 minute range. In isolation, each songs is good but it becomes a bit of a chore to listen to it all. It still has some of the hip hop tropes I hate; all the uh-uh-uhs, yo-yo-yos, skits, etc. Some of the ballads are very syrupy in a bad 1970s way. The personnel credits are something; so many people. Fun fact: album includes Frank Dunnery from It Bites. It's some culling and editing away from being a much better album.

Attitude and chops. This bridges a couple of styles, and I'm amazed there hasn't been a follow-up as big.

Det här var väl inge kul

Mi pare un hip-hop intelligente. Penso che oggettivamente sia un bell'album, ma mi annoiano i ritmi semplici e il rap mi sembra uno spreco della bella voce di Lauryn! Sono teneri questi intermezzi dei ragazzi di una classe che parlano dell'amore.

Heel goede r en b met mooi love thema en zonder teveel gefoefel heel eerlijk

It was a long listen that's for sure. But as someone who is generally not really a hiphop/r&b enjoyer, this was surprisingly 'not that bad'. Still way to long with all the songs blending into one another. This makes the album excessively boring. I would say this is fine for one or two songs, but the whole album is a big no no.

really fun

6/10

Like a hilly lunar surface, it has its ups and downs. Wasn’t awful

This is a great R&B album. Start to Finish, enjoyable tracks with some great variations in sound and feel. This genre is not my typical listen, but it’s a best in show album.

Spotify is crumbling and I can't listen to this! From what I've heard so far I love the vibe, and already know Doo Wop is a 90s fave. To Zion has a cool sound and features carlos santana - I like that one a lot.

can't compare to anything I listen to. Pop? solo? idk. reggae according to theyAlexander

This is a good album, but really long.

There's some pretty good stuff and some stuff that didn't interest me. Prolly wouldn't go out of my way to listen again but didn't exactly hate listening to it this time.

Didn't like it. Not my kind of music.

A unique voice.

I like the album I don't love it and I have little urge to seek it out when I want a dose of hip hop. 3 stars

Lauryn Hill is insanely talented. She can sing, and she has one of the greatest flows in the game. Her songwriting is textured and deals with more complexity than her contemporaries. This album shows Hill navigating her life, love, the expectations of others, and her own strength to define who she is for herself. This album has already become a modern classic and it’s easy to see why.

An interesting beat and music

This may be one of the most perfect albums made. Between the theme, lyrics, beats, and hooks it doesn’t get more consistent and monumental than this album. Hill created one solo album and it’s arguably one of the best ever made. Such a shame she didn’t do more but what she provided was nothing short of historically significant. 10/10

Chika Muito bom

// Favs: - Score: Light 2

Not listened to this for years but it is excellent.

It was an all right listen

bruh

Some absolute classics on this album, but a lot of it doesn't land as much as I would like

All time

I can't believe I haven't listened to this before but I will be again. The perfect chill album.

great listening throughout the day

Really enjoyed this album. A general mix of rap, hip hop and even R&B. Very classy. I just want to know what happens if Ms Lauryn Hill gets married and becomes Mrs Lauryn Hill? Would she change her stage name? Hmmm

A lot of layers to this album. I was stoked when it came up as today's album, as I've been meaning to listen to it for years. Great arrangements, killer drumbeats, and a cool but not too cocky delivery by Hill. Gonna run this one again tomorrow. Got me wanting more.

Okay

Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Southern point, Two weeks, Fine for now, Ready,able,

Hip-hop-soul, un tanto tostón, pero buena voz.

Algo denso, pero muy buenos beats.

Over rated

Could do with some trimming. The singles are great though - especially Doo Wop (That Thing).

Not really my genre, but perfectly listenable - even when working.

What can you say? A great album that has been thoroughly review and acknowledged as a great album with anyone with a soul.

cool

Not a fan

I was never a big fan of this when it came out. Maybe lacking a big killer hook/hit for me. But a solid album throughout.

Дип... Немного затянуто, немного не мое, но все равно круто

Рэперы какие-то, вроде наваливают неплохо. Фоном можно послушать. Не дослушал и переслушивать не буду.

Had a shitty fucking night in Greece with this album. It helped alot. Together with Off the wall.

Garbage

I listened to most, but not all of this album. It's been years since I listened to it. It's solid, for sure. It also captures a place in time- right as I entered Fort Lewis College. My on again/off again GF really liked this album and so I listened to it several times with her. An enjoyable listen, but it didn't make me swoon or anything. One thing I do love about it are the interludes/intros/outros between tracks. This was at its peak in the 90s (especially in hip hop records). Anytime I've ever made a mix tape I like to pepper in skits, movie lines, and audio clips that aren't music. If I could give 3.5 stars I would, but since I can't I'll give it 4.

I recognize that I am the problem here and there is cause for this to be a required listen, but it is just not for me. I lack The necessary chill to be able to enjoy these tracks. I am no Kosmo Vinyl, but these songs are too damned long and languid. I need a narrative, not time to ruminate on how little is being said.

This album brought a flood of teenage memories. I had this album on repeat as background music. The lyrics are so, so personal. And that's probably why they are powerful. Hill doesn't hide anything and lays all of her emotions out for the listener. It's so different than what most girls are taught. She doesn't keep it inside. I remember thinking how brave and crazy that was when I first listened to the album. She vocalizes her broken love in the way you always wish you could have retorted in the moment and still better than what you come up with hours later when you lay awake thinking of what you should have, could have said. Hill's singing and rapping flow together so well. There is no "bad" song on the album. "To Zion" is the love song every mother feels when she meets baby and realizes she has never loved anyone the way she loves that child. And it features Carlos Santana as an added bonus.

You are too good to be true... Not really my cup of tea but there're some songs I'd listen to on my way somewhere

This album made me want to turn on my keyboards and play some soul/r&b all day. Excellent arrangements and vocals

This album is massive, and dense, and really great. It’s not surprising that she hasn’t followed it up yet.

Listened to this on Sept. 6th 2021 and I was wondering if it was on the list. Great album.

Very good. Probably a little too long.

Nothing particularly wrong with this album but nothing leapt out at me either. All the tracks just blend together. It's not for me.

I like the album I don't love it and I have little urge to seek it out when I want a dose of hip hop. 3 🌟

Aun teniendo buena voz y ser ritmos tranquilos, lo he visto muy plano y no me ha transmitido nada. No está mal, pero no he conectado en absoluto. A ratos hip/hop, en otras ocasiones, pop sencillito

always thought this album was overrated and i still think that but i understand its cultural significance. i came away with more appreciation for it after this listen. i love ex factor

Absolute classic, wonderful story throughout the album

When I was in university, you didn't have to go far to find a copy of this album in someone's apartment. It's possible that the only song I've heard off of this album is "Doo Wop". "Doo Wop" was a good choice for a single off of this album. Hill is not my taste in music, but the album is good.

Fantastic album, love it! Shocking how small of a discography she has given the huge impact she has had on the world of music.

Thought I liked this one but in listening to it again I think I love it. Never owned this one back in the day cause one of my roommates had it and it was so ubiquitous anyway. But this really is a masterfully crafted album of it's era. Got that "cinematic" Fugees sound steeped in soul. It's impressive that she carries the weight of this long album pretty much single handedly. Though I love Wyclef's The Carnival, this may be the best Fugees solo album. Easily my favorite female hip hop artist and one of my favorite albums by a female artist. So strong, so honest, so intense. Feels deeply personal. She gave it her all on this album. In a class of her own.

Pretty standard 90s sounding R&B/Hiphop. Not my thing but I respect it.

A modern classic. I didn't care for the skits at the end of the tracks but it was an amazing blend of decades of R & B and soul influences. Now this album, in turn, helped create the sound of the 00's and 10's. Favorite Tracks: "Doo Wop (That Thing)" "Final Hour" "Everything is Everything"

Top notch record of pure genius

9/10. Would be a 10 but for the skits. For the past 15 years I have been saying I will make a version with the skits removed. Maybe this will be the year I get round to it. Rapping, singing, production all on point.

Pretty neat...featuring Zion (with Carlos santana)...managed 4 tracks so far

Her only solo album, and it continues to have more impact and appeal than many other artists have in their entire careers. Your mileage may vary on the brief interludes interspersed throughout the album (I'll admit, I'd rather they weren't included, but thankfully there aren't so many that they become annoying), but my God, there's not a clunker in the bunch of songs. I can't get enough of "Ex-Factor" and "When It Hurts So Bad". Reminds me a lot of Nina Simone, Nenah Cherry and even Joni Mitchell while still being it's own unique thing. This album deserves the praise it continues to receive, and my hunch is a major reason Lauryn Hill never really even tried to make another album is because she knew nothing could top this. By the way, my rating takes into consideration the 2 hidden tracks: the cover of "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" and "Tell Him". They might be my 2 favorite Lauryn Hill songs, and they're what puts the album over the top into 5 territory.

Lauryn Hill laat hiphop zomers klinken, maar af en toe ook wat langdradig

Classics you should no if you‘re into soul music. Some tracks a boring 4stars.

3

I don't listen to hiphop that often, but her soul voice and the pop/funky beats are a very good mix. (7/10) Favorite Tracks: Every Ghetto, Every City; Doo Wop (That Thing)

Ok. Not something I would have listened to otherwise

Very nice rap

I liked this more than I expected I would. It's not quite in my musical wheelhouse, but there are some rightful bangers on this album and I can see why it's considered a classic.

A nearly perfect hip hop/R&B record. Kinda wild this was released in 1998.

Did not enjoy as much as Wyclef Jean's solo album.

A well made album which touches on difficult subjects, Could be a bit more but I enjoyed the vibe

This is one I’ll probably throw on again. 3.25.

Good album.

Not bad, but not for me.

It was OK. Some groovy bits but mostly benign.

Could legit talk for hours about Lauryn Hill. Especially this album. I think it's as classic as an album can get. And the fact that is her only studio Album genuinely breaks my heart. But the influence on music this album had. Changed the pace of both Rnb and Hip-hop and really showed that Lauryn was to be respected as a MC. I really believe she was the best part of the Fugees. This album has this beautiful mixture of Reggae. especially since she worked with Bob Marleys son. Add in some blues, hip-hop, and a dash of heart break and you really get something amazing. Lauryn Hill absolutely proved herself on this one. ​ This to me get the highest rating an album get. Love it so much. Will always get a recommend from me. Check this one out.

This was my second time listening to this album. It is undeniably an important album for hip-hop and I can understand why. I think it's a great album with a lot of good tracks, but there is a few weak tracks to be honest. I'm having a hard time rating this album fairly, but I think I have to go with a weak 4 for now.

A blend of hip-hop, soul and R&B makes an enjoyable listen to most people, though I am not entirely convinced by the concept's strength, Lauryn's (at times) annoying vocals, or the slightly overdone repetition on some tracks. Hip-hop is not my favorite, though I find enough grit, edge and depth in other artists' discographies. In some cases, I had the feeling song length was an issue as well, especially in "Lost Ones" "To Zion" and "When it Hurts". When "Nothing even Matters" with D'Angelo came on, the cheese was almost too much to handle, and when the Four Seasons cover came on, I was happy to almost be done with this. A 2/5 for creativity, but barely.

Shes got a beautiful voice, the background tracks could be a lot better. Shes a bit repetitive as well, but I enjoy her messages and the vibe from her music.

Excellent combination of hip-hop, soul, R&B!

Equal parts punchy and smooth. Lauryn's vocals are beautifully rich which now explains why this album keeps coming back in samples

What a bop! Great vocals interlaced on top of each other. The production is fantastic on this and Lauryn hill has a great voice! This is a fun and good album.

Old jam

great album filled with musical and lyrical references, great voice, great album curve, engaging

I thought it had some really catchy songs and good lyrics, but it didn’t flow together too much except for the classroom bits. Though, it did have songs i recognized as a sample so that was cool, i’ll even it out with 3/5

One of the best hip-hop albums of all time!

90s classic, absolutely fire beats and smoooooth vocals from Ms. Lauryn Hill as usual, lots of influence on today's music and rightfully so, favs - Doo Wop (That Thing), Ex-Factor, Final Hour

Very nice

Great start, but a very long, maybe too long album. However, the highlights make this album stand out.

Nope.

Wow. Just wow. I'd heard this album was great, and very influential, and now I can see why. I don't even have the words to say how good this album is. 5/5 stars.

P good. Definitely revisit later.

Really glad I finally listened to this classic

Like Zappa yesterday, thoughtful lyrics. Hiphop style and much better vocals

Not a fan of this, I'm getting bored listening to it.

Klassiker.

Quite clearly a fantastic album. This time through I noticed the musical flourishes, that are a little tricky to pick up when you’re too busy being wowed by Hill’s seamless transitions between forceful rhyming and soulful singing. I’m talking about that feeling in Lost Ones that the whole song is about to blow up, but the firm hand on the production that prevents it from doing so; I’m talking about the background voices that make Doo Wop (That Thing) sound like a hmm-ing room full of girlfriends. My only gripe, and it’s a mild one, is that I don’t quite feel the album sustains it all the way through, but when it hits it hits hard.

yep

Very good, old school hip hop from one of the GOATS

Good

With all the skits (so many of them) it reminded me of a social realist film using real, improvising actors. But one where the director has got too wrapped up in "the magic" once it comes to editing and refuses to cut whole swathes flab. So there are good moments - terrific beats, great rapping - balanced by utterly forgettable or painful moments. As far as social realism goes, yeah okay, that's life. But it's not always entertaining and I strongly doubt it's intentional.

starts off sounding like lofi then becomes funny woman rap..... k. second track pretty good. i guess the third track is ok. fith track is shit :). everything lowkey starting to sound the same. track 12 has a good backing i wanna say its a violoin but like its ruined by shit and isnt enough. holy shit too many repeated lrlishs please help stop -please. right i know you baught a drum mechiene but i dont care please use somehting elese please. the ends allright i guess but still shit album shit house 0/10. but accualy its fine i guess not my thing but yea still personlay its a but too much of the same and becasue its stuff of the same that i dont reely like its not good so still 2/10

Such a great classic album!

Didn't get to listen to the whole thing but from what I heard(the majority of it) it seemed like some good background music I might listen to.

I really enjoyed this album - very unique, varied, and raw. However, i don't think all the tracks are perfect, and it would get old soon enough.

Can’t come up with a great review for all of these, but this is still an amazing album.

I’m not a fan of rap ...

Really good! New music for me, some of the songs felt a little long but I liked all of the classroom discussions appended after the songs.

Amazing album. Absolutely floored I've never listened to it. Talented all the way and just enjoyable. Creative,

My favourite album so far. Girls got bars!!

Possibly my favourite album ever made

Beautiful voice, amazing chill rap about love -- what is not to love?

Didn't know all of these before this. Great album!

Never listened all the way through. It’s good. Not my favorite but I get why people like it.

Soul, hip-hop and reggae Queen. This album feels so spiritual and is arguably the most influential record of the decade on future rap and hip hop artists (see Kendrick, Drake, Kanye, Chance, etc. etc. etc.) Fav tracks: Ex-Factor, Everything is Everything, Doo Wop (That Thing)

This album is a masterpiece. Lauryn Hill's transcendent talent is on full display with top notch songwriting, beat-making, arranging, lyricism, singing, and rapping. The music is personal, political, and utterly self-assured. Her blend of hip hop innovation and classic soul/pop sensibilities has left a monumental legacy evident in artists ranging from Kayne West to Janelle Monae. Favourite track: Too many to name, but I can never get enough of "Ex-Factor"

Not my style

Great album, brought back a lot of memories

Tough listen. Not for me. Used an interesting framing device that played along with the education/classroom theme.

Is it as good as everyone says it is? It's pretty great, but doesn't seem stand out classic to me. Maybe it sounds so familiar already, even though I've never owned it...

Schickes Album. Geile Beats und gute Texte.

this album was highly recieved back in the day, probably because the world was awash with slow jamz and R'n'B was king of the world. so weird to hear her singing about love and being soppy knowing how much of an angry woman she is. its also worth noting that at the time this was viewed as a step forward for women in the urban music game - so in its own way this paved the way for WAP, thanks Laryn. i skipped about 50% of this album but there is the odd nice hip hop track hidden in between the 90s amy winehouse crap. loses points because of the new variation of the rap album skit, i'd rather hear her talking to her mates about how she is the master of shagging than kids talking about love.

this is just a universal loved album and I would be suprised if someone didn’t like this. Great album, great vibes, great producing,great features. a classic in the soul, rnb and hip hop world. 9/10

I gotta admit I had some stereotypical assumptions about how good a "female rapper" could be, and was a bit skeptical. Despite this, I ended up really enjoying this album and was happily proved wrong. It has great lyricism and great musical accompaniment. I love the themes as well. Well done!

Fantástico debut donde predomina el R&B y el Hip Hop. Vozarrón y gran producción musical. Sería genial si no fuera tan largo.

A little long for my liking, but a great hip-hop album with insane impact. Really like the interludes from the classroom as well Saved: Doo Wop (That Thing), Final Hour

Saved Prior: None Saved Off Rip: Forgive Them Father Cutting Edge: Ex-Factor, To Zion, Doo Wop (That Thing) Overall Notes: Let me just say that this was really good R&B/rap. Unfortunately, R&B/rap where almost every song is over 5 minutes long is not my thing. There's only so much Fergie-singing-the-National-Anthem-ing I can take before I tune out the lyrics, even if those lyrics are really good. Was close to giving it a three, but I was kinda bored listening to a lot of these songs. I'm sure that if I ever grow to like R&B I'll look back and laugh at what an idiot I was for giving this album a 2, but that's where I am right now.

Way worse than I remembered it to be

This is an incredible album. 10/10. 5 stars.

Rubbish

Cracking album. Personal, heartfelt, incomparable voice. Doo Wop (That Thing): complete classic. Often imitated, never duplicated.

An insight into the cultural melting pot that is NY, and the music is a great mix of genres as well.

I think a full album of hip hop is too much. Ditto for a full album of soul most of the time. This was a nice blend which worked for me. I also like the guitar solos thrown in which I wasn't expecting with the genres but worked. I'm almost at 4 except I think I've been giving too many 4s lately so deflation has set in.

Had four listens, it's a bit of a long one and still need to listen more grasp it all. Importantly, every song is great, I prefer the songs with rapping ("Lost Ones", "Doo Wop", "Final Hour") because they flow incredibly well, but the more emotional RnB stuff is really good too. When Lauryn is not rapping she's pushing her voice to its full most of the time, with some very smooth backing. It doesn't just jump between two genres though, because you feel influences from afro-carribean vocals (lost ones, forgive them father) Latin flamenco guitar (to zion), pyschadelic guitar solo (ex-factor), soul/gospel organ keys (ex-factor and every ghetto every city), 90s rap record scratches/skips (throughout) and just excellent bass lines (throughout). There's so much variety, and the skits actually have music in them which really makes them feel more listenable, not to mention that the subject matter is pretty wholesome (LOVE). Shout out to that familiar piano sample in "Doo Wop", Hammond will have to tell me where that comes from.

Tykkäsin enemmän Laurynin sekä räppi- että laulutaidoista kuin varsinaisesti levyn kappaleista. Mutta jo pelkästään taidokkuuden takia 3.

When I was 16, I asked a girl out called Lauryn. She laughed in my face. Feeling low I decided to go to the 24 hour garage just down the road to mask my disappointment by buying some top shelf porn mags. I didn't need Lauryn, I could have a great time by myself. It was only as I was nearly at the counter, ready to pay, that I noticed it was my uncle working. In a panic, I disgarded the porn mags and instead got a cheese and onion pasty and had to satisfy my needs with that instead.

Not my usual, preferred genre but enjoyed the listen.

I really liked this! I don’t usually listen to much hip hop but I liked this album. I can see how she was so influential on later artists! (Did anyone else read that she was really close with the whole Marley family? Makes me wonder if the album sequence was intentional!)

Went on for too long.

She's a talented singer, rapper, and lyricist. I love the overall vibe of this album, but I feel like I'd have to listen to it each time as an album. There wasn't a single song that stood out to me. I was actually bored with it by the end, but I feel like it warrants another spin.

I love this album

Onko tää nyt sitten sitä R&B:tä? Aikamoista voitelumusaa. Vähän liikaa Uuuu-uUUUuu-uUUU:ta minun makuun.

One great song, the rest was silly.

American masterpiece

What I remember as being proper R&B, enjoyed this album. Two ‘hits’ on there too. 4/5

avoids melody like she avoids tax

Nowhere near as good as people think it is. 3 or 4 decent songs the rest is filler. A bang average R&B album.

A real struggle to get through. Headache-inducing and painful to listen to (not in a good way). Faves-Forgive Them Father slightly less grating than some of the others. Actually, second half of the album may be a little less irritating. Still absolutely hated it, overall.

There's a couple of bangers here but it's a long album with loads of r&b filler. Her warbling annoyed me by the end

false

7/10

Not my thing. But did bring back memories

This album has a great sound, a real nice blend of R&B and hip-hop and I can listen to her voice all day long. I owned the CD when it came out but had forgotten about great songs like Forgive Them Father and Lost Ones. After listening to this and a bunch of hip-hop albums over the last 120 days, I am perplexed that so many include "interludes" - 1 or 2 minute conversations recorded in a living room or studio. I just don't get it. 80-minute CDs are all ready 40 minutes too long IMO.

3.5

8

Hab den Hype damals verpasst, höre grad hin und find ihren Gesang schon gut bis ich nicht begreife, was so heiss ist an diesen schlimmen high pitched tremolo notes ist (bitte immer mit Whitney Houston Hand an der Schläfe) und ihrem Rap höre ich selten eine Abwechslung an. „Music is supposed to inspire“ und das tut‘s mich schon mal gar nicht. Lyrics? Nope. Entweder Check ich’s nicht, oder „What you need ironically Will turn out what you want to be“ hat nix mit Ironie zu tun,oder? Konzeptuell gefallen mir die Schulbank Zwischenstücke am besten. Blasse 1.1

Beeindruckt von den Rap-Skills, erstmal. Bisschen genervt vom gelegentlich übertrieben langgezogenen Tremolo auf einzelnen Silben, da bin ich wirklich kein Fan von. Wann hat das eigentlich angefangen? Wahrscheinlich nicht mit ihr, aber mit Destiny's Child? Oder war sie's vielleicht sogar doch? Jedenfalls ist mir gestern erst wieder eingefallen, dass Lauryn Hill Mitte/Ende der 90er ja die lässigste Queen of Consciousness war die man sich vorstellen konnte, und wie toll ich die fand. Hatte ich komplett vergessen über die Jahre, in denen sie - soweit man das vermittelt bekommt - offenbar zwei oder dreimal falsch abgebogen ist und dann auch noch in Sackgassen. Egal, hier wird man ja am Einzelwerk gemessen, und das finde ich auch mehr als 20 Jahre später noch wirklich sehr fresh. Gute Aussagen, gute Produktion, enorme Rapskills. Gesang ... wie gesagt. Insgesamt eine schöne 3,9.

Recognised some songs, album as a whole wasn't my taste

I like this album. An album to the liberated self

Nice

Very nice modern R&B album. I liked it most because I can recognize many influences in some very good songs that I like (Alicia Keys for example).

Yup. I liked it. Good music is what it is.

When this album dropped it changed everything. While female artists had created new frontiers of courage and vulnerability (Liz Phair), this was both poetic and musically powerful. Every song matters and the diversity of rhythm, melody and harmonics is standard setting.

As much as I hate “skits” filling up half the album, it still stands up.