Reviews (page 5 of 15)
I don't get the super high acclaim, it's good, apple putting this #1 of all time is a lil crazy Will I listen to again: 40%
Wow, Fantano avait raison pour une fois, super album et super weird que ça soit son seul? Beaucoup plus R&B et Soul que je m’attendais, c’est quasiment un Songs In The Keys Of Life Hip-hop, à revisiter assurément
I have vivid memories of listening to this CD in my discman, in 1998, while I got braces put on my teeth. It’s difficult for me to be objective about the music here because it was so formative for me, but I’ll say that the re-listen highlights all the skit/interludes. By far the worst pitfall of 90s hiphop albums. Im also keenly aware that as a middle-class white male, this record is specifically not for me (and certainly wasn’t when I was 12). Nevertheless, it’ll always be in my canon.
Pretty good stuff. A lot of classic bangers from my childhood on here.
I was excited to see this album come up. I heard so much about how influential and great it was. Hill is a great singer and rapper and has immense talent. it just didn't land with me.
Classic hip hop album that’s universally loved for a reason. It has hits, slow songs, straight hip hop, it has everything. I enjoyed listening to album, especially the classroom conversation element in the first half of the album
Cohesive masterful and in one word superior
A really enjoyable R&B album. Hill can SING, but the backing vocals, accompaniment, and samples added a lot. The mix of songs was diverse and interesting yet still felt like a cohesive album. It definitely felt like a passion project and not a commercial grab. - Heard before? A few songs, but not in its entirety. - Will I listen again? Maybe. I don't normally crave R&B, but if I did, this would be one I'd reach for. - Does it inspire me to listen to more of this artist? Potentially.
This was all anyone could talk about when it came out. Serious hype. I've never heard this album before today but I recognized the title right away. Buckle up, it's 77 minutes long and contains a skit/interlude between each song. Hill's lyrics are most if not all autobiographical, an emotional musical journal of what she was going through at the time. *** Lost Ones - hip-hop with sung chorus *** Ex-factor - pleasant down-tempo R&B with good vocal harmonies ** In Zion - more down-tempo R&B with Carlos Santana on guitar **** Doo Wop - hip-hop with a retro doo-wop/Motown flavor, the rap has a fun cadence and the sung vocals are more great harmonies. It makes sense that this was the first single released from the album. ** Superstar - I'm sensing a trend here, another down-tempo R&B song with some rapping. Consistency is good if you're looking for a whole album to plop down to fit your mood, which was a thing before streaming services existed to magically whip up an auto-playlist. *** Final Hour - hip-hop with some 70s soul flavor, harp, horns, and flute in the backing track ** When It Hurts So Bad - Surprise! Another down-tempo R&B track with vocal harmonies, this time with a reggae drum sample and some harp. ** I Used To Love Him - R&B track with vocal harmonies, duet with Mary J Blige. Moody freestyle vocal improvisations wear out their welcome on this one. *** Forgive Them Father - a reggae-tinged R&B song based on Bob Marley's Concrete Jungle melody. *** Every Ghetto, Every City - R&B track with some funk flavor just to change it up a little, a welcome fun track after the last few maudlin ones. ** Nothing Even Matters - guess what, it's a sad R&B song that should have been a 20 second segue song. Instead it's stretched out to almost 6 minutes of the words "nothing even matters" sung/improvised over and over. **** Everything is Everything - a R&B song with hip-hop. Has a good sample riff for the backing track though. The other single from the record. *** The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Piano flourishes begin this song and it almost sounds like it's going to turn into a "I Will Survive" cover, but it's just her singing over a track with no drums. **** Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli cover over a hip-hop beat with a little reggae taste, it's not bad and the vocal arrangement is nice without being over the top. *** Tell Him - more vocal harmonies over a chill backing track, a nice performance Overall not a bad record. Doo Wop is the obvious standout. She has a great voice and usually a good instinct for what is going to sound good, but it's not without filler. Does it live up to the hype 25 years later? Eh, sort of.
believe the hype!
Fucking love this album. 8.5/10
Classic
Seminal album, but sadly one I haven't heard a lot. Love the 90s vibe.
There were some pretty songs, it'll take some time and distance to accurately rate this one. This album has been hyped up to the stratosphere and it didn't take me there sadly which I get is an unfair expectation. The continuous use of skits takes me out of the album. I guess she gets a pass because hers has a message and is sweet but hip hop gets dragged all the time for that. It's a fine record but it's nowhere near an all-time album for me. Rating: 2.5
Great album! It was a bit lengthy though.
20ish records in and I have begun to resent long albums; I've barely had time to listen to all of this. This is not my favourite genre but there was plenty to enjoy; I was only familiar with Doo Wop (That Thing) beforehand.
First song is "Lost one" and...I kinda like this! I immediately feel like i'd listen to this in my earhuds and bop my head down the street! Great start so far. This is my first time listening to lauryn hill, so I was under the impression that she raps primarily, but this second song is like rnb? Her voice is gorgeous, reminds me of monica and brady. I wonder if this is the second "how am i supposed to change myself?". OMG WAIT ok the chorus is playing I know this song!! I love this part, I didn't look to see this was ex-factor!!! As I continue through the next song, I am just loving the soul and vibe of this album. Definitely adding to my playlists. I'm currently listening to the album for a second time, and I absolutely love it! I am geniunely glad to listen to this album right now because I have been searching for new music I can vibe to and feel this way over. My favourites: 1. Lost one 2. Ex-Factor 3. Doo wop 4. Forgive them Father
An all-timer concept/story-telling album. The class discussion adds so much character. The only downside is that makes it a touch less listenable, to throw on aux. Perfect features. I kinda prefer the extended version with the cover of Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.
No one has been able to do it like her (4.5)
虽然听不懂歌词，但是专辑给人一种讲述了她一生的感觉？
OMG i had no idea how much i was missing on, not listening to this album before. an absolute banger, i didn't expect to love it as much as i did. truly, each song was insane in both in terms of music and vocals. the songs also mention very important and relevant themes. in a way "the miseducation of lauryn hill" reminds of late 90s whitney houston, especially "my love is your love" era. i'm so so happy that this was my album of the day and i can't wait to come back to it. the music was so insanely catchy, that it is most certain that i will come back soon!!
As good as rap and RnB can get. Lauryn Hill really hit the jackpot and just dipped.
LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEEE
There are a couple missteps that keep this from being a 5 star album for me, namely To Zion. But the rest of it is great and well worth listening to
This is a good one
I loved it! It’s a classic album for me
eu tenho uma opinião sobre as reviews negativas sobre esse álbum......
I'm a big fan of the Fugees and this solo album by Lauryn Hill doesn't disappoint.
I'm surprised that this is her only album. I did read she had some problems and became somewhat of a recluse for awhile. I enjoyed the interludes of what sounded like classroom recordings of kids talking about what "love" meant. The songs in general didn't really catch my attention. This isn't a genre for me really... but I'll give it a shot and sometimes I will find some hidden gem. This album was so hyped up and was nominated for so many awards so I'm surprised I didn't find anything that stood out as overly amazing. Also, it was rather long for a first listen to a new album. I find albums that are over 45 minutes long tend to really dilute the album, in that I tend to forget the songs I heard in the beginning.
10/10 I've always loved this album. It's a brilliant blend of hip-hop, soul and reggae, with elements of funk and jazz thrown in for good measure. It would be easy for such a melange of styles to come across as overworked or inconsistent, but here they a combined into a singular vision that deftly bobs and weaves its way through movements with Lauryn flexing her vocal chops both through rapping and singing, sometimes drifting swiftly from one to the other beautifully. The little classroom interludes are great too. They could be overdone, but they're really well placed and tie things together in a suitably thematic way. The craftsmanship on this record is absolutely top notch. It's crisp and clean, with a groove that ebbs and flows and instrumental playing that fulfills the brief exactly, never pushing things to far but equally never holding back. Everything pulls together to tell the story of a woman's life, the trials and tribulations, love, heartbreak and motherhood, presented with stark honesty and lyrical excellence, all presented through a voice that shines. There are the very off moments of vocal self indulgence, but never enough to dampen the effect of the music. One could also argue that it could be a touch shorter, but you would maybe lose the breadth of stylistic steps that she takes, so I think it gets that just about right in the end. It's a brilliant record, it's just a shame she was never able to capture that lightning in a bottle again. Intro - It's a great little scene setter with a nice bit of guitar work. Lost Ones - The beat that backs this is great and plays well against the bass and guitar parts. She has great attitude to her rapping and plays well with pronunciation to sync up lyrics in a solid flow. The verses are a touch on the long side, but when she gets there, it's a really nice switch up in tone and her sung vocal is great and she can write a great vocal melody. It gets even better in the second chorus with her excellent backing vocals. Ex-Factor - She's got such great vocal control. This is a beautiful change of pace and again, the vocal melody is brilliant. She kind of wanders around, but it all feels so centred and focused despite that. The instrumentation is so smooth and well produced too. It does exactly what it needs to do to present her a playground for her vocals to shine. The layered vocals are exceptionally well structured too. What a song. To Zion - The rolling beat here is great and is just the right amount of loose. The wandering guitar has a similar freedom to her vocal in the last track; centred but free. It's another great song and motherhood is a rare subject matter for a popular song, which is a shame really, but she pulls it of with aplomb. Doo Wop (That Thing) - Such a banger. The beat is so driving and forward leaning, the bass is so round and groovy and the rest of the instrumention is so finely placed that it enhances that main groove brilliantly. But all that needs something to sit above it to complete the song and she knocks it so far out of the park. Catchy, hooky vocal melodies that grip and enthrall, a perfect blend between sung and rapped vocals and some utterly sublime vocal layering. Exceptional. Superstar - Another change in pace and a really interesting melodic choice in the vocal line. It all feels purposefully compressed into a small tonal range, but it's really evocative. It's a slow burning soul groove and lets her lean back into the rapping more than the last couple of tracks. It's less hooky and poppy than those, but it's still musically compelling and really well produced. Final Hour - And now the rapped vocal is at the forefront again. She's got a really great ability to pull things around rhythmically but maintain the flow and it could easily get lost if you're not paying attention. This is a subtler song, but the downtempo, jazzy groove is great and suggests influence over artists like Cinematic Orchestra and Bonobo that would follow. When It Hurts So Bad - The feeling lifts a little here. It's still downtempo, but it places the sung vocal back in control. The lilt of the groove is really nice and it grooves along really well. She touches here and there on some cool hooks, but doesn't let them take over. Again, there's some brilliant vocal layering here. I Used To Love Him - I love the slightly wonky beat and repeated sample here, it gives things a bit of an off-kilter edge. It's a jazz inflected hip-hop presentation and she picks lovely little moments of melody and then drifts and flutters her way around them. It's slightly unfocused but in a stylistically deliberate way that suits the song. It perhaps drags a little too long and the sample, while good, is a bit over-used and could do with being used more sparingly. Forgive Them Father - A more reggae inflected groove now. The chorus is absolute killer stuff. This track is a gorgeous blend of hip-hop, soul and reggae. There's some brilliant guitar and horn work on this in particular, but the whole thing is such a great vibe that twists and turns and delivers again and again. Every Ghetto, Every City - Another great groove and her soulful delivery is so solid. It dances around in quite a jazzy flow and is fairy reminiscent of Stevie Wonder in parts. It never really lands on a hooky chorus, but the way it moves and flows is so engaging that it doesn't matter in the slightest. The layered quality of everything here is top notch. Nothing Even Matters - A lovely bit of D'Angelo to ease us into a slow jam. It's more stripped back, but the vibe continues to be solid. It kind of dances around the motifs in a slightly unfocused way, but I think that's part of the charm here, it's not supposed to be sharp, it's supposed to be smooth and sultry. Everything Is Everything - Back to a more forward driving effott. It's a little understated and I feel she could have raised things slightly for the chorus, but it's still solid and the central hook is great. The rapping bits are really nice and the jazzy piano is great when it has it's moments to poke its head above the water. The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill - This is a bit of a meandering effort. There are some really sweet moments from both vocals and instruments, but it feels a tiny bit self indulgent. But why not, it's still very good and she's earned it. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You - We're into hidden track territory, but they're on the original release, so let's roll. If you're going to cover something give it your own spin and commit to it. She does absolutely that here. It's got a persistent, funky groove to it and she holds true enough to the original melody while adding her own inflection and style to it. It's sweet, soulful and groovy. Lovely stuff. Tell Him - A slow jam to finish is off. It builds slowly, but some of the vocal harmonies that it lands on are gorgeous. The beat has great feel to it and it all swings so well. It's stripped back, but every part works together to make it more than the sum of its parts.
Definitely overrated. Some tracks were really good but most of it was pretty forgettable with that late 90s/early 2000s overly clean production I can’t stand.
An incredible album front to back that incorporates a unique theme with the school class interludes about love. I wish Lauryn released more albums, but if she wasn't going to at least she gave us this classic.
Woman hip hop complexity
This album reminds me of an ex girlfriend who used to always have this on every time I got in her car. I didn’t rate it back then and unfortunately I’m still feeling the same way about it now.
Don't get it at all. In addition, did she really need to add minutes of tedious chitchat after almost every song? Was it not long enough?
A genre I have not given enough of a try, she spoke to experiences both alien and familiar to me, and I felt empowered in my morning thanks to her.
Bops all around
1/23 Not bad for a hip hop album
Best album so fat
Pretty good. Just too long for my liking
ya había escuchado gente hablar de este álbum por redes sociales, capaz eso afectó que me gustará más o quizás no. Igualmente muy bien álbum. -aún no sé si es para mí 4 o 5 estrellas
#247/1001. On the other hand this hits my soft RnB spot, on the other hand it always seems to be a chore to listen through the complete album. I do own it, but probably listened through it only once before. It wasn't helping too much, that I had accidentally Spotty on random, playing some songs at random order, and when I thought I disabled it, some kind of ai-shuffle was turned on. So I had to restart to hear the album in the intended order ...and that was two days ago or smthn and I am nearly finishing. Soft, full of soul, whispering, partying, rapping, nice tributes and covers - but also this yodeling - or whatever is this rnb overuse of vibrato called (not as bad here as in some other cases). So sort of mixed feelings - 5/5 songs and overall sound and production, but somehow the texture and the mood stays the same mellow yellow (tangerine? Like the cover?), the spoken interludes (school room recordings or whatever they are) get old very fast (basically in the middle of first occurance of such). So little by little after 77 minutes the 5 star tasting is eaten out...
Dit album voelt als thuiskomen. Vanaf de schoolbel aan het begin is het één groot feest der herkenning en emotionele verbinding. Ik ken dit album al heel lang, heb het vroeger op cd gehad en kan het moeiteloos meezingen. De combinatie van soul, hiphop en R&B voelt nog steeds warm en tijdloos, en de samenwerkingen met o.a. D’Angelo, Mary J. Blige en Carlos Santana versterken dat alleen maar. Het is een album dat zowel licht als diepgang heeft, persoonlijk én universeel. Los van nostalgie staat dit muzikaal en thematisch nog steeds als een huis.
That was ok!
I listened to this one for around 3 hours during the course of the week. At a first listen, due to the fact that I generally don't like rnb and the 2000s sound of hip-hop, I felt like this album is a 4 by my ranking. But after giving it another chance, diving into the history, it would be criminal to not give this one a well-deserving 5. She's an amazing storyteller, and the songs are all incredible in their own right. I think the second track is the closest to what I usually like, but I now love more than half of the songs on this one. The impact it had on music as a whole and hip-hop can not be understated. Easy 5
Loved the story the album told and liked how funky it was. Otherwise, it wasn’t really my cup of tea.
Already loved this album I love Doo Wop and Everything is Everything. Great songs love this one.
I sold this at target. Only DEI fanboys and fangirls would buy it, says enough about the album.
Very enjoyable hip hop. Creative song endings that are actually interesting to listen to.
lauryn hill is the goat. rnb, hip hop, reggae, she can do it all
Eigenlijk is 1u en 17 minuten veels te lang voor een album, maar dit is toch echt zo goed. Jammer dat deze vrouw een arrogante aars is, maar goed, dit album wordt er niet slechter van
Dit is high key een van de beste albums ooit. Als je naam Joran is en je geeft dit een 3 zijn al je meningen verder invalid
Jos had nooit kunnen voorspellen wat ik dit album ging geven
Ja bangers.
Wat moeten we hierover zeggen wat nog niet gezegd is. Wat een wereldplaat, echt oneindig replayable. Weer een vermoeiende persoon die ik een hoge rating moet geven. Zal ook niet de laatste zijn. Edit: ik vergeet altijd dat die Frankie Valli cover een ding is. Zo'n zeldzame cover die vele malen beter is dan het origineel. Cool.
1. Intro - N/A Is an introduction track and will not be rated. 2. Lost Ones - 5 The flow is very good and the lyrics in the verses are great but the choruses are very dull and the bridge between the first and second verse is easily the weakest part of the track. It comes off as filler. 3. Ex-Factor - 9 First of all, what an amazingly powerful voice on this track from Hill. Lyrics are brilliant, especially in the verses, but the choruses are incredibly smooth as well. All this builds to a fantastic guitar outro that is breathtaking. Awesome track. 4. To Zion (feat. Carlos Santana) - 7 I can't get over how good Hill's voice is. What an incredible talent. The lyrics are solid and Santana's play on the back side of the track is phenomenal. 5. Doo Wop (That Thing) - 6 The rap verses are great but the choruses are too poppy for my liking. Overall the rap part is fantastic, especially the opening ninety seconds. 6. Superstar - 5 The verses with the raps are sublime but the choruses are really dull in tone, pass, and lyrics. Bit of an annoying track in this way. 7. Final Hour - 10 Massive track. The flow and the lyricism is supreme on this track. Fantastic verses with some absolutely intense lyrics into a chorus that is simple enough to offer only a small respite before another intense sermon of lyrics. Absolutely brilliant. 8. When It Hurts So Bad - 7 Decent love song with some really solid lyrics. The range of the tone on this track is what is the most impressive for me and Hill navigates it so incredibly well. 9. I Used To Love Him (feat. Mary J. Blige) - 2 Notes are just held for way too long needlessly and it makes the pace way too inconsistent. Really hard track to get into. The background vocals aren't very pleasant and a lot of the time there's a second set of them that tries to go overtop of them that makes Hill have to overpower on top of both and it becomes a complete crash of vocals. 10. Forgive Them Father - 9 The line about everyday people lying to God too is fantastic and lyrically this is an insanely good track. Not a huge fan of the pitch in the chorus but overall it's fantastic. The rap is super strong as well. 11. Every Ghetto, Every City - 3 Tempo is good, pitch is better, but lyrically it's very cheesy. It's a song completely about reminiscing but it just doesn't stand up to the test of time. 12. Nothing Even Matters (feat. D'Angelo) - 1 Really poor track. The clicking/clapping sounds that replace what should be a light snare or percussion is super off-putting. The lyrics are insanely repetitive to the point where the song becomes a chore to listen to, and they eventually crash into each other from both D'Angelo and Hill. Very poor composition. 13. Everything is Everything - 8 The strings on this track are massive. Them setting the pace and beat is a hugely pleasureful touch. The non-rap part of the lyrical are very good. The rap is solid but some of it is a bit over the top. Particularly the part about places Hill has played shows at produces dull moments but overall it's a really good track. 14. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - 4 Hill's voice in this track is excellent but it doesn't necessarily move me. It's just and excellent exploration of her talents as a singer. 15. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You - 6 It's an okay cover. Some parts are enjoyable, mainly Hill's vocals. Some parts an unenjoyable, like the beatbox opening the track (although on the underside of the track it's great), and Hill's brief MC at the end of the first verse. 16. Tell Him - 7 Fun track. Really good lyrics and a fantastic exploration of Hill's vocals yet again. Fantastic beat and flow on the track make it a great ending to the album. Average Rating: 5.93 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 2.97 Rounded Up: 3 Stars
not really my thing
Not for me.
Looove Miss Hill !!
Another one I just don’t get. Yeah, I bought it when it came out but thought it was just ok, a decent set of generally slower hip-hop songs with more then a few that sound a lot alike. Being ranked so high on so many multi-year lists of best albums baffles me. 2.5 rounded up because there was one intro track but no interludes.
Yip
Niet helemaal mijn ding. Maar zo op de achtergrond prima.
90s rnb
Really good, became a personal favorite. I love how comforting it sounds. Sounds like im helping mom in the kitchen as a kid :)
Another childhood classic
This is certainly not he first time I've listened to this record, but it's always a good listen. I don't keep this on regular rotation, but I probably should. There's a reason it's on every "greatest hip hop records" list. Lauryn Hill's voice and flow are phenomenal and the beats backing her up are great. It overstays its welcome just a bit, though. Cutting her cover of "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" to be a single b-side or something might have benefited this some, if nothing else.
Awesome, she is a force here. Glad for the push to listen to this one front to back
She may not pay her taxes but Ms. Lauryn Hill did make a classic album
Annoying
Lost Ones Doo Wop (That Thing) Final Hour When It Hurts so Bad I Used to Love Him Nothing Even Matters
Was a bit nervous when this one popped up, just because I’ve heard so many folks rave about it, and I was worried I’d walk away thinking it was over hyped. Happy to have been proven wrong! This whole album is dripping in influence - it seems every artist in the 2000s heard this and immediately wished they had written it. Can’t blame them! My second 5 star of this challenge!
loved it. top to bottom every song was a treat to listen to
Excellent Album
Favorite songs: Ex-Factor, Final Hour, Can't Take My Eyes Off of You
One of my fav albums of all times. Ita timeless. It taught mw a lot and helped mw through tough times. Fav songs: Tell him and The miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
dope record
This was already one of my top 10 albums going in!! The musicality is unbelievable, with powerful lyricism and emotion. I think Lauryn Hill also showcases her mastery over multiple genres here. Long live Lauryn.
Not my jam
Ex-factor is a great song. Love hearing the sample that Drake used in nice for what. The Guitar toward the end with the beat is very smooth. Carlos Santana guitar is a vibe. Hearing Doo Wop makes me think of early 2000’s and also all the songs that sampled it. Powerful sound, experimental, pioneer, real life stories, struggle, reminiscing, raw talent. This album has a very strong presence of soul and it really moves you. Very strong messages throughout the project. Really enjoyed this listen. I can see why she is a star and why new generations are listening and becoming fans. Definitely would listen to this project again.
Vahva 4
Getting a "reading Lord of the Rings vibe" - struggle to get through the entirity of the album
I’ve never understood the hype of Lauryn Hill. It’s fine I guess but nothing spectacular. I knew Doo Wop (That Thing) and Everything is Everything. I didn’t like any of the other songs.
rapper-singer Lauryn Hill comes in strong on her debut album as a solo artist, conceived of in the wake of her trio, the Fugees, going on hiatus. "Lost Ones", is a hard-knocking, barred-up introduction which boldly declares Hill's desire to prove she can go it on her own, and has some particularly strong words for, let's face it, fellow Fugee Wyclef Jean. I mention "Lost Ones" out the gates not just because it's the first proper song on Miseducation, but it's also my favorite by a pretty comfortable distance. yeah, unfortunately I'm just a little bit cool on this one compared to most, and there's a few reasons for that. now, this album famously swept the Grammys, and I think it did so for pretty good reason. Hill is at the top of her game here as a vocalist, waging a war on both melodic and rapped fronts that's really impressive. the music is extremely well-produced, a more radio-friendly approach to the neo-soul sound that was shifting the ground beneath the feet of Black American music in the 90s. and that's sort of my main personal gripe; from a production standpoint, this feels a little too inside-the-lines to me compared to something like Brown Sugar or Baduizm. I think it's good that we have a take on this sound like the one Miseducation presents—balance in all things and whatnot—but as a musician, when I listen to neo-soul records like this I really like to hear other musicians digging in. songs like "Superstar", "When It Hurts So Bad" or "Every Ghetto, Every City" feel like they're just a little too polite for me on the instrumental front. there's also Robert Glasper's allegations that Hill failed to properly credit the musicians who performed on this album as writers for many of its songs; Hill is credited as sole songwriter on many of these tracks, and that just doesn't feel right to me. this isn't me doubting her abilities as a musician, mind you; she more than proves with this album that she could sing and rap with the best of them, male or female. I'm just saying that we all saw her play guitar on her horrific MTV Unplugged show. and finally, there's the fact that, to this day, this is Lauryn Hill's only solo album. while the strength of her performances here and on The Score speak for themselves, I feel like this surely has to be disqualifying as far as including her in any kind of "GOAT conversation," right? even Jay Electronica, who was famous for years for failing to release any albums at all, has four of them out now! and if half of his albums can be trash (which they are), surely Hill could lower her standards just a little and follow this up with something, anything more substantial than that MTV Unplugged show, which is still her most recent solo material to this day. I feel like in order to be in the running for Greatest of All Time, you have to be fucking up the game for more than two albums, right? I know she's done quite a bit as a featured artist since then, but it's clear that her erratic behavior, in both her personal and professional life, has really kneecapped her ability to truly capture the public like she did in '98. she doesn't seem to respect her fans very much! so, yes, while Miseducation has lots of great moments (the D'Angelo duet "Nothing Even Matters" and the cover of Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" are my other big highlights), I feel like it's lost a bit of its luster with me over the years. if anything, I find myself going back to The Score more! I have to respect what Hill accomplished here, and just how important this album is in the history of Black American music (especially how many fellow women it inspired!), but it doesn't leave quite the same impact on me as it used to. strong 7/10.
Impeccable flows, little glimpses of Stevie Wonder and some amazing musicians collaborating. Definitely one of the best albums of the 90s.
A stunning album. Beautiful soul and R&B songs interspersed with some really engaging songs. All I knew coming into this was that it was considered a classic, and boy it’s really easy to see why.
Totally not my genre but a couple of tracks made me slow down and listen. To my ear, the tracks on this album vary from unbearable to pleasant.
Intro: 8/10 Lost one: 6.4/10 Ex-Factor: 5/10 To Zion: 6.2/10 Doo Wop: 7.8/10 Superstar: 5/10 Final Hour: 5/10 When it hurts: 5/10 I used to love him: 5/10 Forgive Them Father: 5.2/10 Every Ghetto: 4/10 Nothing Even Matters: 4/10 Everything Is Everything 4.5/10 The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill 3/10 Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You: 6/10 Tell Him: 6/10
- a smooth mix of rap, r&b and some groovy ass guitar riffs - lyrical genius fr - les longues interludes de certaines chansons me gosse un peu - i get why its a classic now - meilleure chanson: doo wop, ex-factor
As a youngster, I was a huge Fugees fan. I was 12 when "The Score" came out, and it was huge. Everyone in my primary school had a copy, and it was a regular topic of conversation. But weirdly, even though I know a lot of the songs on Miseducation very well, I think this is actually the first time I've listened to Lauryn's album the full way through. I love the concept. A classroom discussing love in between the music, and it works really well at creating a narrative thread through the record, bringing discussion points to the table without ever sounding pretentious or peachy. The songs themselves are great too. Blending genres seamlessly, I'm hearing bits of reggae, soul, folk, flamenco, jazz, doo-wop and of course hip-hop throughout. The use of live instrumentation makes a big difference here too, helping the music feel more human at a time when hip-hop was leaning toward the synthetic. The interpolation of "Bam Bam" into "Lost Ones" is inspired, feeling like a clever and unique homage to Sister Nancy's much sampled track. The same technique for turning The Doors' "Light My Fire" into "Superstar" is less effective, but it's a rare misstep in this excellent collection of tunes. Standout tracks are "Ex-factor" with those swirling harmonies, bluesy soul vibes and fantastic lyrics; "To Zion" with Santana's intricate Spanish guitar work; "Doo Wop (That Thing)" for its mix of hip-hop with 60s doo-wop (it's in the name I guess); "Every Ghetto, Every City" for its superb Funkadelic inspired stanky funk. But for all of its genre hopping, homage paying and direct interpolations of other artists' tracks, every song ends up sounding "very Lauryn Hill". I think that's what's so great about this album: as varied as the music is here, it still maintains a consistent voice and identity from start to finish, something only Lauryn Hill could do.
Love this album
What else can be said about this masterpiece. It dropped like a bomb in '98 & we are all still effected by it. Everything about this album from flow, lyrics, music, interludes is a master class in production. It's a classic that still holds true today.
Do I really have to write a review of one of the most influential female Neo-Soul and Hip Hop albums of all time? This record is stacked with beautiful songs like "Ex-Factor", "Doo Wop (That Thing)", and "When It Hurts So Bad". The combination of her lyrical skill and one of the greatest voices of her generation makes it hit on every level. Even the cover of "Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You" is overflowing with soul and groove. Her impact still shows today. Some of the biggest modern Hip Hop artists have built huge records off samples from this album. Drake with "Nice for What", Kanye West with "All Falls Down", and J. Cole with "Cole Summer" are just a few obvious examples. She is an all-time legend, and this album belongs on every serious greatest of all time list. 9.5/10.
Listening Notes One of the greatest debuts of all time? The greatest one and done of all time?? The production is so clean, the vocal performances are unreal Carlos Santana, Mary J. Blige & D'Angelo features too... c'mon Standouts: "Lost Ones", "To Zion", "Doo Wop (That Thing)", "I Used to Love Him", "Nothing Even Matters", "Tell Him" First time? No Will it go into your rotation? Should be spun more often
I've heard this album before and remembered liking it but I don't think it has this aura of greatness and amazement that I think people laud it on the regular. It's good! I like the beats, her reflections, and can see how this album is important to show a woman's views on life and love. But it's not moving me which is disappointing because I LOVE her voice.
Очень понравилось, хотя рэп не очень жалую. Классная лирика и заедающие хуки. Альбом звучит очень цельно как единая история.
5/10
Very good album.
her tone is something else. insane. love ex factor
Didn't know I would like hip hop that much
Ok. Valjda sm že slišala za ta album & par komadov poznam, nisem pa nikoli celga poslušala (spet sicer, zakaj 16 komadov? Zakaj 77 minut? Less is more, največkrat.) "Lost Ones" je hud, poznan od prej. Gledam credits za naslednji komad ("Ex-Factor") in vidim en kup znanih imen (Wu Tang!). Eh, vidim, da je sample od njih uporabila, zato. Sm se že veselila jih slišat, lol. (Aha, gledam naprej in očitno bojo The Doors samplani v "Superstar".) "Doo Wop (That Thing)" je verjetn njen najbl znan solo komad. In je čist kul. Zj k poslušam album, sm se spomnila, da sm ga že vsaj enkrat poslušala - v bistvu so me te vmesni odseki, k se nek razred zgovarja z učiteljem od ljubezni, spomnili. "Final Hour" mi je tud hud. Mja, mal je predolgo tole. Uf. Sicer čist všečno.
Definitely my favourite so far!
★★★½☆ it's alright, i like doo wop, it's a classic. from the first five tracks, my ears got tired from how repetitive the bridges are whenever she would rap, i usually do not mind but they're all quite similar. i prefer the tracks where her singing voice shine the most like tell him, superstar, ex-factor. as beautiful as to zion is, it's far too gospel-y for my taste, a lot of tracks in this album is quite religious (i like lauryn hill's like water) and personally, i feel a bit of disconnect from tracks like to zion and other songs and a lot of the lyrics as hill's sprituality and her expression of it is not necessarily one that resonate with me. that being said, it doesn't make the music any less beautiful, there is a disconnect in my part which may be why i'm not as blown away by this recrd as the others. the production in this album is really fun to listen to, it's a gift that keeps on giving. currently, it's a 3.5/5 for me overall, i like a lot of the tracks individually but currently, i wouldn't say i would play the whole album on repeat since there are parts that are quite grating (the repetitiveness of some rap tracks for most part).
I enjoyed this one way more than I remembered liking it last time I listened. It's one of my girlfriend's favorite albums and I think I internalized the time she went to her show and Lauryn made the whole crowd wait two hours, came out performed one and a half songs and left for the night. Not cool, but on its own the album is a banger's paradise.
All time killer. No skips
Yeah I love it. Not as keen on the slower songs but I love her voice rapping or singing.
I wish I could skip the numeric rating for this record. Who am I to quantify this album "out of 5" after Ms. Hill has been so thoroughly scrutinized and demeaned for the last ~30 years? It feels crass after the music industry hype machine completely chewed her up and spit her out. Instead, I'll just say Miseducation sounds so ahead of its time for 1998 it's crazy.
Apple Music thinks this is the greatest album of all time… it’s not
From one soul diva to another but the contrast between the two is stark and this is a huge step up in quality. Just lush production combining that 90s hip-hop sound and some classic soul with live instrumentation I can hear the influence of this on Little Simz for sure with the fusion of styles. The only thing that marks this down really is its length. Not that there’s anything that’s not good on here but with a runtime of 77mins, sometimes less is more. The cover of _Cant take my eyes off you_ for example is not necessary.
3.5 pra 4
a música com o Santana é nice but I'd just rather listen to Santana instead then álbum interminável e não fiquei com vontade de re-escutar nenhum track. I might be missing something já que é TÃO criticamente respeitado, mas it might just not be for me.
Late teenage memories ahoy. Some beauty here. Love her voice. Everything is Everything too, what a tune.
Loved the instrumentals and the story-based lyrics. Old school beats with some funk/jazz vibes, electric guitar... It did feel a bit repetitive by the end.
7/10
Super aolid vibey r&b; I feel like it’s not the type I could connect to on a lyric level but it’s fire nonetheless, screams cunty.
Classic one
In 1998 we all thought that Lauryn Hill was going to release album after album of greatness, but alas, all we're left with is really this. And it's so good. So, so good. When that bass kick comes in on Doo Wop after that bouncy little piano part, it's soothing 90s all over again. While Doo Wop was played everywhere, this mix of acoustic folk, hip-hop, jazzy influences, and singer songwriter across the whole album just plain works in Lost Ones, Ex-Factor, To Zion, and Forgive Them Father. This was everything that was right with the 90s. Initially, I thought 4. But I'd listen to this about any day, any time. So it deserves a 5 and so it will be.
really good production and lyricism. An album that undeniably changed modern R&B and has been a big influence on modern hip hop. Doo wop (that thing), Every Ghetto Every city, and everything is everything were standouts to me but lyrics on To Zion and Last hour were incredible
The classroom interludes really elevate this album for me.
A little long but I understand why it is as popular as it is
i’ve listened to this album before but it’s timeless i understand why it’s so admired
2.5
I've never listened to this album but I've been hearing about its iconic status forever. Time to change that! I like the use of guitars throughout the album. The musical arrangements in general are all really nice. Tons of cool unique instruments are utilized and it sounds very rich. Hill's voice is nice and deep and powerful, and her flow is great. Standouts on this listen for me were "To Zion" "Final Hour" and "Every Ghetto, Every City." Overall it's a solid album. A bit on the longer side. Easy listening with some great lyrics and sound. Not my exact cup of tea but I appreciated my listen. Easy to see why this album crushed when it debuted. I probably won't listen to much again, but for folks who love R&B it's a good one for sure. 3/5.
This album surprised me how much it lives up to the mythos as one of the standards of hip hop history. Full of bangers and source material for rhymes through the decades.
I liked it!
So good!!! This album was fantastic and so interesting, I really loved how she had a teacher teaching in the songs
Genuinely just a really good album, I enjoyed all of the songs
Not for me
I was hoping I'd come back to this and like it more, but I still have the same problem as my last listen. Almost every song is like 2-3 minutes too long, and it just makes the album such a drag to listen to. If you can cut your album 20 minutes without cutting a single song, then you have a problem. Also by NO MEANS the best album of all time, no clue what apple music was on with that one. Favorites: Ex-Factor, Forgive Them Father, Everything Is Everything
flowy and powerful sound - feels like you're being carried by her vocals throughout the whole album and never touch the ground. really vibey combination of rhythmic and cool rap but soft and mellow rhythms and melodies
R&B is not a genre I typically listen to but I’ve been meaning to get into it more recently. This album was so freaking good. The production was beautiful and the vocals and lyrics were just as amazing. I’ve had a few songs from this album in my playlists but this was my first time listening through the whole way. 9/10
1. intro was cute had a little spin very uniquie i love 2.not what i would usally listen, i lover her voice. head bop song. can barely understand what she i saying, not the fan of the music. 3. not my style of music, her voice is absouluty amazing tho it is very fitting for this genre of music. no smth i would personally listen to. 3.chill laid back. i dont like this genre of music at all im sorry i think i might jst stop here because i know i dont like it and ima fall asleep, ik its not very open minded of me but its only day 2 i will find smth i like here
Its a great record, i fear im a little clouded in my jugement by how iconic its been around me but i wont fight it this time. Final hour, Doo-Wop, To Zion and the eponymous track put me in great mood
An amazing album but not my type of music
I really like this album. Not my first time listening - It's pretty great.
One of the absolute best albums of all time.
lindo lindo lindo
Owned the cd. Still like this one a lot
Queen Lauren
perfect album
Love the features all over this album. “Every Ghetto, Every City” has such a great groove.
Had some bops that I recognized
Utterly refreshing, I really liked it, defining figure, a legend, not a minute wasted, consistent quality thoughout the whole album :)
Banger always good to listen to Lauryn Hill
2⭐️ not my usual style or genre songs I already knew: doo wop (that thing) fave new one(s): can’t take my eyes off of you cover
So many influences such as sister Nancy in the beginning of the album. Also noticed some samples were taken from this album to make some of favorite current songs. Such a great album for so many other reasons.
love this album so much <3 the queen herself!
Bangers after bangers, very chill
Oh fuck yeah this is the best album ever.
Концептуальная пластинка, женский рэп, неосоул – на словах звучит довольно интересно, но в реальности это не так уж и интересно. Тем не менее, местами это достаточно приятная музыка. Лучшая песня: Lost Ones
5/10 Disappointing. Musically boring and repetitive. Obviously the lyrics are strong, but they didn't particularly connect for me.
I came in with high expectations and now I'm disappointed. It's not bad by any means, but certainly not among the great albums I've heard. Also, I know skits were a big part of the genre but they still annoy me. They don't add anything.
Claaaic
I never had a listen on the miseducation of Lauren Hill but never the less I've only heard good about it. This record provides a big and colorfull soundpicture. Sometimes it sounds like a rap album but sometimes not. For me personally, I'm not that big of a rap fan, if there is not a significant melodic part in the song. However, it turns out listening to this record is very satisfying. It offers those melodies that feel sweet to the ears as if my ears where eating honey. At the end of some songs there is a little talking part, I suppose those are recordings from some kind of function. I personally would acquire this album in physicle form, if given the possibility. I'd like to rate this album a 8,5/10!
was really good as expected!!!
2nd album is proving to be VERY difficult ... !?
Geil!
Love miss Lauryn Hill
Very nice and soothing. Lauryn Hill has one of the most recognizable voices out there and I love it. Active listening though gets a little boring. The music tends to roll over itself, blending together in to a wonderful blanket that makes it hard to pick at a single thread.
I’m not only about That Thing. The other tracks are good too
This still pops today! Although I think it feels overly long and repetitive in spots. (I mean, it was the 90's but still). (3.5)
I have to admit, it's a very good album. Not totally my kind of music, but I found myself jamming along to it. So, maybe it is somewhat my kind of music. ;-) Super groovy basslines. Great voice and singing, of course. Full of emotions and a firm stance. Not a new favorite of mine, but anything below 4/5 would be dishonest.
This record defined the neo-soul genre by seamlessly blending aggressive hip-hop lyricism with organic gospel and reggae textures. It utilizes a concept album format featuring classroom interludes that explore themes of love, God, and maturity, inspired by Carter G. Woodson’s book The Mis-Education of the Negro. The album broke major barriers for female artists, becoming the first hip-hop album in history to win the Grammy for Album of the Year. "To Zion" features Carlos Santana and serves as a deeply personal manifesto prioritizing motherhood and spiritual values over industry career pressures.
her style is SO unique - i loved it - no skips for me
Really good... love the groove in the scratching. Lauryn clearly enjoying herself. I even liked the schoolkids between the songs.
I've always hated R&B, so avoided this one. Glad I discovered it through this - love the beats, the thoughtful lyrics, the inbetween dialogue, the production, all of it. Definitely putting this on rotation.
Not my cup of tea but some nice easy listening tracks with a beautiful voice
GOAT
Really good. Makes you think about a lot of things.
I know this is a classic R&B album. There were only a couple of songs I definitely knew. It touched a lot on the concepts of love, religion, and the black experience.
4/5 — a must for those who enjoy the genre. Production and arrangement are outstanding — harps, brass, record scratches, classical guitar, and other sounds flow throughout the album, enriching the solid structure already present for each song. Despite the veritable army of instruments and outside influences that back this album, nothing feels out of place. Lyricism ranges from average to excellent; spoken word delivery is a little hit or miss too, but as a whole the album delivers well on the vocal front, especially when the choral and lead portions are considered. My personal favorites: Lost Ones To Zion Final Hour
Recognized the name and Doo Wop (That Thing) but didn’t really connect with the album or style otherwise.
Well produced and easy to listen to.
It's a great album, and one of the few times I've really enjoyed a female rapper. Lauryn has a great flow. The production is also very good. I'd say a few too many songs lean on borrowing previous hit tracks for hooks, and that means it loses some of its kudos and value for me.
Of course it’s phenomenal. This one’s on here for a reason. Great skits that actually progress the album, incredible voice and at a perfect point in her career.
Deserves all the hype! It's a masterpiece Best = Ex-factor/The miseducation of Lauryn Hill Skip = NO SKIPS
She sounds so fantastic in this. And for a long album, the songs are consistently good. Really wish she had a more prolific career, but thankful we got this.
I mean, yeah I totally get it. Very fun to see where all the samples came from
Such a beautiful album from start to finish but the things that “Tell him” made me feel when I first listened to it was so insane. What a masterpiece.
been there, done that, and i will always come back here. 10/10 every listen
first time listening to a Neo soul album, I kinda love it, It's a vibe for sure!
Liked the Fugees, and have a passing like of the genres this exists in; soul, r&b, rap and reggae (more so old school to be fair for all). I didn’t really pick up on this when it came out after hearing it, since then it’s been lauded consistently, and now is somewhat labelled best of the best ( but to be fair to any record given that title over time, SPLHCB, petsounds, what’s going on, it’s a redundant idea that self aggrandising arse like rolling stone mag push for their own sense of self importance). So revisiting today, it’s good, it’s got good flow, it’s a pleasant listen, if you like this kind of music it’ll probably be a 4 or 5, if you don’t it is unlikely to convert you, and you likely still wouldn’t like it after listening, it won’t sound anything groundbreaking. To me, yes I own a physical copy but own thousands of albums, it’s nice, when it’s on. But after listening today not looking to revisit anytime soon, so it ain’t that “special”, as said for me - 3.5 Star
Lauryn Hill is iconic . What an amazing album
4,5 / 5 + Strong Highlights really tie the album together, feels like a full album experience + it's powerful, beautiful, sensitive, full of Heart and Soul and really uplifting + It becomes way more than the sum of its parts - it can get really cheesy, lyrically, compositional and from production - the feature tracks feel the weakest to me Fav: Lost Ones, Ex-Factor, Superstar, Doo Wop (That Thing), Forgive Them Father, Least Fav: Nothing Even Matters
It definitely suffers from the same problem of so many 90s / early 00s albums: it’s too long and would be much better if it was made to fit in 47 minutes
more like miss education, am i right guys? huh? no? 2.5/5 rounding up cuz it was pleasant enough but lets all be honest with each other, they ain't gonna be spinnin' this one in a decade
Ooohhhh jazzy r&b????? Count me in
Already listened to this one, one of the heat hiphop albums
really good, just not my thing
Top ten.
I tried my best but unfortunately this was not for me. I enjoyed the instrumental but not really my jive.
Ive already listened to this a thousand times, but it can always become 1001;)
i had a different expirience than what i remember, still not really my type tho i know objectively its great
Ikkje så fan
Generational album
Pretty decent. Nice singing and production. A little samey and nothing super special for me
It's a classic, it's great. Just not exactly up my alley.
WOW WOW WOW! What a phenomenal album. Really enjoyed the listen.
Cute! Great album, but I don’t get the hype. All the talking at the end of the tracks is a little annoying. Favs: Everything is Everything and Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You
Done
I’ve heard this one before! It’s great. Not number one of all time like that Apple Music list put it as, but arguably up there in top 20. The lyricism is phenomenal, and the skits add so much depth to it. There’s a great, cohesive flow to the whole thing. Genuinely phenomenal.
not sure if it is among 10 best records oat, but it’s certainly important for the way music developed, for the way women and especially women of clout were perceived in the industry, but most importantly- it’s just a great flippin album about the greatest flippin thing in the world- love. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
It was fine. Not my jam
Good album experience, current favorites are To Zion, Doo Wop (That Thing), and Everything is Everything. I had more to say at one point but was working and traveling all day so I can no longer remember specifically.
Love the funky bass line on Every Ghetto, Every City. Man. Should've listened to the full album years ago. Already has some of my favorite songs. Super pretty beginning to Nothing Even Matters. Lauryn over here trying to make me cry...The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. So soulful. Classics for me: Can't Take My Eyes Off of You & Doo Wop (That Thing). Those two have gotten me through many miles on the road. ;) Think the melodic ostinato in the guitar for Tell Him is also very pretty. I also just really like her lyrics. "Let me be patient, let me be kind. Let me be unselfish without being blind." I want that too. :)
Really fantastic R&B album & super impressive vocals but sometimes her runs felt so excessive, I know that’s typical of the genre but dang girl!! Anyway not many complaints here Fav: Ex-Factor
my freaking goat
I can see why this album is glazed so hard but I just really don't fw R&B anymore
Listened Before: Yes Wow. Listened to this about a year ago and thought it was just fine, but this morning it's hitting just right. Excellent vibes all throughout. Fav Song: Ex-Factor, Doo Wop Least Fav Song: probably the skits
Lauryn Hill has a great voice; politically (social politics) charged lyrics that are super cool
seminal hip hop album that effortlessly shifts into and out of r&b. not my personal favorite nor my pick for the greatest album ever, but this is the real deal and i'd much rather listen to this than anything Tool ever put out deserves to be one of the 1001? of course!
I have listened to this many times and it still sounds great. The lyrics are soft in their delivery but hard in what they are saying. I really enjoyed tell him. Would give it a 3.5 if possible but it’s too good for a 3.
Who remembers when Drake sampled Lauryn Hill and brought her long lost magic to a whole new generation? That was so original and generous of him and without that kind of exposure maybe this album would've been lost to time.
Oon varma et tää levy on julkasun jälkeen jaettu jokaiseen vaatekauppaan, joka on olemassa. Tän tyylinen R&B on just semmosta mitä ei jaksa juuri ollenkaan. Niin tasapaksua ja löysää meininkiä.
Kyllä tämän nyt läpi kuunteli, mutta mitään ei jäänyt käteen, ei edes kasaa paskaa. Siitäkin huolimatta annan kakkosen.
Joo ihan hyvää ja varmaan aikansa suunnannäyttäjää. Ei vaan itelle nyt kauheesti lähe tai riitä ymmärryXet. Joten perusvarma.
Muistelisin että tätä olis tullu joskus synkkinä yläastevuosina kuunneltua, mutta ei nää biisit kyllä ihan hirveästi kelloja soittanut. Ehkä enempi sitten kuitenkin Fugeesia tuli tykiteltyä. Ihan kivoja biittejä ja tietysti huikeaa äänen käyttöä itse ms. Laurynilta. Biisit itsessään on ehkä vähän meh-osastoa, mutta siltikin posin puolelle tämä kääntyy, mennään kolmosella.
Can I give an album 6 stars?
J'ai bien apprécié ! C'est différent de ce que j'écoute d'habitude. J'aime bien le fil directeur, avec l'éducation et le professeur (?) qui parle à la fin de certaines chansons. Mais l'album m'a paru un peu répétitif et long. Mais c'est peut-être parce que je n'ai pas assez écouté pour bien différencier. Mais je retiens bien les 2 premières que j'ai beaucoup aimé. Belle voix et bon flow. Le rap est très bon
bops left right and centre. such a cool album. listened in the car.
Good stuff but this is a looong album. There are some real standouts and then some just sort of there tracks but this is definitely worthy of 1001 album list. Top tracks: "Everything is Everything," "Doo Wop (That Thing)," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," "Lost Ones"
Everything is Everything might be my favorite R&B song of the late 90s. Amazing music video. Always thought it was brave of her to say she hated white people, but like, same, girl. Loved the Fugees back when, always appreciated the flow. This does lose me a little in that the album is long, and the songs are all pretty long. She has a lot to say, and she's great at it. But I have the attention span of a gnat.
--Intro... --Lost Ones...great beat. her ability to switch between S-tier rapping and singing is possibly unmatched --Ex-Factor...I don't generally like pop music that lasts 5+ minutes. Hill is a rare exception --To Zion...okay, maybe 6 minutes is a little long --Doo Wop (That Thing)...classic --Superstar...keeps the groove going --Final Hour...headphone head bopper --When It Hurts So Bad...this bass hits real hard --I Used to Love Him...great R&B --Forgive Them Father...the great vibe continues. the length is starting to get to me a little --Every Ghetto, Every City...oh, we getting funky now. great groove the entire time --Nothing Even Matters...first track I don't vibe with. veers too hard into 90s r&b cheese that's better left behind --Everything Is Everything...love the symphonic sample. the harmonies. so much is happening here --The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill...I appreciate the record scratches. nice piano --Can't Take My Eyes Off You (hidden)...a fun cover --Tell Him (hidden)...I had hoped this would be a cover of the Exciters song but this is also good
Zion is a banger.
Banger after banger after banger
I liked the reference to Sister Nancy's 'Bam Bam' and then not to long after Wu Tang's 'Can it All Be So Simple' (or maybe it was a reference to the original that was sampled I don't really know). This is well made and I have no doubt it is an important record in these genres of music, I have to admit I just don't really know much about it. I have an aversion to 90's R&B if ever a chime is used and there are a couple moments like that on here but then there's also plenty of moments I found more listenable. I'm not going to put it in my rotation but I think I can say I'm glad I tried it out.
Never understood why this was so popular at the time, and >25 years later, I still don’t. Boring bog standard R’n’B production, nothing interesting in terms of tunes, and flat delivery of unimaginative lyrics most of the time. And the interludes after several of the songs with sounds from a classroom make me feel like stabbing myself repeatedly………..
This album is one of my favorites and has been since it came out in 1998. Every song is so good and this album never gets old. I haven’t listened to it in so long and it is so nostalgic!
4/5
Didn't listen to all of it, but what i heard was pretty good, it's kind of what you would expect from a pop/hiphop album and sounded pleasing. Not entirely my style but i can definitely appreciate it.
great album, knew all the words
ну нет, альбом добротный, соул, репчик, ниггеры, все классно, но моя жопа так же ощущает прохладу
Nice
Interesting harmonies and layering of vocals with the interjection of the students through the album establishing a focal point for the album. The different instruments like the timpani and the flute creates a cool mix of the style its based in and expanding on it outside of just guitar and drums.
songs i know and love but i don’t think i’ve ever sat down to listen to the album through? very enjoyable and great start. clearly the blueprint for so much music, im hearing so many samples in these songs
Da queen
Great voice, good album. The chatter and filler instead of just singing knocks it down a bit for me.
The generator was cruel with this one. I didn't like her voice or at least the vocal techniques that she used. The hip hop beat behind her was one of the most generic I've ever heard. Waste of my time.
She really does have a good voice, but as the album went on I just got more and more bored. I appreciate a concept album like this. I like the reccurring theme of love and the classroom scene. I'm not a huge hip hop fan in general, so it's not surprising I didn't love it, but disappointing. I had high hopes for it just because of how iconic it is. I might listen to a song or two from this album consistently, but probably not the whole thing.
I really liked the Fugees albums and she was my favorite part of it. This just isn’t hitting for me.
Unreal album, pioneer for females in hip hop which we love to see. Is a little fluffy though, could cut it down a little bit. Doesn’t quite cut a 5 for me but I’m not mad if you do give it to this
Great album but not the best as they said
An all timer, To Zion always makes me tear up a little bit
I never got into her
Very soulful R&B blended with hip-hop. Lots of good tracks and beats off this record. I can see why this is credited as one of the albums of all time. Shame I hadn't listened to it fully before. Ms. Lauryn Hill I was not familiar with your game until now.
Iconic - as expected Best Song: Doo Wop (That Thing) Rating: 9.0/10 Stars: 5
Such an interesting album. I didn't hate it and wasn't expecting the break between songs with the classroom atmosphere. I'd listen to it again
Great album. Nice mix of hip hop, r&b, and soul. Lauryn has a great voice and delivery. Every song is good. I could do without the skit interludes attached to end of most songs - I don’t want to hear that in a shuffle - would be nice if those were separate tracks. Favorite tracks include Ex-Factor, Doo Wop, When It Hurts So Bad, Nothing Even Matters, Everything is Everything, Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You, Tell Him.
One of the best hip hop albums of all time.
Not a go to record for me but I do enjoy it. Lots of bangers.
It can be tricky when an album (or any piece of art or culture) carries such a strong reputation and cultural cache. It open things up to a greater degree of scrutiny. I think if you over-scrutinized this album you’d probably be able to find some things you don’t love about it. But for me it really is as good as its reputation. An important cultural item from a supremely talented artist.
Amazing
On the one hand there is a lot to like here and it isn't hard to see why this album is considered a classic. On the other hand the music isn't really up my alley and can only hit so hard as a result.
Football commentator Jonathan Pearce loves this album apparently. Does he have good taste in music or is this just one of those albums that had hundreds of thousands thrown at it by the record company and became popular because it was unavoidable? Right, so she has a great voice - she can both sing and rap with equal aplomb. But like a lot of modern R&B records, it has the sort of production that smooths out all the rough edges. It's AOR for the 21st century. As a rule, inoffensive = popular, unfortunately. There's a great record in there somewhere, but it feels sanded down. I like to catch a splinter or two off of the music I listen to. Also, wayyy too long!
A masterpiece.
3.0
Possibly the coolest R&B Neo Soul album ever, 9/10
Enjoyed it but not amazing. Not likely to listen again hence 4
10/10
Very few people know that Len Houmous was a consultant on the film Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit and Lauryn’s character was actually based on Len himself! 4.5 9/16 I Used To Love Him
God, this is good. I've always heard it's legendary stuff but only in the last ten years heard a few songs from it and now listening to the whole thing--I get it.
Lovely singing voice, some interesting jazzy tones, good use of percussion, a certain style. But a lot of it is curiously MOR, music you'd have on in the background at a dinner party.
classic bangers mixed with nice album tracks, what's not to like
Great album, owned it since it came our and only realised yesterday that the cover is a school desk, you live and learn. Nice blend of R&B and some proper hip-hop tracks. Fair few singles worthy as well, definitely did the best out of the Fugees with her solo stuff.....
Some well polished tracks, good vocals and mixture of genres. Possibly a bit too long!
It’s not bad bad but it’s always in these sorts of lists and I’ve never really got what the hype was
Quite simply, a masterpiece.
Not for me
This would have been a five without the stupid unskippable skits my god i hate skits so much
this is a hot take from me because i do appreciate it is brilliant for what it is but i just couldn't get into it. i still give it four out of five because ms hill was such a trailblazer.
The miseducation of Lauryn hill Released 1995 aug 25th Good intro and first song gives good vibes I like the like back bounce on lyrics Drum beat is steady Ex-factor… just got better and better I love the lyrics so much Overall this album is really good Has deep meaning Doo wop- okkkk And this is one I already knew I’ve heard of Lauryn hill before but this is first time listening fully and it’s very interesting Final hour is another banger When it hurts so bad has great perc Only 1 bad song forgive them father Overall 9/10
I was not keen on this album at first but I got into it. I quite liked the group discussion on love threaded through the album. Some cool guitar in places too.
bops all around. i swear i listened to this all the way through before but ive never experienced it like this so i guess it has the ability to get better listen after listen
It was awful, she has a pretty voice if she cared to sing rather than that ceaseless whatever it is. It was annoying and irritating. I dont understand how people can say they like it.
Honestly, same review as Fugees. I get it, I get why it was popular, I hear the influence, but R&B just does nothing for me at all. It's also way too long, Jesus Christ.
This album gets a ton of praise, and I wondered how much of it was just hype. It's not just hype. Hill's voice is absolute magic in this album and the beats are great. That said, I could have done without the classroom intermissions, which made the album drag on. While I get why they're incorporated in the bigger picture, it's not something I want to hear on repeated listens. And some of the other tracks go on for longer than they need (5:51 for the D’Angelo song was 2 min too long). So for that, it's a 4/5.
I don't know if we have to judge an album by his personnal taste or in général. More RnB than hip-hop, not a huge fan of the genre, I guess it's not bad. A bit too much hoohaaaahaaa for me, easy to listen, nothing magical. Worth a 3 but really a 2.5 for me
Some RNB classics. Bangers. That being said, I do agree that it’s just too long and certain portions of the album feel phoned in. High 3 low 4. It’s crazy that this was her only project before she kind of spiralled down with her mental health.
Этот альбом ассоциируется у меня с Барселоной, как бы абсурдно это не звучало. Музыка тут совсем не подходит городу. Но я слушал его первый раз именно там. Музыка не совсем моя. Лучшая песня - Lost Ones.
This should get an 11!
Fantastic Genius
Holy shit. I've MISSED OUT on this for so long.
Cool. Not something I’d go back to though.
8/10
Regular a menos, rap aburre
4.5 if I could. It’s a masterpiece.
Fantastic album, sounds great, great songwriting and lyrics. The concept is great, and executed well.
Seminal
Quite a pleasant listen. Not something I would normally listen to. Some very soulful tracks with influences from other genres. 3.5 *
Solid, perfect on a cold winter morning
So overrated. Lauryn Hill has a great voice, but it is wasted on this generic 90s R+B. It's the rap performances which are the best (track 7 is not bad). The duets seem to be vanity appearances more than anything worthwhile. It's all a bit boring. It didn't annoy me; it's not interesting enough to do that. I just don't get the hype. I would call this album "The Meh-seducation of Lauryn Hill".
- Lost one’s wasn’t bad - Oh I recognize the sample in ex factor!! How can I explain my selfffff - nice for what by drake I believe. Actually so many samples. The bridge too! - has a song with Santana too - Doo woo is gooood. I feel like it also sounds familiar from a sample - Forgive them father- all the biblical references are cool - every ghetto every city is vibey and I love the storytelling - love this cover of can’t take my eyes off you
This is the first hip-hop album on this list that I can really connect with. Unlike the previous ones, the tracks on this album hit you right in the soul. The storytelling, the flow, the rhythm. Everything about this album is perfect! Some say this album is too long, but I am willing to give 77 minutes of my time to enjoy this soulful experience again and again.
I don't care
Good in places despite the artist, think it was better before I knew who she was.
She is an interesting talent and I liked some of the cuts. Some songs would be better if they were shorter and had less repetition of the lyrics.
Can see why it’s a classic. I like albums with a theme and that has skits between tracks. Too much over singing and repetition for me, but still a good listen
Doo woo That thing top 100 vibes song all time. This album is so good and deserving of a spot in the top hip hop albums of all time. Criticisms: a little hard to distinguish songs from each other at least on first listens, some of the lyrics haven’t aged great, skits baked into the songs sucks, probably 25 minutes too long. However, this thing does stand the test of time of being an album that if anyone I knew put on any of these songs i would be happy. Doo wop is undeniable. For me, this is a very very high four. It’s very deserving of a 5, maybe I’ll come back to it and give it to her.
This one is tough to pin down precisely because it’s become larger than itself. On the surface, Lauryn Hill—Ms. Hill, as she insisted—was a once-in-a-generation cultural force: a vocalist with a joyful, resonant tone, and a rapper with technical command, emotional clarity, and absolute conviction. The fusion of those modes was already impressive with the Fugees, but here she delivers something far more personal, musically daring, and self-authored. The complications come later. There are the lingering stories about the supporting musicians who felt sidelined by her success. There’s the question of whether her later volatility—fights with fame, faith, and bipolar disorder—ends up overshadowing the original work. And there’s the broader tension between the mythology of a lone genius and the real, collaborative labor behind this record. But taken strictly as an artifact, this album is extraordinary. Its songwriting is airtight. Its production still feels handcrafted rather than era-bound. And the emotional range—from righteous fury to spiritual exhaustion to quiet gratitude—is unusually cohesive. The fact that it stands as her only true solo album weirdly elevates it: no decline phase, no diminishing returns, no uneven discography. Just one peak so sharp and so singular that it more or less fixes her legacy in place. Whether she ever followed it is almost irrelevant. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a definitive statement—one of the rare albums where the artistic high point and the cultural high point are the same moment.
Listened to this when we got The Fugees! Such a great album.
Lauryn Hill created a perfect album here. Which is so sad because of her mental instability we'll never get anything like this from her again. The Fugees are pretty high up on my bucket list artists. But with Pras in prison and her inability to get it together enough to do shows, we just have to live in The Score and Miseducation. Which again, perfect albums that serve as a sad reminder of what could have been.