Reviews (page 9 of 15)
A hip hop, neo-soul, r&b fusion in which Ms. Hill swaps swiftly between reflective rapping and emotional singing. Smooth instrumentals where a prominent bass holds a steady groove, and airy arrangements of unique instruments fill the spaces (harp, flute). A concept album with Hill’s musings on love, which she seems to reflect more maturely than one would expect of her age. Not afraid to have extended track lengths, sometimes to a fault (almost all are a bit longer then feels necessary). A lot of good stuff here, but some that didn’t have much impact which makes it hard to justify the track length. I understand the importance and influence if this album, but it just comes off as fine to me. I’m also interested to explore it sometime again.
Really enjoyed this! Ex-factor, Doo wop and Superstar were bops
This album never gets old. What a bop. 4.5
"Doo Wop (That Thing)" has been a regular on my listens for a while but I've never listened to the full album so was excited for this one! Definitely more my vibe and can see myself having repeated listens. This album is clearly here for a reason, it's the entry into an obsession with '00s R&B, I'm here for it. "Ex-factor" has a chorus that you'll be singing on a night out with the girls after another bad break-up. I loved Carlos Santana on "To Zion", those soulful sassy guitar melodies with Lauryn's more bassy, husky vocals is fantastic. A highlight for me was "Final Hour", great lyricism with a hypnotic backing track. This one FINALLY gets a 4. Good to have a break from all the white machismo posturing.
I just love this album. Her vocal placement is just incredible and the runs on the title track had me re-listening back-to-back multiple times. It still feels thematically relevant and modern but simultaneously so of-the-time. You can tell it’s an incredibly personal project but it has many moments that capture something emotionally universal.
This is a very good album. Doo Wop (That Thing) is obviously outrageous and there’s plenty of other highlights, such as Lost Ones, To Zion and When It Hurts So Bad. I enjoyed listening to this. I don’t really get what’s THAT good about it though. What with the recent push to make this be considered one of the best/if not the best album ever, I kind of expected a bit more than what I got? I think I’m slightly put off the album by its crushing length and the fact I could feel more of my life force drain away with every new skit. I do also find Lauryn Hill kind of annoying as a person, and some of that annoyance infects the album for me. There’s a bit too much of that spiritual faux deep ‘all is love’ type vibe here, which is my literal least favourite thing in the world. That sort of thing often disguises a deep centred preachiness and conservatism, and this album is lyrically no exception. Doo Wop (That Thing) though…
Again with another classic! I have vivid memories of loving this album when I first heard it and just having it on repeat for a solid couple of weeks. So I was super excited to return to it as a full project instead of just having a couple songs in playlists. And what a pleasure it was to give this another listen, it’s an album that has this amazing ability to make you smile. The writing and rapping on this album is some of the very best, it’s funny heartfelt and always relevant with its commentary. The skits don’t feel out of place, they are quite heartwarming and they really add to the flow of the album. I think the only thing that disappointed me on a relisten was the sheer length of the album, it feels pretty front loaded and a couple of the tracks at the backend drag the project on unnecessarily. Still an incredible all time great project just overstays it’s welcome a tiny bit. 4.5/5
Truly a classic hip hop album. -1 for her personality after. 4/5
A good and ground-breaking album. While it makes sense that it's on this list, I don't find it ultra exciting in the second half, I find the barrage of skits with identical themes to be tedious, and only a few tracks were deeply memorable for me. 3.4/5 -> 3/5
нормалек. я уже повторяюсь, но к такому хип-хопу, недалекому от джаза, с живыми иснструментами отношусь положительно. напомнило алисию кис.
Totally not my music taste
Beautiful, musical, & sharp from beginning to end. Has a strong through-line (like an album should). Everything is Everything, and this album is everything. Desert-island album.
This is a classic that mixes hip-hop, R&B, and soul that is full of toe tappers. Released way back in 1998, it’s all about love, heartbreak, finding yourself, and speaking your truth. Songs "Doo Wop (That Thing)" is super catchy, "Ex-Factor" is full of raw emotion and "To Zion" is a beautiful song about her love for her child. The music still feels fresh after all these years and is one of the best time tested albums ever and a must-listen for anyone who loves music that hits deep.
Classic hiphop, kende het album al 3.8
OK
I’ve always known of this album but never actually knew the songs, it’s REALLY good, the interludes at the end of the tracks Jam the pace a tad but the songs are still good enough to keep it as a 5/5
On one hand, I’m ready to get an album from an artist I’m not familiar with. On the other hand, this album is a classic and I don’t think I’ve listened to it front to back in ages. So… bring it on! Solid album… probably a 3.75 for me. A little skit heavy, a little samey samey by the time it’s said and done… but still great to revisit.
I actually enjoyed this album overall. Lauryn's vocals, the melodies, the lyrics. Solid album.
Ok, good background groove
quite overrated
Voice like butter
Amazing vocals, great backing beats, interesting takes on classic hits, 40 syllable two letter words. The big hits are noticeable and the filler songs start to sound very similar. Great album but a bit long. 7/10
there were some real bops in there thats for sure, and her ability to change between rap and some real soulful singing effortlessly is extremely impressive. HOWEVER i dont think it's quite as good as the pedastal it's held on would suggest, in that people say that this album is an uncontested great, to which i say that it is a great album, perhaps even up there with the greatest, but i dont think i can see this being a GOAT for me. swimming between a 4 and a 5 on this one.
Typ RnB, verkligen inte min grej.
Solid but not many standouts other than Doo Wop
Banger. Great. Had no idea about this album or Lauryn Hill. Can’t believe she only has one solo album. Hoping the fugees comes up down the road. This was really good.
For me it is an okay album for a genre I don't like much. 3 stars or C.
I love her voice and Doo Wop (the thing) will never not be great. That said I just don’t enjoy this album. As good as Doo Wop is “Nothing Even Matters” is why I can never get into this style of music. But then it’s followed by Everything is Everything and I wish for an album made up of similar songs.
10/10 Favorite Tracks: Ex-Factor, To Zion, Can't Take My Eyes Off of You Least Favorite: NONE
3.75 Best songs: Ex-factor To Zion Doo Wop I used to love him Tell Him (best on the album)
9/10
Awesome album
Buen disco, no es mi estilo favorito pero tiene un rollo espectacular. Tengo que analizarlo con más detenimiento
First Album I’m rating. I’ve resisted listening to it for a long time and now it is time. Every Ghetto, Every City - Adding to my Playlist. Best song on the album. Intro - Not Adding to my Playlist. I don’t think I need to explain anything. Lost Ones - Not Adding to my Playlist. Not really my type of song. One of two songs I listened to before today. Ex-Factor - Adding to my Playlist. It draws on a little too long but I like this more than Lost Ones. To Zion - Not Adding to my Playlist. I didn’t like this song. Doo Wop (That Thing) - Adding to my Playlist. I really like this song. This id the other song I listened to. Superstar - Not Adding to my Playlist. I just don’t like the vocals all that much. Final Hour - Adding to my Playlist. This is a pretty good song. Not much else to say. When It Hurts So Bad - Not Adding to my Playlist. The vocals are kinda annoying. I Used to Love Him - Not Adding to my Playlist. About as good as Lost Ones. Love that opening but it gets worse and worse as the song goes on. Forgive Them Father - Not Adding to my Playlist. Her vocals are a little annoying. Nothing Even Matters - Not Adding to my Playlist. Very long and not in a good way. Everything is Everything - Not Adding to my Playlist. A bit better than Lost Ones. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Not Adding to my Playlist. It wasn’t that good in ny opinion. Can’t Take My Eyes Off You - Not Adding to my Playlist. The song is barely not good enough. Tell Him - Not Adding to my Playlist. Pretty bland. All in all I liked 4/16 songs. I thought the other songs were ok though and none were bad. It would’ve been a much better album if the songs were less drawn out. Also, what is wrong with Lauryn Hill? Was she always insane?
One of the most influential albums of all time. Perfect, no notes.
The little kid chats about love in between the songs were cute. It’s not a good omen when I remember them more than the actual music. I mean, it’s good, it’s fine. But it doesn’t distinguish itself from lots of other R&B music. I listened to it this morning and tonight I’m looking at the song titles and can’t remember what they sound like.
Grat
Best of the best. Soundtrack of my summer of 1998.
Very important but not to my taste.
Not really my thing, there's some real bops though. Good voice.
This is one of those albums I remember being huge when I was younger, but I never got to listen to it. I'm glad I did.
Good.
Vielseitig und nicht schlecht. Aber nicht so mein Fall (3/5), quasi keine Chance des Wiederhörens (1/5)
She’s got a stunning voice but this let down by the pretty nondescript backing.
The first half of this so good. Meanders a bit around two thirds in but still very good.
OK, not my jam. 3/5
Easy classic
83% Best: Ex-Factor; Doo Wop (That Thing); Superstar; Final Hour; Forgive Them Father; Every Ghetto, Every City; Can't Take My Eyes Off of You - (I Love You Baby) Must-Hear? Sure
Great
01) Intro - / 02) Lost Ones - 8,5 03) Ex-Factor - 10,0 04) To Zion - 10,0 05) Doo Wop (That Thing) - 10,0 06) Superstar - 9,0 07) Final Hour - 8,5 08) When It Hurts So Bad - 8,5 09) I Used to Love Him - 8,5 10) Forgive Them Father - 9,0 11) Every Ghetto, Every City - 8,5 12) Nothing Even Matters - 8,5 13) Everything Is Everything - 10,0 14) The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - 9,0 15) Can't Take My Eyes Off of You - 10,0 16) Tell Him - 8,5 TOTAL: 9,10 (91/100) Current ranking: 35/414
Good
Not a huge rap fan but holy shit
She's an OG. Need to listen to more Lauryn Hill
Some absolute belters here. Doo Wop (That Thing), Ex Factor, To Zion, Forgive Them Father and Every Ghetto Every City are awesome. Some tracks meander a bit for a full 5
Love her voice. One and done. Can’t be replicated.
Every song a banger, loving the Marley influences throughout. Liked the little interviews in the classroom too.
I understand Apple Music a little better now. Also another case of "great album that deserves better scores on this website than it has, but won't get them because it's not a rock album from the 70's or 80's or whatever"
Per usual, I can always go without the skits and dialogue at the end of songs. It felt good in the 90's and early 2000's but not quite as much now. I don't care to have to hit "skip" on a CD or even on streaming at this point. Every song has a discussion between students and a teacher about love and I'm not hear for it. This was a known issue for me since I heard this album a lot in the late 90's when it came out and was a sensation. Lost Ones Ex-Factor Doo Wop When It Hurts So Bad Nothing Even Matters Everything is Everything All of these are great songs. It's still a very good album but not quite the classic that I seem to remember.
One of my all-time favorite albums! Lauren Hill is a Classic.
I listened to this album for the first time not that long ago. Excellent debut (and only) album. Not something I'll listen to often as it isn't my style, but great songwriting, performance, and production throughout.
Not bad.
Awesome, non violent, chill
Great RnB classic from the 90s.
Solid album with some great tracks.
Great album
Vahva kolmepuol pyöristyy tällä kertaa alaspäin, koska kyllä The Score nyt vaan kolahtaa kovempaa.
For as much as I've heard great things about this album for almost 30 years now, my expectations for it were pretty high. At the same time, however, the praise never encouraged me to give it a listen before now, and I couldn't recall ever hearing a song from it either. Now that I've finally heard it, I can't say I'm very impressed. Ms. Hill sings pretty and raps well enough, and the music is put together well for what it is. "Every Ghetto, Every City" and "Everything Is Everything" are good songs, and the closing title track has some interesting choices going on musically. But overall, none of it connected with me. None of it was bad, but I didn't think any of it was very great either. Possibly it's just not my taste, which is fine. And that could be why I felt like it was overlong too, a fact not helped much by the skits (which make sense as a backbone to tie it all together, but they did wear out their welcome with me). I had hoped to like it more than I did, but oh well, at least now I've heard it. Insane to me that Rolling Stone recently placed it above Revolver and Thriller in their 500 greatest albums of all time list.
Classoc
Didn't like the filler songs as much as I thought I did. great in general
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill could either be the best or worst album to listen to after a break up, and is preferably consumed alongside a pint of ice cream and a cool pillow to lie down on. "Ex-Factor" and "I Used to Love Him" have the right bitter quality to them about separation, while songs like "To Zion" and "Forgive Them Father" uplift the listener by reminding them that there are more important things to focus on in your life than licking your wounds; for Lauryn it's her son, her (at the time) romantic partner, and God. it's a reminder that the power to rise above hurt lies in you. unfortunately there's the semi-regular reminder that Lauryn Hill is a real human being and that her life is, generously, a bit of a mess. she's had tax issues, relationship issues, performance issues, and hasn't released a full studio project since 1998. sometimes, you can see through the cracks in the project, whether it's the judginess of "Doo Wop (That Thing)" or sort of cornball throwback of "Every Ghetto, Every City" that feels a bit too desperate to return to the "good old days". on record, Lauryn Hill is probably doing fine, but i wouldn't blame you if you thought otherwise. and if she's working hard to cover her hurt instead of remove it, how are you ever gonna get rid of yours? what i'm saying here is that your mileage may vary. i, personally, think that regardless of the external circumstances of Ms. Hill's life, it's still a really enjoyable, often comforting piece of soul. maybe we're like the children in the skits -- we're stumbling around, still unsure of what love is, but always discovering what it could mean through trial and error.
As a kid, I liked The Fugees but this record didn’t appeal to me at all. Now I think it’s actually way better than The Score. My only complaint is that all the songs are way too long (which is typical of albums of the cd era.)
Lauryn Hill is one of the best female rappers and this is easily one of the best rap albums of the 90’s… just flawless
Really not feeling this one. Her stuff with the Fugees was much better.
I can hear that it’s got qualities, and I find myself liking a few of the tracks, but it’s not quite my thing. Ex-Factor, That Thing and I Used to Love Him are standouts
Lieb ich
I appreciate and enjoy. Sorry that I find the background repeat voice to become interfering and eventually annoying.
What do you call it when something is both overrated and underrated? That’s exactly how I feel about The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. This paradox perfectly reflects its dual status: a genre-defining debut that was much lauded upon its release and still sparks debate about its true ranking in music history. The album encapsulated the zeitgeist of hip-hop’s crossover success in the late ’90s and propelled Hill to an unprecedented level of fame—particularly for a rapper, let alone a female one. It shattered barriers for women in hip-hop and neo-soul, elevating the genre's artistic credibility. Revisiting the album after years, I’m struck by how well it holds up even after over two decades. The opening sequence—Lost Ones, Ex-Factor, To Zion, and Doo Wop (That Thing)—is nothing short of phenomenal. Hill’s intricate wordplay and fiery delivery on Lost Ones set the tone, while the raw vulnerability of Ex-Factor remains as powerful as ever. On To Zion, her ode to motherhood paired with Carlos Santana’s soulful guitar creates an intimate masterpiece. Doo Wop (That Thing) blends sharp social commentary with irresistible grooves, highlighting her ability to create both hits and messages. The album continues its momentum with standout tracks like Final Hour, a brilliant showcase of Hill’s lyrical precision and spiritual introspection, and Everything Is Everything, where her hopeful energy is underscored by rich instrumentation. Even Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Hill’s playful yet powerful reinterpretation of a classic, leaves a lasting impression. Throughout, Hill masterfully blends neo-soul, hip-hop, reggae, R&B, and gospel, delivering moments of genuine greatness. Her songwriting is deeply personal but resonates universally, balancing sharp, rhythmic flows with deeply emotive ballads. Recently named the number one album on Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums list, the accolade feels, at best, highly subjective and, at worst, borderline trolling. It’s debatable whether this is even the best album Hill was involved with in the ’90s (The Score with The Fugees is a strong contender). Still, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill has undeniably influenced countless artists, from Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar, cementing its place in music history. The fact that this stands as Hill’s only studio album makes it a singular, unrepeatable statement—simultaneously a gift and a tragedy for fans of her artistry. Did/Do I own this release? Yes, I own this release—if you can call a collection of mismatched, wrongly titled MP3s "ownership." Does this release belong on the list? For sure. Would this release make my personal list? It’s a strong contender because of her sheer versatility. Will I be listening to it again? At least half of these songs, like Ex-Factor and Doo Wop (That Thing), are truly timeless and deserve their enduring acclaim.
It exceeded expectations. It's a good album. I probably won't ever listen to it again, but I'm glad I did listen to it.
In my lifetime, I’ve made three or four attempts to get into this album to understand the hype behind it. My conclusion is that it is mediocre - nice instrumentals but a bit too long and few standout moments. It’s just pretty bland R&B with hip-hop drums and a bit of rapping. There’s a couple of great tracks (Lost Ones and Doo Wop), but the rest is pretty boring.
Really cool album, even tho a bit long, i think it had a great artistic value.
I ended up liking this more than I thought I would. There's a nice mix of R&B, Soul, and Hip-Hop. The story-telling was good as well. I would not mind listening to this again.
Fundamental
Very solid, I like the theme.
Widely regarded as a top 100 album of all time (and even number 1 on a lot of lists). Clearly an excellent work of art and a wonderfully composed album. Not necessarily my favorite, per se but the talent and work spent on these songs is evident. 7.5/10 (3.75/5)
Ive listenend to this before and its a classic
Pretty great album, I'm sick at the moment so this'll probably not be my most coherent review but it has some solid bangers. Still not as great as my previous album but I may listen to it time to time.
This is the perfect blend of R&B and Rap. Lauryn Hill has a lovely voice and better bars than most rappers. Front to back, this album is loaded with great songs. It’s a fantastic record, but that being said, I think it might be the most overrated album ever. Apple making this the album of all time is insane to me. I’m a big fan of the album, but I think there’s quite a few better rap albums out there let alone albums from all genres.
Muy buen disco. Es un rap pero con bases melódicas de distintos géneros (algunos temas es sólo rap).
A really nice album except for the laughs... Her voice is amazing...
This album is not for me at all. I enjoyed the Fugees but this was a struggle.
Gotta be top 3 most influential albums in hip hop. I heard a lot about it before listening and it did not disappoint
Your basic rap formula. Nothing to see here. Move along.
Yet another hip-hop album, 3rd in 10, but one that I have listened to, and like, a lot. It has recently been voted best album ever by Apple Music, it’s not that, but it is very, very good. I can hear a direct line from ‘70s soul like Donny Hathaway and Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley too. Strange that she never made another but perhaps Miseducation said everything she needed it to…
For me I always saw this album EVERYWHERE and heard all of the rave reviews but I never actually gave it a proper listen. I’m now so in love with this album that I want to be trapped in a dark room with only this album for 24hours. I now understand the hype, and a great album considering its now my usual style
Mr and Mrs. Education. That’s all I got for this intro. Can’t all be winners. Let’s see if this album can break away from our foray into Nick’s horrid Cave yesterday. Oh buddy we’re rappin’ big time. Pretty good. I don’t need the melodic chorus. Unless it’s a sample, that often ruins rap for me. Good beat, fun flow, aggressive delivery, only hampered by a reliance on a lame chorus and overstaying its welcome. This song has a good beat. Good underlying rhythm, but man is this ever not for me. The overdone vocals are bleh. I can’t do the late 90’s/early 2000’s R & B sound. The breakdown close to halfway through the track saves it. Get out of that register. THEEEE JOOOOYYYYYYY. Not good. Not for me and also not good. I’m doublin’ down. Lots of leaving the G off today. I’m enough “G” for the whole review I suppose (I am not a G). I am however, a hater of rap interludes. These barely audible talking segments are death. That thing. This song is very popular, is it not? 514 million plays. Good lord. It’s fine. More rap, which I find works better. She has an excellent delivery, but I don’t care for the melodic aspects of this. “Hip hop started out in the heart and now everybody is trying to chart.” Proceeds to do a primordial Destiny’s Child song. While Alanis has a weak grasp of irony, I’m sure even she could pick this one up. Again, the rap portions are excellent. The rest is bunk. Here we go. The flute beat, the menacing delivery. HEEEEELLLLL YEAH. Finally. Israel?? Problematic. Palestine also mentioned. Way to go Lauryn. This thing rips. More bad R & B. It’s up there with reggae and vocal jazz for genres I can’t abide. It’s so reminiscent of the early 2000’s. It brings to mind big dumb skate shoes, baggy jeans and those music videos that look like they were shot on the inside of a cheese grater. Not MY nostalgia. Big thanks to Lauryn for breaking breakup songs down to their core essence. I used to love him, and now I don’t. Easy to follow although near impossible to sit through. This is starting to really drag. This song reminds me of trying to sleep with a stomach flu. So very tired, but being roused by constant pain and waves of nausea. Oh sweet Jesus. Was this song in Shark Tale? The phrase “not for me,” continues to bubble to my fingertips. We’re at a boil now. Man. More R & B eh? American Idol vocal runs accompanied by dumb snaps and a feature from the imperious D’Angelo. Isn’t that the guy from season 1 of the Wire? Well, based on this performance, I’m hoping I never hear anything ever again from this guy either. WHY IS THIS ALSO 6 MINUTES??? The phrase “masturbatory” might apply to much of this. Certainly fits like a glove on this terrible cut. Rap portions were good. Rest of the song sounds like the backing for an uplifting montage in a Lindsay Lohan movie. It’s time to shut it down. Let’s get out of here. Wrap it up. Lauryn is vocal running past the go home light. And we’ve arrived. That could have been shaved by 30 minutes. One album of songs and one album of outros and vocal runs for the real “sophisticated music listener.” I think some albums are released for the artist, and some are released to be well received. Consideration of audience is the death of art, and despite the personal title and the frequent third person referral, this album reeked of an outward cry for validation. I think the rapping was fantastic and filled with menace, purpose, and a deft touch, while the singing and features turn this thing into a bloated American Idol audition compilation tape. A little pitchy dawg and it’s a no from me. 1.5-2 HIGHLIGHTS: Final Hour
In an alternative universe were Kendrick is a woman this is TPAB Favourite songs: To Zion, When it hurts so bad, Everything is everything Alright but not as good as most people say (rym glorified track)
lush & personal, the combination of several genres with apt, standout guitar work. complete & mostly but not perfectly consistent, a side effect of ambition. a mature understanding of love, but youthful & energetic often. a classic & the blueprint for modern funk in hip-hop & the epitome of neo-soul.
Not huge into rap/hip-hop but every so often I find a gem. My coworker told me she is a huge racist lol who knew Good shit
I enjoyed the first half a lot. Lyrics were top notch. But the beats didn't have a lot of variety per song. The second half of the album lost me with too much singing
This album is 100x better if you are already familiar with The Fugees. Lauren Hills style is way more refined here. This album will really hit if your a fan of Common, instrumentally, and conscious rap wise. I also love the concept of this record. The skits really make it a full album experience. I have to remove a point though because I do think its a bit too long. This would have been great at 45-50 mins
Banger album
mola mola pepsicola hipi hapa
I liked this album and even though I personally wouldn't listen to it I can see the charm.
Soulful, genuine and really cool.
Many wise texts, several songs which I added to favourites. Many thoughts about love while listening to it.
This is a landmark record. So good. It's interesting and sad that Lauryn Hill only made one studio album. She kind of dropped the mic and exited the building.
It had been a while since I listened to this, so I was wondering "is it really as good as I remember it/the critics say?" And was expecting to be disappointed. But, nope. Just really solid album with nearly no missteps.
Genre-breaking classic. Ripping out of the gate by telling us precisely what she's about--and maybe signalling why fame and acclaim were never going to work for her: It's funny how money change a situation My emancipation don't fit your equation I was on the humble, you on every station ...then juking every expectation by following up this hip hop track with the lovesick 'Ex-Factor'...before juking again to the gospel-inflected ode to her first born son, 'To Zion.' & that's just the first 3 tracks. It's weird to almost think of her in the same veing as Amy Winehouse since Amy is gone - but it seems like maybe fame did a similar number on Ms. Hill, making it impossible for her to put anything else on this level out. I guess we should be grateful we got this album at all.
one or twp bangers, but the rest just wasn't it for me
2stars
One of the most overrated albums of all time
Exceptional
Great hip-hop/R&B record, such an easy listen even with how long it is. Can see influences for future artists and many songs that have been used as samples now. Really solid album all around, maybe slightly lacking the pop some others have that keeps it at a 4 for me
I think this is the first album in the 70-odd that I've been presented with on this project that I feel everyone should listen to at least once in their lives. It is very clear that Ms Hill poured her heart and soul into every recording on the album, and the result is quite beautiful. I would give this album 10 stars if I could and it's definitely going into my Tidal library.
The album is seamless from start to finish, from lovely vocals to expressive lyrics in the rap sections. Not to mention excellent production which overall makes for an amazing album. I think for me though it just doesn’t quite get 5/5 and I think that is down to personal taste
sooooooo boring. Nothing much going on in terms of anything. Just a pain to sit through.
Liked this way less than I thought I would. Tell Him is an all time classic though! Don’t much like the rest.
Smart, confident hip hop, with reggae and soul running through.
I guess you had to be there. Wait, I WAS there! But I guess you had to be there and care about the Fugees and Lauryn Hill, which I didn't at all. This is isn't bad, in fact she has a nice voice and she does that neo-soul thing pretty well. But musically it starts to blend together preally fast, and the album is REALLY long so I lost interest after a few songs.
I just can't stand this kind of early Century soul/hip-hop. Good for her though.
It wasn't bad at all... That's just too distant from me so I can judge, I think. But looking at the reputation of this one, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill deserves its spot on this list!
This was recently named the best album of all time by Apple Music. I can get behind that. I like Lauren Hill enough. I remember how much her videos were on TV in the late 90s. I had been looking forward to listening to this one but I didn’t really vibe with a lot of it. I honestly like the Fugees album better.
One album after giving Skepta a (high) two on the basis of interludes and excessive length, we have this which also has interludes and is even longer. But this gets away with it because of the quality of the material. Hill's voice, whether rapping or singing, is great. The singles are excellent (esp. Doo Wop). Slightly drops off in the second half, but still sneaks into a five.
Outstanding album but I think understanding the context behind the songs and the general hip-hop/rap landscape at its time of release is crucial to fully appreciating it.
There was a LOT of fuss made about this album when it first released and I know at the time this put me off a little. It had been a long time coming but revisiting this album has been an awesome. It’s pretty timeless. It’s probably a 3.5, but I have rounded up to a 4.
This was one of the albums that was bought as part of my high school CD buying / sharing group - I always loved it when it was my turn! 'I used to love him' and 'Everything is Everything' are two personal faves, I'm not so big on 'Doo Wop' and a few other tracks - but this album still stands up well today and I loved having it on all day today. This is an awesome album for Hill to put out after the success of Fugees The Score (which I also love) full of passion, heartbreak, self love and female power. I have always enjoyed the little skits between tracks in albums, and I remember this one coming out while I was in high school, so I think I really connected with the concept. This album is very nostalgic for me, so this will probably influence my rating - though to be fair I think it is an amazing album of a powerhouse performer (even though sounds like she might be a bit problematic as an individual)!
pô a lauryn hill mandava demaissssss
é o único album dela. imagina ce fazer UM ALBUM SÓ e ser a maior pedrada do r&b/hip-hop das últimas 3 décadas. que absurdo. é, tem jeito não. vou te falar que eu conhecia o album mas nunca tinha escutado absolutamente nada dele. achei lindíssimo e singelo, a lauryn hill consegue ser vulnerável, direta e até agressiva quando precisa, sem medo nenhum. muito bem produzido, super bem feito. nem quero parecer precoce, mas acho que esse é um dos melhores da lista, de verdade. no mais, fiquei hypado. dois dias seguidos com 5 estrelas tô animado.
It was alright... Bit waily though.
impressive
Fantastic
Loved the interludes/intro etc
Nice for what? Like her voice, decent
I remember this being pretty big when it came out, but I didn’t give it much credence. Listening now, it was okay but not mind blowing. Went on too long and too many skits in my opinion. Definitely not as awful as some of the reviews I read. 3/5
lives up to every piece of hype
Listenable R&B. Lost Ones, Superstar and When It Hurts So Bad the highlights
For some reason there are only 3 songs with legit melodies. Also, for some other reason, about 85% of the lyrics on this album are echoed. This is not as good as I was hoping it was going to be. Extra star for a popular music star making an album that is very different than what was commercial at that time.
It's an incredibly moving album. Beautiful and mature.
Love the vibe. Enjoyed it thoroughly.
Not as good as I hoped.
Classic!
Nice to get around to listening to this album, and it did not disappoint.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a classic, perhaps the greatest melding of hip-hop/R&B, soul/reggae. It’s a feminist statement of power and independence. Hill is a fantastic lyricist and M/C first and foremost 9.1/10
Look, autocorrect, it’s Lauryn. Just let it happen. This is a good album. Lauryn Hill has a fantastic voice, her rapping is sharp, and the songs are well-crafted. There’s a lot to appreciate here. That said, I feel like she leans into over-singing at times, which can be a bit much. And I absolutely could not stand the skits, intros, and outros scattered throughout the album. They felt intrusive and took away from the overall experience. If there’s a version that cuts all that out and just leaves the songs, I’d prefer it by far. Standout Track: Ex-Factor Score: 3/5
Here's another hip-hop album I've been meaning to listen to for the longest time. However, unlike the Wu Tang album, I don't think this one quite lives up to the hype. It is still a very good album and she is a great singer, but I just wasn't a huge fan of many of the beats, they were just a little bland. Also this album is too long, I think there is an edited down version of this album that is a lot better. Some of these songs just drag on a little bit (like To Zion or When It Hurts so Bad) without changing things up too much. Also a pet-peeve of mine is tagging skits and stuff onto the end of songs, they should be their own tracks so that they don't come up on shuffle. I do like the interludes though, they tie the album together. Low 4.
My review disappeared.
What a voice she has. This is supremely musical and she brings the voice to match. The songs are shape-shifting, rap, soul, singer-songwriter, pop not able to contain or express her. That she wrote, arranged, and produced the record is beyond even the Grammys she won. Magically poetic, simple and magisterial, a record for the ages.
That thing is a classic ear worm, although I love to substitute Bad for That - I think it has more oomph. I don’t like her cover of Too good to be true and the rest of the songs fade into obscurity. I remember when the album came out and there was such an outpouring of admiration and love for it. I didn’t get it then, I don’t get it now. I quite like the punctuating speech fillers. It reminds me of watching one of those classic 80s films where teachers inspire poor kids. But mostly it’s Bad Thing Bad Thing Bad Thi-i-i-ng!
I'm on both sides of this one. You can hear — even feel — the talent Lauryn Hill has, and she's got production credits and writing credits and she can clearly sing. And the smooth flow of the entire album is a plus. But an hour in and I was feeling pretty tired of this, partly because it seemed more about the groove and the vibe, and those distinctive harmonies, and I didn't have songs to hang onto. I also feel physically worn by the eight-notes per note vocalizing. I guess it's impressive, but I've never been a huge fan of that singing style — certainly not as a feature throughout. Oh, and I liked the schoolroom theme for the interludes — that landed with me. So this is better than a 3, but I'm not personally there for more after this one listen. Good stuff to set a mood, but I'm not ready for another active listening session.
There are a handful of classics on here, no doubt. The production and arrangements are on point, and Lauryn has talent as a writer, rapper, and singer. But the skits annoy me (why was this such a popular trend?), and her melismas drive me crazy. This would be a 2 for my personal enjoyment, but it gets an extra star because it influenced so many great albums.
Now I get it. I loved this
I found it pretty boring. Nothing offensive but nothing exciting. A glass of water. 2.5
A fine album. Doesn't live up to the hype, and the background ambient discussions don't really add much, but a solid good listening album.
Sick, couple bangers
Amazing, generation-defining album.
Smart, great musicianship!
I know it’s important. It’s not my vibe.
Didn’t make it alll the way through yet but maybe that also says something?! Hmm
A solid album with a few standout tracks. But I probably won't listen to the album as a whole much
I really enjoyed the rapping sections of this album and thought the albums theme was interesting. I didn't care for the more R&B styled sections or Hill's singing voice though, so it's a 3
Already listened this album
Great vocals and drums. Gets a bit boring after a while though. I also like the conversations about love blended in the intros and outros
It's a good album. Hip hop and rap aren't really my thing but still had a great time listening to this one.
Good stuff
I knew the reputation of this and had heard a couple of the singles before, didn't think much of it. But listening to this again now I really enjoyed it, played it through 3 or 4 times in a row. Honestly I could do without the rap - the CD works best as just killer R&B. On "Ex Factor", for example, they just replace what might ordinarily be a freestyle with a guitar solo (a pretty good guitar solo!), and it works perfectly - that might be the strongest song. It's not a guitar CD though, the feature is vocals. Hill is a strong singer - a high B to low A - and she's complemented by some wonderful backing vocals. Witness e.g. the chorus on "To Zion" (another standout), where you get real belting from Hill and heavy gospel backups, perfectly executed. That's in contrast to e.g. "That Thing", which I'd heard before, and yeah it's kind of catchy, but I think it would be a better song if they cut the rap and skipped straight to the truly lovely choruses (there's also a quasi a-capella bridge that works wonderfully as well). Among the songs that are really rap, the best to my mind is "Everything is Everything" - not coincidentally because it dispenses with a relatively short freestyle early, and is mostly oriented around the very catchy hook. And I'd take "Forgive Them Father", with those lush backing vocals, over the main single as well. But the real highlights are the all-singing tracks, including the title track, which features Hill as a soloist most completely. I'm also just a sucker for concept albums or albums with a framing device. The teacher skits in the intro and the end of "To Zion" and "That Thing" don't really do anything for the music. But they tie the whole thing together, they give it a narrative - it just makes it more fun to listen to as a unit.
I gave this 4 when it topped the Apple Music list because I don’t think it’s the best of all time. It’s definitely really a 5 tho.
Ganz ok.
3 out of 5. I saw this album everywhere back in the day. It didn't do much for me but I can see how people say it's influential.
Another game changer. A brilliant album that changed the world. ‘That thing’ is a stone cold lay down misere classic. The sketches are decent. The album flows. It’s perfectly sequenced. It opens the game wide open. Still hugely influential. 30000 stars. Genius only has to be genius once. So with no follow up (so far) her position is secure. If her next album is Happy birthday in A quarter flat minor with Lauren intoning the ingredients of a dog food can in monotone she’s still a genius.
I bought tickets to Soulfest 2015 in Sydney almost solely because Lauryn Hill was scheduled. I was devastated when the festival was cancelled a week out. But earlier this year I saw Lauryn Hill perform a Miseducation 25th anniversary show in Sydney. She had the flu and almost no voice. She apologized profusely, sang mostly in her lower register, and by the end of the show her rapping sounded like a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. But Lauryn Hill on her worst day (and I'm sure she would think this was one of her worst shows) was awesome. She gave a performance that left everything out on the floor. She was gracious, generous, and giving to the audience. I am firmly of the belief that Lauryn hill is one of the great artist of our time, and that is mainly on the basis of this album. The songwriting is personal without being self-obsessed, and covers an encyclopedia of emotions. The tunes are great. She can sing like an angel, and her flow is outstanding. There is so much in here, Even the deep cuts are gems that offer up a lot. I often drop 'Lost Ones' into my DJ sets; it wasn't a hit, but it bangs. This album helped restore my faith in hip-hop, after nearly a decade of increasingly violent gangsta albums. I could live without the skits (a common complaint with hip hop albums), but otherwise, this is as close to perfect album as I could imagine. I could listen to it every day. At the show, she did say she had more music and that it would get released, and I really hope that is true. Miseducation is a wonderful album encompassing the concerns of a young woman, and Lauryn Hill has a place in history even if she never releases another else. But I believe that she has another album this good in her that could speak to her experiences as a more mature woman. I would _love_ to hear that. I hope we all get to hear it. Can't wait.
i like ex-factor and the one with d'angelo
Enjoyable and interesting at times, but it often didn't seem much better than other R&B stuff I've heard from the era. I can often appreciate the greatness of an album even when I don't enjoy it, but it's harder for me to see why this album is so acclaimed by some. The production is great and the vocals are good, but the songwriting didn't really wow me (apart from a few tracks)
Pretty nice sounding music, however it can be a bit repetitive and samey at times. It does feel very long and does feel like it overstays its welcome.
Was alright
..
I mean, does it deserve anything less?
So much 8th grade class recordings. Too long and overrated, it was a struggle to listen to the entire thing.
This is one of those albums you hear about and think, "surely it can't live up to the hype". Then it does.
Dragged a bit this, few bangers tho
oh come on. no contest. 5 stars
Overall some well-executed R&B, even if some of the rapping sections took me out of it a little bit
Estoy enamorado de este disco, del concepto, de que se oiga pasar lista en la clase, de todo. Un disco perfecto ejemplo de esa época y de todo lo que me gustaba del hip-hop/rap o lo que sea.
The production on this is immense. Also there are surely very few people as good at both rapping and singing. This album earns its long runtime more than some previous albums on this list but still drags a bit. The first 4-5 songs were absolutely flawless though, especially Ex-factor, that might be the best r&b song I’ve ever heard.
Enjoyed the story telling and cohesive nature of the album. Overall it was a nice hip hop album with a little bit of soul/r&b twist. I was a little surprised one of my favorite Lauryn Hill songs "Can't take my eyes off of you" was on an extended version of this album but not the original tracklist. Favorite songs were: 7. Final Hour 8. When it Hurts So Bad 12. Nothing Even Matters 8/10
I like this album, but I don't love it. It's long and I don't think the length is doing it any favors. It blends together and the sound gets a little old. My favorite songs were "To Zion" and "Lost Ones." I also enjoyed "Ex-Factor" & "Can't Take My Eyes Off You". If an album is going to be over an hour long, it should have a good reason to do so. Making it this long and so similar across the record dilutes the coolness of the sound. That being said, the sound is dope and Ms Lauryn Hill has an amazing voice. 7/10
This is a modern classic. It transcended boundaries at the time and brought forward a new wave of femal hip hop stars that followed in her trail. The soul, the voice, the composition and songs are all top tier. Having the balls to leave Everything is Everything to the second last track of an album lasting over an hour is amazing for the time. Its a shame she is now as mad as a bag of cats as id have loved to have witnessed what she could have gone on to do
One of those highly regarded albums I've never listened. to. And now that I have, I never will again. Do not understand the hype - there is some nice music underneath some of the rantings and wailings, but nothing special.
Some tracks are pretty good, like Lost Ones and Every Ghetto, Every City. Not sure it warrants being an hour and 15 minutes long. It gets boring about halfway in. At least it's something different on this list
She was one of the women that created a foundation for female rap in some way with this album. Even though I think 2-3 songs are really great but the rest is sometimes a bit boring. Still a good album to listen to.
Mid to high threes, a classic.
It's got some 10/10 songs, but it's not The Score is it?
Outstanding
I forget how good this album is. Such a good lesson
love this album, just great
I feel like most flaws/problems I might have with this album are mainly the length of any album from this era of music, which would stuff their length with filler songs. It often makes for inconsistent listens and this album is no exception of course, but I feel like it manages to be better thanks to the variety of beat choices, instrumentals, influences and even people that Lauryn picks on each song, it's a palette that is wide but still manages to feel homogeneous which makes me understand the people who think of this album as a whole being more than the sum of its parts because even if some songs felt like they would be too long or drag it still didn't take me out of the experience or made listening significantly worse. Even if I don't return to the entire album I would still be willing to return to many of the songs on this album
That Thing is great, rest was okay
This is what rap should have stayed at
Great album, although slightly overrated (I mean come on Apple, the greatest album ever?). So great blending of rapping and rock like instrumentation on some songs and R&B infused rap on others. 9/10
I don't remember this album being this long, but I still look back on it fondly. A neo-soul/R&B classic, the former Fugees member Lauryn Hill was inspired to pursue a solo endeavor after giving birth to her first child. You can hear and feel the emotions poured into this record, as Hill draws on the complexities of different types of relationships, her recent transition into motherhood with an ode to her first son ("To Zion", which is like 2 minutes too long but features some slick guitar licks from Carlos Santana), and her faith with many biblical allusions featured throughout ("Final Hour" & "Forgive Them Father"). A pretty versatile album in that you can label it as soul, R&B or hip-hop, with some incorporation of gospel and reggae too. Fit right in during the neo-soul breakthrough of the late 90's, but has also aged pretty well 25+ years on. The covers never really landed for me, but "Doo Wop (That Thing)", "Ex-Factor", and "Everything Is Everything" were and still are longtime favorites of mine. This may have been her only studio album, but Lauryn Hill certainly left a lasting impact with it.
Alright it were! Felt a bit same ish, but that's also consistent? Hmm It was interesting, not sure I'd seek it out again, but glad I've heard it! :)
classic
Well this is a very good album I have to say - it’s a good positive snapshot of its time and Lauren Hill is on fire here.
Since rap has never been a genre that I really enjoyed I was hesitant to listen this and then I surprised myself with starting to think that by Ex-factor this might be one of my new favourite albums. Sadly after Doo Wop (That Thing) i found myself being less and less captivated with the songs and really feeling the fact that almost every song on this album is 5 minutes long. Maybe I need to sit with this and give it another listen but for right now a 3 is really the highest I can give this, which hurts since so many people love this album, but it just hasn’t fully clicked for me yet.
-1 tane bile 90 bpm üzeri şarkı yok. -R&B türünde bir albüm -Mutlu şarkıları ortalama bir albüm (90 üzerinde bir tane bile yok) -Puanım 1/5
It's ok, maybe would be better if I listened younger. It's DNA is in everything RnB afterwards so maybe that's why. Beats are ok but sometimes repetitive. Drags out. Not the best album ever as I was led to believe To zion, Superstar, Nothing ever matters
Now this is an album that I had high expectations for. I mean, how could I not? Between Apple Music calling it the greatest album ever made, the overwhelmingly high praise I've seen for it online, and my own experience with Lauryn Hill's former group Fugees, there was a lot of high pressure for me to like The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. So, did this album meet my expectations? Of course it did. This album's phenomenal. Would I call it the greatest album of all time? No. Absolutely not. However, aside from that one list, this album is properly rated. It truly is as amazing as people have said it is. Lauryn Hill was my favorite part of that Fugees album, so hearing her get to shine on her own here was great. Her singing and rapping is impeccable. Of course, she isn't totally alone. The features on this album are quite strong. The skits actually add to the theming of the albums, which is something that they kind of need to do. The actual songs are all great too. I especially love "Doo Wop (That Thing)." The themes of the album are also nice. The focus on things like love, spirituality, and gender are very welcome in an album like this. Despite lasting for 77 minutes, this album really doesn't drag. It's a bit long, but the time is spent well. Overall, this is a wonderful album that serves as an excellent showing of talent from Ms. Lauryn Hill. This album is truly one of a kind. Literally! She only released one album. I guess that technically makes this her worst solo studio album too. Let's not think about that. This album's amazing. 5/5.
I've been waiting for this one. And it delivers.
Sehr coole sound sehr nice vibe au wenn ichs ned wür selber lose sehr guet
2/5 Great artist, really good musically, just not my taste.
A highlight of the 1990s that holds up very well. I would love to see an unauthorized Lauryn Hill biopic - seems like a real character.
This is actually my second listen to this album in this project, as I got it before joining a group. Sadly, I didn't leave any notes from my first time, but did give it a 5, I think largely on the weight of its reputation. Regardless, it's a fun listen, and while it's far too long (and occasionally too winding), it's an incredibly solid debut album (and curiously her only solo album), with a great mix of Fugees sounds and her own style and distinctive voice. I particularly enjoyed "To Zion", "Doo wop" (and the awesome split-screen 60s/90s video) as well as the very Fugees-inspired "Forgive them Father" and the fun and creative video for "Everything is everything". I suspect if she had been more selective in the track list, I'd have probably given it 5 stars again, but I guess the second listen showed me some room for improvement on a very solid album....
I was really looking forward to this having heard so many good things about it so perhaps my expectations were too high, but I wasn't blown away. Sorry, Lauryn.
Ok i remember this album and it was one of my Moms favorites. Going to listen again as an adult and see how it holds up. I’m actually older than my mom was when she bought this album. Should be interesting. Ok it still holds up. To Zion was always top track and still is
This is one of the flagship R&B/ Soul / hip hop albums. It's personal, focused, and has a lot to say and a story to tell. I don't love all the 90s/ 00s R&B where it's a lot of singing without real hooks and this does fall into that sometimes but those moments are relatively far in between. The way these tracks are big and grand yet still catchy is always impressive. I haven't listened to this in a while and it's crazy how much hip hop and r&b after extensively sampled and in some case, just ripped off tracks on this. Drake's 'Nice for what' samples so much off of Ex-Factor it could be considered a remix. All in all it's timeless and as for R&B there isn't anything in the lane that comes close in quality.
IIRC I had really high expectations post-Fugees The Score and bought this album at the time. Was a bit of a let down for me. Listening to it now, I feel the same way.
I remember this being a very big deal when it came out because it pushed the boundaries of soul, r&B, hip hop, and a bunch of other genres and it was especially big because a woman was doing all of that. I really prefer the songs where she's rapping vs just singing as I don't think her singing is particularly great (though it is perfect for her style). What I can say is that if this was made today the producers would absolutely ruin everything by digitally "correcting" her voice, which would take away quite a bit of this album's appeal. The way Lauryn Hill sings matches the instruments and beats really well precisely because it isn't perfect; it's a grittier type of singing set in songs with instrumentation that would traditionally require a much more r&b type sound. I guess that's credit to her and her producers for coming up with it. Has a few of those ever present 90's skits in it but there have been much worse offenders than here and they're sort of themed at least instead being a voicemail recording. Annoying that they're embedded in to the tracks though. I general I think this is a solid album and a good capture of the innovation going on at the time in the r&b and hip hop spaces. The second half drops off a bit (though maybe in terms of pure musicality I like Every Ghetto, Every City the most out of the whole album), but overall it's very listenable today and carries an important message.
I remember how big of a deal this was when it came out. You couldn't go a day without hearing "Do Wop (That Thing)". Coming back to it 20 years later it's still a bop. This album is dated but the talent and production are still there. It's an enjoyable listen with a deeper message I'm probably missing as a suburban white male.
gem
Not bad, but lost me in the second half. Should have been only one half anyway. Something about this exaggerated R&B and soul vibrato singing makes the music feel hollow and unauthentic to me. I just don't buy that you feel every single line of every track that much, Lauryn. The melody is not that captivating and the lyrics are not that profound, stop acting.
My expectations for this album were pretty high, so maybe this is my fault. I think if every song (I mean it, all of them) were at least a minute shorter, this would be more digestible and thus easier to appreciate and enjoy. She's got a great voice and this record is produced well, but it's too bloated for me; it gives me too much time to notice things I don't like. It doesn't help that most of the songs are paced similarly and some of the top line melodies are indistinguishable. I guess I'll have to listen again another day. Highlights: Doo Wop (That Thing), Everything Is Everything, Can't Take My Eyes Off of You - (I Love You Baby)
This album was excellent from start to finish. She's a great rapper, the reggae sounds worked in really well and I liked the beats, plus thought-provoking lyrics. Rating: 5
When this album first came out, people went apeshit and I never really got it. I still don’t, I just hear a decently done R&B album with some rap elements. 3.3 stars
Smooth as heck. Could’ve done without all the talking.
Three all-time great songs a couple good ones, but most were just mid
If I could give this 6 stars I would Ridiculously iconic Favs: literally every single song cannot pick one
One of the best albums of all time. Standout tracks (all of them are, but these have been my faves for years, all 5/5): - Ex-factor - Final hour - I used to love him - Nothing even matters - Everything is everything - THIS is the song I heard in Paperchase, I typed the lyrics on my phone (before Shazam), found this album on Spotify and I ended up not listening to anything outside of this genre for the next two years LOL
She has a terrific voice, still sounds as fresh 20+years after it's release.
Iconic rap/R&B album.
I did like that not every song on this album sounded the same -- as far as hip-hop goes for me, a decent album to have on in the morning for breakfast and chores.
Straining to listen to this amelodic Soul Hip Hop mix.
Another great example of how hip hop can be something more than what it is now. Not all the songs struct to me, but it felt insanely satisfying to find To Zion, a track that's been stuck on my head for decades.
Decent, but didn't really offer anything too memorable to me
Bajsplatta.
Not my vibe, not my type of music. I liked that one famous single, but otherwise it was just a bit too much for me. Not a bad album though, from an outsiders perspective.
16 tracks of solid no thank you. Oddly Lauded as breakthrough, she has a good voice but little else. Musically dull at best
Alright
I enjoyed the songs where she sings (she has a good voice) but the rap and hip-hop did nothing for me. I'm neutral on the reggae flavored cuts. Overall, just an okay listen for me. Kind of overrated. And way too long.
The album that became the nexus of the hip-hop & neo-soul movements of the mid-1990s. Lauryn's raw approach to her lyricism and soulful vocals are iconic, revealing an earnestness and sincerity that is almost completely absent from today's hip-hop landscape. The album's lengthy runtime and a couple less-than-stellar cuts hold it back from a perfect 5. 4.5/5
This album was an absolute game changer, I first listened to it when I was a teenager and I feel like it gave me so much perspective and understanding of the world. The miseducation of Lauryn Hill was actually my own education
Every song is 3 minutes too long
Just not really my cup of tea. A couple of alright tracks but I just got bored quite quickly.
Really doubting between 4 and 5 stars. I feel not every song is for me…
I had always heard a lot about how good this album is but never got around to listening to it. Now that I have, I can say it lives up to the hype. Great songs, great writing, great production. It's all there.
Really soulful and beautiful, no always into the rap parts, but really cool.
niks kunnen uitluisteren... mismusic from lauren
For the greatest album of all time that was pretty shit.
Loved having more than just a series of songs for the train ride to start my week - we got an interesting concept too! Had me turning up the volume to hear those classroom scenes, the atmosphere was great. A genre I'm totally at sea with and yet I can tell the songwriting is brilliant. Thoughtful lyrics and lovely voice to listen to
A bit long, but man are there a lot of reviews here that are unfairly negative. This is an amazing album with incredible range. I would drop the interludes/skits. Far too many and the album would probably be under an hour without them, and it would be easier to put some of these on playlists. My god, though, so many of you chuds are so incapable of enjoying female artists or rap of any kind.
All time classic for a reason
I know many people love this album, but it’s only okay to me. It’s certainly not bad, there just isn’t that much that interests my ears.
Couple of good singles (Lost Ones, Doo Wop) but the overall album is more disappointing that I remember. But a great opportunity to mention my favorite Lauryn Hill lines...(from the Fugees song "Zealots") “And even after all my logic and my theory, I add a “motherf*cker” so you ignant n*ggas hear me"
Pretty good. Not as good as I remember the critics raving about when it came out but some overall good songs.
It went on for a while, not a massive fan to be honest
Kinda boring honestly. Not much differentiated one song from the next. The little classroom sections were interesting and felt organic but it was still 77 minutes long with not much happening
Mjög smooth og gott stöff. Eldist eiginlega mjög vel bara miðað við 90's stöff. Aðeins of löng og nokkur lög þarna sem hefði mátt kötta. Heilt yfir fínasta fínt.
Þetta er mjög flott plata hjá Lauryn, allt mjög vandað og vel gert. Frábær lög eins og Ex-Factor og Doo Wop. Á klárlega skilið allt það lof sem hún fær. Þetta er því miður ekki tónlist sem höfðar mikið til mín, gtípur mig ekki alveg.
Strong point of view from beginning to end.
3/5 Didn't like it but didn't hate it, not my style of music
do not enjoy this one
Utter tosh
What an amazing album. Lauryn blends hip-hop and neo-soul with touches of reggae, and does it all perfectly. Her voice is absolutely incredible, the lyrics are deep and thought provoking, and the music production is top tier. This albums deserves all the praise that it has received over the years.
One of the only double albums with a justifiable length. One of the only album to use interludes in an original way that doesn’t feel forced or time padding. The songs themselves are fantastic, introspective, and beautifully executed. Writing and lyrics are thoughtful to the point of researched while also remaining unique to only Lauryn. Production and arrangement are both great. I own this album and always enjoy finding new things upon another listen. Truly phenomenal. 5/5
Just ok, nothing really grabbed my attention. The songs mixing reggae and hip hop were interesting, but I don't care for reggae so wasn't super into it
Hab überlegt drei Sterne zu geben, weil ich glaube wenn man Lust drauf hat macht das Album Spaß. Die Lieder aber mal einzeln zu hören ist schwierig, weil am Ende vieler Lieder Dialoge zwischen Lehrer und Schüler drangehängt wurden.
I mostly enjoyed this but it felt like it could have been two albums. Just a bit too long. This would have been two albums in the vinyl era and I think it would have a stronger presence if it was split up and tighter. By the middle of the album I had already forgotten how the first few songs went. That said, pretty much every song on their own are great. Lauryn’s voice is just full of emotion without being over the top and the music has some great grooves. Lots of soul inspirations, throwbacks to Stax and Motown. Good stuff.
What a great voice.
Still in search of the rap album I enjoy. There was promise a couple of times, but it didn't really grab me.
Nicht ein Fan dieses Albums. Die Musik hat mir nicht gefallen und die religiösen Texteile sind absolut nicht mein Geschmack.
Un gran álbum y un clásico, que pena que no sacó más música en solitario
I really have no idea what I should think of it. But I don't really like it.
Lauryn Hill was one of the first concerts I went to independently as a teenager, and I found energy and life in this album that I couldn't find anywhere else. The phrase "Consequence is no coincidence" from Lost Ones has become a mantra for me throughout my life as an inspiration to continually show up and be an active participant in my own life, and to be an advocate for myself. I think she was truly one of the great voices of the 90's, and although its sad her personal choices have kind of marred her reputation as an artist now, this album will always stand out to me as one of the greats. 10/10
I can see why people love this, but it's not for me.
I remember when this album first came out, producing some serious hit singles, seemingly keeping Lauryn Hill heavily featured on MTV's rotation in the late 90's. And rightfully so. 'Doo Wop (That Thing)' was an absolute banger that still holds up today with its catchy brass section, bouncy piano, phenomenal lyricism and rapping, and an infectious chorus to top it off. The soulful 'Ex-Factor', truly showcasing just what an amazing vocalist she is. And 'Everything Is Everything', with its unbelievably engaging orchestral backdrop only adding to the song's addictive melody. This album has everything you would want from a hip hop/soul album. The more rap based tracks like 'Lost Ones’ and 'Final Hour', where Hill hits you with great, hard hitting, bars that are up there with some of the best of the genre are definitely worth highlighting. But it's the slower tempo soul tracks where 'The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill' truly shines: 'To Zion', 'Superstar', 'When It Hurts So Bad', 'I Used To Love Him' (which, in all honesty, should have been a single), 'Forgive Them Father', and 'Nothing Even Matters'; tracks that are backed with beautiful instrumentation, absolute pitch perfect vocals with that rare raw edge quality, and autobiographical lyrics that you can totally get lost in. It's all quite simply a trifecta that is executed beyond perfection. I have always thought that Lauryn Hill is a great "what if" of the music industry, seeing as she never released another studio album after this. This is a case of the art becoming larger than the artist, and I would completely understand the fear of not living up to this album's massive success. 'The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill' is an easy 5/5. It's not just a great hip hop/soul album, it's literally a gold standard of those genres. It feels a little cliche to give it such a high rating, but I do genuinely think it deserves it. There's not a single bad track to be found and it showcases Lauryn Hill firing on all cylinders as a top class vocalist, an underrated rapper, an engaging lyricist, and a surprisingly good producer. It's just a damn shame we never got a follow up.
It has been nearly a year since I first heard The Score by The Fugees. By no means did I dislike it. But I really only remember two things clearly. The first being that I didn’t like it nearly as much as some. And the second being Ms. Lauryn Hill herself. It’s hard to go into any popular music discussion, especially one regarding the 90s, without mention of this record. It’s inescapable. It almost has this mysticism about it, where it’s more sacrilegious to have not heard it than the other way around. Apple ranked this as the number one best album of all time. And to many, that wasn’t inaccurate in the slightest. So you have to imagine, if you were in my position, I was expecting something pretty miraculous here. So, what do I think? I sort of see it. This is easily one of the most celebrated R&B albums of all time, potentially second only to Thriller. Except I can say for sure that every song on that record was iconic, and aside from a few faults here and there, it’s almost flawless. This album suffers from being super front-loaded. Lost Ones to Doo Wop is an incredible run. But it definitely loses a lot of steam from then on. There are still good songs though. This is probably the most complete sounding R&B album I’ve ever heard. It falls in with that group of records that I like to say leave no stone left unturned. It’s incredibly dense and includes every aspect of the instrumentals that should be present. It’s basically spotless production on all fronts. But this allows to speak on an opinion I have. As much as I respect Ms. Hill, because she’s an incredibly intelligent person, I feel people maybe give her a teensy bit more credit than she is deserving of. I think some have this perception that she’s like the female equivalent to Prince. The truth is this album is as good as it is because it has one of the most star-studded, stacked list of musicians performing on it and overseeing it. I feel like having James Poyser is enough, but that is barely the tip of the iceberg. Lauryn has a beautiful voice, and she provides more than enough. But listeners should also give credit where credit is due. This is still a great album though. But best of all time? I’d have to disagree. Rating: 8/10
Great album, grew up on it. She deserved every Grammy she got and it’s a shame there isn’t more follow up to this thoroughly performed masterpiece
Love this album. A lot of great songs and would definitely listen to over and over.
All I can say, it is a breath taking album. No flaws, beats are amazing Lyrics are amazing Music is unreal!
No para mí. Me pareció eterno, me fastidiaron sus inter tracks de niños en una clase definiendo el amor, y en general no le encontré algo que me hiciera disfrutarlo. Y 76 minutos son muchos minutos cuando estás escuchando algo que no te gusta.
Middle-of-the-road pop-flavored R&B, with grace notes of hip-hop and Caribbean stylings. I’ve never understood why this album is so popular: some of the singles really bang, but the rest is interminably long, the interstitials are irritating, and the lyrics offer little except, I don’t know, don’t trust people? She has a lovely voice and a creepy attitude.
One of the greatest rap albums of all time, highly recommend for anyone
Incredibily overrated album. Very few songs were enjoyable and/or memorable, the rest were filler. The album also went on for way too long which made it less enjoyable to listen to.
Pretty good. I came into listening to this with very high expectations as I have seen it listed as everything from #1 album all time to always being included in a top 10 albums of all time. Is it that? I'd say no... it's too long and gets a little old about 3/4 through. But till that point, it is fantastic.
Female MC dropping knowledge on the mic. Lauten Hill had all the crossover appeal on this one. Forever and always a classic!
Dope R&B album
I will never, ever, understand why this is rated so highly that Lauryn can still tour, and be a diva, on the back of it. A few good tracks, but so much uninspired filler. It's not that this is badly produced or performed, but it's just not for me. I was bored for an hour.
one of the GOAT albums
This is just excellent front to back. Unlike the interludes on most hip hop albums that feel so contrived and don't serve the music, these fit a n album theme and often times directly speak to the track while coming across as completely genuine and candid recordings. The music itself is just good hip hop and r&b. I didn't expect to like this as much as I did, but it's a serious winner for me.
i mean
Drags a bit in the middle I think but starts and ends strong
Good hip-hop, she sings well, however it is way too long. Stand-out: Doo Wop (That Thing)
Not the worst album I’ve ever listened to, but certainly not the best. Apple is out of their minds saying this is the GOAT. If it wasn’t for Zion and Doo Wop this would’ve been an easy 2. Good vibes throughout, but felt too long and I’d be hard pressed to say I’d listen again.
I truly do not like Lauryn Hill the person at all, but this album is a classic for a reason. I don’t think it’s a 5 out of 5, but it definitely deserves its props and a spot on the list because this album took over at the time of release. Lauryn has so much talent, and showcases her skills of both rapping and singing through the album. Sadly my opinion of Lauryn keeps from truly enjoying the album to its fullest.
Algjörlega frábær plata sem eldist svona líka vel.
Lost ones- 6/10 Ex factor- 8/10 To Zion- 7/10 Doo Wop (That Thing)- 10/10 Superstar- 7/10 Final Hour- 8/10 When it hurts so bad- 6/10 I Used to Love Him- 9/10 Forgive Them Father- 6/10 Every Ghetto, Every City- 7/10 Everything Is Everything-8/10 The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill- 7/10
good
Good album think I thought I’d enjoy it more than I did, maybe the weight of expectation was a bit too high.
I love this album. Haven't listened to it in awhile. So, so, so good.
It's 1998 and I have a great job in the city. I live in a two flat in Roscoe Village with my college roommate. I'm making a lot of money, I'm hanging out with my friends, I'm having more fun than I ever thought I would, and I'm listening to this album over and over. This album is in my hindbrain. I'm on day 6 or 7 and this is the first album with a woman's voice on it that's been assigned. I'm surprised to discover that Lauryn Hill is younger than me. I don't think I've ever heard any other hiphop songs about motherhood.
let me preface this by saying I love this album & have for a long time but, I think the clear negative or “con” when listening to this album is how much the songs overrun themselves, there’s a lot of songs that don’t have great hooks, continue on for quite some time and it just feels unnecessary and forced. Now there’s so many positives, the amount of great lyrics Lauryn Hill was able to piece together was incredible & some of these songs are classics, I truly love this album & have since I was younger & still find myself coming back to it multiple times a year. We really got robbed of a full discography of hers.
Really really liked the classroom talk setting at the end of the songs.