Reviews (page 9 of 14)
Neo soul - still sounds great. I really loved the school interludes in this one.
Haven’t listened to this for years but enjoyed being reminded! Love the little classroom vignettes in between the main tracks
OK - plenty of surprises here. I hadn't heard this before, or so much of Lauryn Hill in the Fugees. It also coincided with the discovery of a copy of the tome of 1001 records... in a holiday house of all places. Serendipitous and the perfect surrounds for the book and this album. This is album #2; but feels a more solid start to the journey.
Never listened to a neo soul r&b album before. Don't know if i liked all of it. Really liked the beats. The zion song in particular.
Never really listened to Lauryn Hills solo music. Very good
We grew up watching Sister Act 2 and I remember the Lauryn Hill hype when this album dropped. It’s influence cannot be overstated.
This has aged well
A record that didn’t just break down barriers for women within the misogynistic world of rap, it changed things for ever. Hill was better than the boys, she was the best part of the Fugee’s. With The Education of, she showed them all who was the Queen. Education has everything, and appealed to everybody. And the singles here are pure gold. Ex-Factor, with that terrific guitar solo, Doo Wop, Everything is Everything they were on permanent rotation in the summer of 98. An important album 4.5 score as I can’t give halve on the vote.
Sticks to it's theme pretty well and has some amazing songs branching across many genres. Absolute classic 9/10
There's never been a better fusion of hip hop and R&B. The feminine soul food energies on this are impeccable. Perfect start to the weekend.
This feels a lot more conservative in its perspective than I remember. It's very Christian, which isn't necessarily a bad thing (Kanye is very Christian, and a lot of his music is still good), but I'm not actually sure if the lyrics really get introspective enough for it to work on some songs. It still sounds great, though. It's weird that it sounds so good, but the lyrics aren't hitting me as much as it did when I was younger.
Great album, her rapping is great, her singing is great. The album starts with a teacher taking attendance, she's absent from class, the skits throughout tell a story, then a song follows about it, it's a novel concept. This album was everywhere when it came out, I don't know how many times I've listened to it all the way through. It's a great album
Love the big 90s hip hop beats and Lauryn has such a good flow. A classic for sure even though there are some tracks that feel like fillers
Such a good listen the whole way through. Nothing else needs to be said. Fav Track: Final Hour 4.5/5
Better Neo-Soul than Badu, but very repetitive, and the songs are not as strong as I expected them to be given the reputation of this album.
Really good album, the full listen require certain mood. Hits are awsome and already a part of my playlists
Brilliant, I'm very surprised I haven't heard of her. Good tracks Standout Track: Ex-Factor
ci sta non penso riascolterei. comunque conosciuto
Hill’s voice is incredibly versatile which helps makes this album so interesting. It’s a long album, but it doesn’t feel like it. Standout: Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You. 4/5.
Yhup
Familiar with her biggest hits, but I never gave her albums a listen. I’m happy that I did. Very good music. I will be checking out her other albums.
a, ovo je klasik. inače nije mi još uvijek petica, ali razumijem zašto je većini.
I was all set to give this 3 as I found it a bit dull, but I've woken up this morning and Doo Wop is in my head firmly and it's great and 4 stars.
oh leuk, zeker doo wop
très bon album matinal si vous me demandez
I'm starting to realize that soul/R&B isn't really my thing, however this album was about as good as it gets for this genre. I loved the songs with her rapping, wish we had an album of just that.
Een van de beste vrouwlijke rappers allertijden.
Que buen rollo para este martes-lunes(PSP). A mí me ha encantado (LNM)
Une Lauryn Hill des plus mal éduquées qui ne va pas hésiter à mettre les pieds sur son bureau et roter à la figure du professeur. L'album se termine avec un conseil de discipline bien mérité.
Les Fugees sont tout de suite plus agréables dès qu'on les débarasse de sa tribue de mauvais rappeurs.
I remember being super into this when I first encountered it a couple decades ago. It felt gritty, honest, and organic in a way that nothing else that rubbed up against the R&B genre did at the time. I remember it being banger after banger. So I expected, when I hit play, to give this an easy 5. But memory is a flawed judge. This is not a collection of bangers. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of really solid tracks here. It's a great album. The musicality is fantastic, the lyricism is off the charts, the content is fantastic, and Lauryn is a world-class vocalist. But it's not a non-stop slapfest, is it? It ebbs and flows. And, ultimately, I think that's correct. That's what this album needs to do. The content demands it. But that also means there are more than a few moments that aren't great. It drags in places. It's dated and cheesy sometimes. It falls into some well-worn and frankly tired R&B tropes here and there. There's enough that's not great that I couldn't quite justify full marks. But it's a very high 4 for me.
This really is a very fine album. Man, Lauryn can sing with true soul.
This is a classic for a reason. It's probably my personal favourite R&B album. There are a lot of great tracks on this so I won't bother listing any. Personal Enjoyment - 8.5 Songwriting - 9 Lyrics - 8 Originality - 8.5 Production Value - 10 Artwork - 10 Overall - 8.8
Laadukas ja kaikin puolin mun makuun toimiva
An amazing record. It losses pressure towards the end, being it too long, but it has enormous highs.
I feel exactly the way I did when I rated Songs in the Key of Life. Every song is good, not sure which will stick upon more listens, wish the album were a bit shorter
Great album NOT filled with expletives, but able to convey serious themes and lyrics with awesome musicality and recording quality. New respect for Lauryn Hill after listening to this work of art. Although not my taste in general listening, this is a great album to play on a chill evening with some good speakers and a glass of whatever.4/5
A great combo of hip hop and R&B. It bounced back and forth between the two so I never felt like I got bored with it
It's pretty easy to say that the 00s era of hip-hop and RnB don't exist without this record. Shame we'll never get another one. Favorite tracks: "Doo Wop", "Lost Ones", "Every Ghetto, Every City"
Mooi album, met een paar fantastische nummers. Lauryn Hill is zeer getalenteerd, maar uiteindelijk best veel van hetzelfde.
Much like Run D.M.C. or Wu-Tang Clan, this is a highly influential album, just not to my taste.
Man this album was absolutely everywhere for awhile, but it just didn’t penetrate my lily-white suburban neighbourhood. Our loss. Glad for this chance to catch up.
Not my type of music, but great album
Love the emotion and passion of "To Zion", standout is "Doo Wop (That Thing)" is a banger, so catchy. A lot of spirituality woven implicitly and explicitly in the lyrics. Album seems to lose a bit of momentum toward the end, 76 min length could've been cut back a bit.
Such a great album. This came out right about the time I started watching MTV.
Nostalgic
Very good
Amongst a sea of big screen tvs, blunts, 40s, and b*tches dominating the scene, Lauryn Hill produced this smooth hip hop original. She wrote of love, relationships, and faith. Leaving The Fugees behind her, Ms Hill shines on this solo project. I, like many others, heard that Lauryn Hill would rather have her children starve than have white people buy her album. I had to look up if she said it since it’s been so long (she did not). It just goes to show that misinformation predates social media. The main difference is that it spreads much faster now, and back then the internet was not so prolific that one could look up if something really happened. There is a lot of really good material to take in. Doo Wop (That Thing) and Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You are the peaks. However, 77+ minutes is a very long run time, and the task of sustaining a high level for that long is tough. There were a few songs for which I lost interest, but then the album picked back up. Ms Hill’s approach is refreshing and deserves the extensive kudos it received when it came out. This is the good kind of hip hop and still sounds just as refreshing now.
This CD was on repeat in my car for at least a year after this came out. Revisiting it felt good. Best track: Doo Wop (That Thing)
Haven’t heard this for so long - was like welcoming an old friend
All I can think of when listen to Ms. Lauryn Hill is Ayva Grace Holden aka Ms. Brooklyn. Daring, brazen, and influential, she holds you in trance and you aren't quite sure if you even want to be set free. You may not know who she is, but you wish you did. She may not know who you are, but you wish she did. She, she, she— just kiss me already!
This album won so many awards and I can see why. First of all, Ms. Hill’s voice is spectacular, giving major hints of Amy Winehouse (or vice versa because Lauryn came first). Second, the story was well told and I didn't hate the little outros in the songs mimicking a classroom conversation. However, some of the beats (shoutout woofmeow) were placed a but weirdly and did not mesh with the lyrics to me. I still think this is a comfortable 4. I’d also like to add that I think I’ve been too generous to prior rap/r&b albums and would like to knock them all down a star on the record here. Rap is not my thing and I’ve been placating some of my haters who tell me I disrespect a lot of rap. At the end of the day, it’s not really my thing, and my ratings should reflect that. Therefore, this is a 4, but every other album with a similar genre should be knocked down 1 star. Oh also props to the cover on the second to last song. Frankie Valli did it better but this put an interesting spin on it.
A rap song with a female R&B singer released in late 90s/early 2000s usually gets my panties in a bunch, so when it's an entire album of that and the rapper is the same woman, my panties practically rip through my abdomen and tear me in half as if I was laid down on the deli slicer at the nearest Star Market. This is another album I already know so well. I want new music, and half the time I feel like I am just revisiting the same music I already have hours of listening logged for. Having side that, I love this album with a passion. 4/5. I haven't listened to this top to bottom in awhile, so I'm hoping something new jumps out to me. I've always gravitated towards R&B style rap, and it's why modern rap makes my ears bleed while I slowly decompose due to boredom. I always loved this album cover. I wish they had a shredded down pencil on the top tho, as if it were the carving tool of her face. That pencil is too picture-perfect. And if anyone chats s*** about the skits, they can go f*** right off! They make the album way more personal and I always really liked how they zoom out while still tying into the themes. Also, I like how it’s some kind of Love AA group.
I've definitely heard of the artist and this album, but I'm not sure if I've listened to it before. It's quite compelling. I was drawn in and stayed there. Superb sense of melody and love the way it's all put together and delivered. It's very cool how she can choose to rap, sing, or perform a mix of the two styles, and nail each approach so incredibly well. She has such great range, not just vocally, but artistically, too. This is truly a spectacular album. Wow.
A beautiful neo-Soul album with elements of hip hop and reggae. She has an amazing voice and the production sits well. The album holds together thematically. Even the school talkie bits don't annoy me. Strong 4.
captures a point in time perfectly, unique and lots of fun althogh a bit overlong. again, we didn't know how good we had it.. for some reason this album sounds like the pre-9/11 world more than any other and I love it for that and everything else
very nice album! especially the last few tracks. i might actually listen to some tracks on the regular
Really enjoyed the energy, there are several songs that I would come back to, or even just potentially put this album on in the background.
L'album è strutturato come una lezione a scuola. Molto interessante la scelta di legare le canzoni l'una alle altre, mi colpisce sempre. Molto bello, quasi 5 stelle.
So when I said to my wife that this was the album I was listening to she asked: "So when you hit play, did the music come out on time or was it a couple of hours late?" My wife, ladies and gentlemen. After listening to Erykah Badu, I was prepared for this being as good. And really, it has a lot of great tracks besides the 2 everyone knows. (My favorite is probably the duet with Mary J Blige. Two women singing at the pinnacle, wow.) A few things that took me out of the album: 1) The codas on some of the songs were really distracting. Worse, they are not separate songs so you could not skip them at first listen. You didn't know they were there until surprise! Discussions of "what is love?" 2) The D'Angelo duet I could probably have done without. The overuse of snapping there, yikes. 3) The cover of "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You..." I don't know, it's just too... syrupy sweet. But besides those, it still is a really good to great album. It is one that makes you think and want more. You hope that one day she will come back out and say "here's a new album." But now, almost 25 years later, it would seem like that any follow-up would almost surely disappoint. But we still have this, a testament to life, and love, and music. I keep going back and forth between a four and a five. The fact that there is only the one album still somewhat vexes me. And those other points drag it down just a bit for me. It's right on the cusp, but I'm still going to give it a 4.
I've now listened to this album several times. I know it's good, couldn't decide if it was great. She can rap and she can sing - great vocals. Some good lyrics and songwriting too. She tries to reinforce a theme through the interludes, which I'm not sure are necessary but they are cute I guess. Real solid beats too, with a bunch of cool songs to bop to and not just the big singles (Lost Ones, Doo Wop (That Thing), Everything is Everything). But lesser knowns too (Superstar, I Used to Love Him, Every Ghetto Every City). And some good softer songs (Ex-Factor, Can't Take My Eyes Off of You, Tell Him). But there were times when I got lost or disinterested - probably a few too many songs and definitely way too long at nearly 80 minutes. Trim the fat and maybe it would be great.
My first thought when listening to this was that this album is way too long. There were a few moments that caught my attention the first time through, and the second listen was more enjoyable. She has a great voice, and I did like most of the tracks on here. I think “Doo Wop” and “Final Hour” (ironically the most and least played tracks on Spotify respectively) were my favorites. I still stand by the statement that this would have made 2 great separate releases. I’m guessing that the album is an early victim of the “fill the 80-minute cd” mentality that plagued a lot of artists in the 90s. This feels like a 3.5 but I’ll bump it up to a 4 since the second listen was much better than the first.
4.5
that thing
Massa rapzao
Classic. Very enjoyable, maybe a bit too long. Sorry I am currently running away from a bear and can't elaborate.
I was really excited to hear this full album since I’ve obviously heard the popular stuff from it. Lauryn is fantastic at everything she slides on this album from rapping to singing. I think I enjoy the slower R&B cuts a little more than the rapping, but everything is pretty good. I think the little classroom interludes are really nice and add to the theme of it all as well. 8/10
Lauryn Hill steps out of the shadow of the Fugees and Wyclef to state that she can put together a massive monster of an album with Miseducation. My only gripe is that it goes long at an hour and seventeen minutes, but still relevant, still great. 4/5.
I didn't understand much of the dialogue, which I imagine is pretty important too. The music itself is great though; pretty diverse with a bunch of rap but also a guitar solo here and there.
Really amazing album! found it quite hard to fully get through for some reason so for that reason I'm rating it a 4. Would have been a 5 tho
Truly great album. Can't think of another woman mc that blends melody, flow, beats, storytelling so seamlessly into a single project. Only knock for me is the skits, but I can tolerate these in the context of the album compared to a lot of other rap albums with random skits that add nothing to the album story.
I listened to this album a few years ago when I went through a very short lived phase of reviewing what was new in the charts 20 years prior. At the time, I wasn’t really a fan of the album. However, I’m intrigued to give it a listen with a fresh set of ears. Songs I already knew: all of them, albeit not very well Favourites: Doo Wop (That Thing), Can’t Take My Eyes Off You I had a completely different experience listening this time, in that I really enjoyed it. It shows just how subjective music can be when the same person can have such differing opinions over a few years! I really enjoyed the songs, but it should also be mentioned that the short classroom skits also really added to the experience. It was refreshing to hear hip hop music about love and showing a softer side. Overall, I completely disagree with my past self, and would definitely recommend this album.
A heartfelt tribute to Lauren’s own thoughts regarding love and culture, brought beautifully through interesting lyrics and a neosoul aesthetic
I’ve listened to this before and I still think it’s a bit overrated. Don’t get me wrong though, it’s still very good, and there are some amazing songs on here. Album Cover: I get it but I just don’t really like it 3/5
Thought this was an excellent album at the time, a bit over-hyped perhaps, but definitely 4 star - it is one of the rare albums on 1001 from the last 25 years that you would actually expect to see included on such a list.
Very pleasant, close to full marks actually
Great stuff. To Zion is deep. Have a lot of nostalgia for this album - it takes me back to the late 90s. Couldn’t help but think throughout how I should have given The Blueprint a 4 as well for some reason. Huge regret. I will also reiterate/stand by my view that no album should be running close to 120 minutes though. Not even by the Beatles or 5ive
Beautiful and soulful hip hop
Amazing, although I did not know how much references to Christianity were gonna be there, that put me off a little bit.
the best album in a genre I don't like
The opening is really slick heavy R&B. in the middle Lauryn really opens up her rap chops. on the whole its pretty good!
up until this point, i’m pretty sure i had only ever heard two or three lauryn hill songs, but now i’m glad i’ve heard more. super talented and incredible rhythm.
CD
I adore Lauryn Hill's voice. Every time I hear one of her songs, my ears perk up. She has a lot to say on this album, but the one thing I didn't pay attention to in the past is her songs of faith. What a risk that must've been for her, hip hop, and popular music. Most artists aren't that open with their faith, and I'm sure record companies prefer to steer clear. My new favorite is Everything is Everything, I'll always love Doo Wop (That Thing), and what a great rendition of Can't Take My Eyes Off of You. Solid album.
Good rb albums. With many schoolyard sessions about love that really took me out of album. Some of the instrumentals sounded the same. The last song is definitely the worst. This album supposed to be chistian so in EVERY GETTO EVER CITY she's uses the n word which gave Me the thought do they use it in church idk. She also raps alot on this album which was somewhat better then pure rb cuts but even some of them where good
No Fugeesiahan tällä jo kuunneltiinkin. Tämä selkeä jatko sille mut soolopuolelta. Smooth sailing in da waves of rap & rnb. Must paljon parempi ku fugees 4/5
Pakko arvostaa naista siitä, että onnistui lyömään läpi aika myrkyllisesti miesvaltaisessa genressä! Tässä ei olisi onnistuttu myös ilman hyviä biisejä, joten 4/5 helposti ansaittu.
8/10
Cool R&B groove
I actually liked this album a lot. It mixes soul and r&b with rap (which is my not so favourite), but does so in an interesting way. I'm surprised that I liked some of those specifically rap tracks. Good stuff. Favourite songs: Ex-Factor, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, I Used To Love Him
Top tracks: Ex-Factor, Doo Wop (That Thing), Everything Is Everything. A lot skits in between songs. 4,5/5
Nice to listen to but not one I'd go back 3/5
can it all be so simple cover is really good. holy crap it's called ex-factor and has that drake sample on there. Also just really good reinterpretations on interpolations? of classics on here. There were some doors references and others great harmonies and beautiful instrumentation on top of nice break beats. Huge emphasis on how great the actual instruments and Lauryn's voice sound on top of hip hop grooves. Really really beautiful warm tracks
solid frankie valli cover
ㅎㄱㄷㅁㅅ
Got to love Lauren.
the early songs are unbelievable the last two songs of the second half are the only noteworthy ones 4.5
This is much better than I anticipated. Beautiful singing and music. The raps are tolerable! Probably peak RnB for the two decades surrounding it's release.
A hip-hop classic for sure! Lauryn Hill has here legacy cemented as of the greats of this era.
Veldig groovy, dette likte jeg godt.
Not my favorite album end-to-end, but "Doo Wop (That Thing)" is still a perfect record.
7.5
I mean, if we’re talking about albums with a massive cultural influence look no further. Huge. Ambitious. Powerful. It’s got grit AND effervescent sparkle in spades. If the artist’s aim is to achieve greatness by mining their soul to expose its plumbed depths, Lauryn succeeds astoundingly in that regard. We Stan a beautiful vulnerable and raw black queen who raised the bar for everyone!
Dope
Can see how influential it was but because I'm so late to the party it didn't have the same level of effect on me. A great listen all the way but only the last two tracks really stuck out for me.
Doo Wop is great, of course. Final Hour is pretty great. I like the different genres in the same album. When it hurts so bad goes down smooth. Forgive them Father is pretty great. This album was ahead of its time.
Consistent from start to finish, but the songs were different enough to be unique. Really interesting flows and clearly a lot of work put into it. Not my favorite, but worthy of respect.
Classic. Killer R&B and soul with an intensely personal story in it's music and it's creation.
superstar is probably the best song
4.5...I love the messages of strength and diversity.
tunesss
Un poco largo. Recuerdo que salió en 1999 el mismo año que The Fragile. Más tarde, años más tarde, lo redescubriría más allá de los singles.
This takes me back to Summer 98. A lovely album suffers from the late 90s urge to have a ton of skits, and goes on a bit too long, but mostly really lovely!
There‘s a 5/5, 50 minute album within the 80 minutes here. Unnecessary filler so not all killer!
Loved this, what a voice, so much going on. Really snoozed on it at he time.
Doo-Wop is one of the prettiest damned songs of the past 50yrs. TIL that this was Lauryn Hill’s only studio album.
Doo Wop and Ex-Factor are total bops. Listenable all the way through the album with the fun classroom recordings in the background throughout.
4/16/2022 Today's Album: "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" by Lauryn Hill - I like how this album opens ups up with a roll call with Lauryn missing, starting off a theme of her being against traditional education. The first rap track Lost Ones is a really solid opener, with a great reggae backbeat and some confident rapping from Lauryn. I like the way the chorus breaks off into this funky guitar riff before the third verse and damn does this lady just fuckin' rap. Every line sounds so natural and although her flow is pretty static throughout the track, it's a really solid flow so I'm not complaining. The ending interlude of the track adds even more to the education theme. The next track Ex-Factor is a silky sweet R&B track with some of the best R&B production I've heard out of the 90's. It's a really standout track and I love her vocal performance on this track. It really doesn't feel dated for being 24 years old. The guitar solo at the end of it is also absolutely killer. Zion continues this theme of outstanding R&B tracks with an amazingly chilled out guitar groove and calculated vocal performance. Doo Wop (That Song) gives me that classic R&B rap style that I've heard on Kanye's Late Registration, specifically Touch the Sky. The rap has a ton of personality and there are just great performances all around form the horns to the background vocals to the bass and drums. I like the critique of men on this track as well it's very tongue and cheek. It turns out Kanye actually has taken a lot of inspiration and samples from Lauryn Hill and it is obvious now considering how amazing the production is on this record. Every track just has a ton of personality and brings with it a unique beat and flow. It really just is no comparison from the other 90s rap I was seeing earlier in the generator and it is clear that this is one of the artists that bridged the gap from the rap of old and what is currently popular. Even the tracks that are more of just bridging tracks to the bigger hits are very pleasant to listen to and have solid hooks and choruses to bring me in. I love the low reggae accent she puts on in Forgive me Father and the heavy bass and flow switch ups makes this track an absolute banger to put on in the car. I think each of these songs could easily be 3 minutes and be just as enjoyable, but I think them being 5 minutes isn't the worst thing ever, as she does add something in the last 2 minutes to warrant it usually. I also just realized that this artist was the female front-person of the Fugees, and it makes a ton of sense given the similar genre, but I really think she did it better in a lot of ways. This project is a tiny bit long and I think either some tracks should have been cut or the lengths of some should have been trimmed, but it is never too much really. I like her rendition of Can't Take My Eyes Off of You and it really could have ended off the record, but the closer also does a decent job wrapping things up. Overall, this is a really really solid R&B hip-hop record that bridged the gap from 90s poet rap to what we hear today in Kanye and his contemporaries. Listen to this one if you like modern Hip Hop R&B like Kanye and Drake. Score: 8.5/10 Kanye before Kanye Highlights: Ex-Factor, To Zion, Doo Wop (That Thing), Superstar, Final Hour, Forgive Them Father, 'Every Ghetto, Every City', Nothing Even Matters, Everything is Everything, Can't Take My Eyes of You
Very nice, obsessed w Lauryn's voice and lyrics as always Only thing is that it's a bit L O N G
Lauryn is so good, a top notch album with a couple of standout tracks, and we've definitely had worse skits on this list so far.
This album is worthy of all the praise it received at the time it came out. Groundbreaking, influential and soulful. It’s an album that does stand up over time, but I wasn’t feeling it yesterday. I can acknowledge it’s place in the history of great albums, hence my rating…
This album overwhelmingly aged well
Like the entire album, and like her version of Can't Take My Eyes Off You!
Vraiment un très bon album, définitivement à réécouter.
Better than i thought it would be. Some rap, but also some songs similar to Anita Baker.
This is a strange one, it really felt like Lauryn was just beginning as an artist and this was just the first step for amazing things which never happened. Listening now what strikes me is how humble she paints herself asking questions about love and life and admitting she's just learning.
Love this record -
Favorites: Ex-Factor I Used to Love Him Superstar Everything is Everything
fucking quality. that thing has wormed it's way deep into my brain and idk where from.
Beautiful voice.
Just good stuff.
Pretty flawless, all parts working almost seamlessly together, Which so often doesn’t really come off when rap and hip hop are blended with soul, R&B, and reggae influences. In this it’s all unmistakably part of one work and message.
4.25
It is a classic. Great lyrical content. Vocals are some of the best there have been. Features are great.
This was good, I enjoyed it. It did not blow me away, however.
fantastic samples, beautiful voice, mixed genres, mister Santana on featuring, 2 songs sampled by Kanye and Drake; solid 4,5
I've left this review for a while ago I have to keep listening to it again. Ah, memories abound.
The sound track of my youth. Bloody wonderful
Ha sido agradable volverla a escuchar después de tanto tiempo. Venga, un 4.
I actually listened to this a year ago when finding new music before discovering this site. The opinion is the same, great stuff, but can't listen in one setting. Love that Lauryn Hill can go back and forth with singing and rapping easily, and the skits take a nice break from the music while providing context to the album. A couple of songs were not for me and some were average, but apart from that every track is good or great. Loved the title track, Doo Wop, even the bonus track Tell Him was great.
Musically the album sticks to one style, sometimes leaves me wanting for a bit of variety, but she does that style so well. Ex Factor, Doo Wop, the title track, and Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You are my favorites. Queen.
Wonderful, amazing vocal ability and impeccable flow. Cohesive through and through. Thoughtful, emotional. Bravo.
glided by in the background. Will have to revisit when I can be attentive
Very good. Enjoyed it a lot.
Unique blending of jazz and hip hop. Easy to listen to in the background. Beautiful.
Loads of hits, could do without the interludes. Great album.
Great album if a little long. It's length is probably going to be the only reason I don't listen to it as much as it deserves to be listened to.
brilliant
Not really but my bag - but I can see why it's such a classic album - Lauryn has such a beautiful soulful voice.
voll nice aber nicht so mein ding
really fun
Spotify is crumbling and I can't listen to this! From what I've heard so far I love the vibe, and already know Doo Wop is a 90s fave. To Zion has a cool sound and features carlos santana - I like that one a lot.
An interesting beat and music
Not listened to this for years but it is excellent.
A lot of layers to this album. I was stoked when it came up as today's album, as I've been meaning to listen to it for years. Great arrangements, killer drumbeats, and a cool but not too cocky delivery by Hill. Gonna run this one again tomorrow. Got me wanting more.
Algo denso, pero muy buenos beats.
What can you say? A great album that has been thoroughly review and acknowledged as a great album with anyone with a soul.
I was never a big fan of this when it came out. Maybe lacking a big killer hook/hit for me. But a solid album throughout.
Дип... Немного затянуто, немного не мое, но все равно круто
Had a shitty fucking night in Greece with this album. It helped alot. Together with Off the wall.
I listened to most, but not all of this album. It's been years since I listened to it. It's solid, for sure. It also captures a place in time- right as I entered Fort Lewis College. My on again/off again GF really liked this album and so I listened to it several times with her. An enjoyable listen, but it didn't make me swoon or anything. One thing I do love about it are the interludes/intros/outros between tracks. This was at its peak in the 90s (especially in hip hop records). Anytime I've ever made a mix tape I like to pepper in skits, movie lines, and audio clips that aren't music. If I could give 3.5 stars I would, but since I can't I'll give it 4.
You are too good to be true... Not really my cup of tea but there're some songs I'd listen to on my way somewhere
Listened to this on Sept. 6th 2021 and I was wondering if it was on the list. Great album.
Very good. Probably a little too long.
always thought this album was overrated and i still think that but i understand its cultural significance. i came away with more appreciation for it after this listen. i love ex factor
Absolute classic, wonderful story throughout the album
A modern classic. I didn't care for the skits at the end of the tracks but it was an amazing blend of decades of R & B and soul influences. Now this album, in turn, helped create the sound of the 00's and 10's. Favorite Tracks: "Doo Wop (That Thing)" "Final Hour" "Everything is Everything"
Top notch record of pure genius
Classics you should no if you‘re into soul music. Some tracks a boring 4stars.
I don't listen to hiphop that often, but her soul voice and the pop/funky beats are a very good mix. (7/10) Favorite Tracks: Every Ghetto, Every City; Doo Wop (That Thing)
I liked this more than I expected I would. It's not quite in my musical wheelhouse, but there are some rightful bangers on this album and I can see why it's considered a classic.
This was my second time listening to this album. It is undeniably an important album for hip-hop and I can understand why. I think it's a great album with a lot of good tracks, but there is a few weak tracks to be honest. I'm having a hard time rating this album fairly, but I think I have to go with a weak 4 for now.
Shes got a beautiful voice, the background tracks could be a lot better. Shes a bit repetitive as well, but I enjoy her messages and the vibe from her music.
Excellent combination of hip-hop, soul, R&B!
Equal parts punchy and smooth. Lauryn's vocals are beautifully rich which now explains why this album keeps coming back in samples
What a bop! Great vocals interlaced on top of each other. The production is fantastic on this and Lauryn hill has a great voice! This is a fun and good album.
Old jam
great album filled with musical and lyrical references, great voice, great album curve, engaging
Very nice
Great start, but a very long, maybe too long album. However, the highlights make this album stand out.
P good. Definitely revisit later.
Klassiker.
Didn't get to listen to the whole thing but from what I heard(the majority of it) it seemed like some good background music I might listen to.
I really enjoyed this album - very unique, varied, and raw. However, i don't think all the tracks are perfect, and it would get old soon enough.
Can’t come up with a great review for all of these, but this is still an amazing album.
Really good! New music for me, some of the songs felt a little long but I liked all of the classroom discussions appended after the songs.
Amazing album. Absolutely floored I've never listened to it. Talented all the way and just enjoyable. Creative,
Beautiful voice, amazing chill rap about love -- what is not to love?
Didn't know all of these before this. Great album!
Great album, brought back a lot of memories
Schickes Album. Geile Beats und gute Texte.
this is just a universal loved album and I would be suprised if someone didn’t like this. Great album, great vibes, great producing,great features. a classic in the soul, rnb and hip hop world. 9/10
I gotta admit I had some stereotypical assumptions about how good a "female rapper" could be, and was a bit skeptical. Despite this, I ended up really enjoying this album and was happily proved wrong. It has great lyricism and great musical accompaniment. I love the themes as well. Well done!
Fantástico debut donde predomina el R&B y el Hip Hop. Vozarrón y gran producción musical. Sería genial si no fuera tan largo.
A little long for my liking, but a great hip-hop album with insane impact. Really like the interludes from the classroom as well Saved: Doo Wop (That Thing), Final Hour
Cracking album. Personal, heartfelt, incomparable voice. Doo Wop (That Thing): complete classic. Often imitated, never duplicated.
An insight into the cultural melting pot that is NY, and the music is a great mix of genres as well.
Not my usual, preferred genre but enjoyed the listen.
I really liked this! I don’t usually listen to much hip hop but I liked this album. I can see how she was so influential on later artists! (Did anyone else read that she was really close with the whole Marley family? Makes me wonder if the album sequence was intentional!)
What I remember as being proper R&B, enjoyed this album. Two ‘hits’ on there too. 4/5
This album has a great sound, a real nice blend of R&B and hip-hop and I can listen to her voice all day long. I owned the CD when it came out but had forgotten about great songs like Forgive Them Father and Lost Ones. After listening to this and a bunch of hip-hop albums over the last 120 days, I am perplexed that so many include "interludes" - 1 or 2 minute conversations recorded in a living room or studio. I just don't get it. 80-minute CDs are all ready 40 minutes too long IMO.
Beeindruckt von den Rap-Skills, erstmal. Bisschen genervt vom gelegentlich übertrieben langgezogenen Tremolo auf einzelnen Silben, da bin ich wirklich kein Fan von. Wann hat das eigentlich angefangen? Wahrscheinlich nicht mit ihr, aber mit Destiny's Child? Oder war sie's vielleicht sogar doch? Jedenfalls ist mir gestern erst wieder eingefallen, dass Lauryn Hill Mitte/Ende der 90er ja die lässigste Queen of Consciousness war die man sich vorstellen konnte, und wie toll ich die fand. Hatte ich komplett vergessen über die Jahre, in denen sie - soweit man das vermittelt bekommt - offenbar zwei oder dreimal falsch abgebogen ist und dann auch noch in Sackgassen. Egal, hier wird man ja am Einzelwerk gemessen, und das finde ich auch mehr als 20 Jahre später noch wirklich sehr fresh. Gute Aussagen, gute Produktion, enorme Rapskills. Gesang ... wie gesagt. Insgesamt eine schöne 3,9.
Nice
As much as I hate “skits” filling up half the album, it still stands up.
Genuinely enjoyed listening through this one. I’m sure if you picked individual songs and played them for me I wouldn’t care too much for it since hip hop and R&B aren’t really my thing, but the experience of listing through this one top to bottom was great. Favorite tracks: “To Zion,” “Superstar,” and “Every Ghetto, Every City”
Her voice is amazing but you have to really be in the mood for 90's rnb
Solid album. Maybe I'm a bit biased because the last several have been kind of same-y but it was a refreshing 90s hiphop album. Lyrically the songs were interesting stories, and her voice had some good soul elements to it in a number of tracks.
classic rnb /soul ; extra points for nostalgia
It is just plain strong. Beautiful voice, great beat, positive message. The title track is probably the least interesting, but the rest are easy to enjoy.
It was okay, though I’m not a huge fan of 90’s hip-hop.
Love the soul she adds to hip hop.
Tuttu artisti mutta tämä soololevy oli uusi tuttavuus. Fugeesin perusteella oletin pitäväni tästä, mutta tämähän oli vielä paljon parempi kuin osasin aavistaa. Mukavan letkeätä meininkiä samettisella äänellä varustettuna. Myös rap-pätkät toimii paremmin kuin yhdelläkään listalla vastaan tulleesta saman genren levystä tähän mennessä. Levyn nimikkokappale on parhaita uusia biisejä mitä olen kuullut aikoihin. Jos olisi mahdollista, antaisin 4,25*
Nicht das Über-Album schlechthin, aber schon sehr außergewöhnlich. Hatte ich seinerzeit überhaupt nicht auf dem Schirm.
More soulful then the soul man
Denna har jag på CD. Köpte den 98 då det begav sig. Fortfarande en av mina favoriter, en legendarisk skiva.
Good album. Will listen again
Nice concept album. Storyline focused on love with songs alternating between songs with Lauryn Hill and a classroom discussing love. One of my favorite 1990's albums so far.
Still on my first listen through, but this album is an interesting counterpiece to the world of Bone Thugs. I've always wanted to hear hip-hop with more harmonies. This has that, and an interesting through line with the teacher talking to the students about love. I wish the songs were a little stronger some times (more produced in some cases), but overall it is a really good album 4/5
A coming of age hip hop and soul album that provides glimpses into the American education system and Christianity. Overall, a fascinating view of the flaws within the education system and how the youth of America grew up in the late 80s.
Mad respect
The OG Kendrick? Understand the context, but hard to listen to.
It’s not perfect and slow at parts but this is a standout in 90s hip hop/r&b
Best voice in hip hop
1998. Key Songs: Doo Wop, Ex-Factor
Godetovich. Na pero estuvo bien. Rico hasta ahí jejeje.
Rap is one of my least favorite music genres, but her soulful R&B songs are very nice. I still don’t love this.
Conflicting feelings on this one. On one hand, Lauryn's performance and lyrics are near flawless, the production and beats so on-point, and the hooks strong. However, this album suffers from bloat and could have done well with more editing. Around half way through, listening to it started to feel like a chore. Many of the songs become repetitive after a few minutes, but are often stretched over 4-5 minutes, and are capped by 40-60 second interludes that tie the overarching theme together but feel tedious. Highlights: "To Zion", "Doo Wop (That Thing)", "Everything Is Everything".
Classic stuff a good record but not the best of all time Apple
N2l
7.5/10
Pas du tout mon style, mais album fondateur du hip-hop, usage intéressant des chœurs, travail technique autour des instrus. Les mélodies sont un peu à la traîne, dommage
Franchement ça s'écoutait plutôt bien ! Ce n'est pas dans mes playlists et je n'ai rien rajouté mais c'était sympa.
Very long. A lot more singing, I expected more rap. Some good tunes in there
Fav song: Lost Ones
Undeniably soulful and funky, Hill's vocals and artistic vision make this an overall enjoyable album. There are several hits that clearly stand above the rest, especially "Doo Wop (That Thing)", which is a timeless tune. Other tracks don't reach the same level of quality and could probably be removed from the album for a more optimized run time.
Never heard this. Pretty good.
Clear talent just not for me
I liked it.
3.5
Just couldn't get into it. Loved the reggae influence and a distinct sound, but the idea of a harmony sounded like two people singing different songs
I actually enjoyed the spoken parts about love the most, I felt it broke up the album nicely. I don’t really think any of the other things were memorable, decent just not memorable.
Honestly one of the more overrated hip hop albums for me, To Zion and Ex-Factor are really fuckin good though
I’ve always found this enjoyable. But never really agreed that is a consensus all-timer. Maybe that’s my own shortcoming, but relistening hasn’t changed my opinion
Good singles from this album, skipped one song. Was chill while doing dishes, probably 3.5 out of 5
Awesome production and she’s incredibly talented, but the album is a slog. It’s way too long and the songs sound the same. Respect the artistry on display, but it’s not for me.
Too long to keep my attention. Nothing about it kept my attention
So not my style of music - but I can hear that it is well done.
goog flow
I want to love this much more than I do. I know its considered one of the greatest of all time but it leaves me... meh. It's a low 3.
I used to love him has a nice rhythm.
Solid
Pretty solid!
'The Score' was the Fugees second and last album, and this monster hit was followed up by the only Lauren Hill album which was a multi grammy winner and at the centre of the RnB/Hip hop zeitgeist. Her burst of creativity was supposedly down to her expecting a grandchild of Bob Marley at the time, and having Mary J Blige and (pre Supernatural renaissance) Santana as collaborators was evidence of her clout at this time. The emergence of Destiny's Child and the success of Beyonce could be questionably attributed to the opportunities opened by this album's appeal. I wish I liked the sounds it makes more than I do, as she was clearly a talent - though a one album wonder that can still play Milton Keynes.
Fine. Okay
man i dont get hip hop
6/10
There's some good stuff here, but it's mostly mid.
It’s ok Maybe 2.7
I've heard a lot about this album. I liked it but probably wouldn't listen again.
Great album, just really didn't vibe with it. It is not really a genre I usually listen to so a 6.5.
My rating 3.4
7/10 écoute un peu bâclée Doo Wop trop fort
Lauryn Hill is a great and she crushed this. What a voice and a lyricist. Doo Wop is a great song. Plenty of skip songs for me though.
Lite samma toner som hennes fugees. Najs.
Me gustó bastante su estilo, algunas canciones no me llegaron mucho, pero me llegó bastante la profundidad de algunas letras
Lauryn mestrer både rap og sang. Ganske chill soul til tider, et ålreit album.
3.5★/5 [07.14.2026] 07.16.2026
Laurynin ääni on mahtava ja hän on todella taitava. Musiikki ei hirveästi iskenyt, mutta se johtuu vajavaisesta ymmärryksestäni.
Mid
While the whole album is catchy and easy to listen through some songs stand out more than others. I would have this on in the background while doing other things or hanging out but song that I would seek out or add on playlists there aren't many.
Thanks for all your hard work, didn’t realize so many modern day rappers used your tracks for their songs.
este me encantó
Solid Hip Hop track
Didn’t realize how many songs I’d recognize and really enjoyed the skits to make it feel like a full album
A couple good singles and generally a well-produced rap-heavy R&B record; I can see why this was so insanely popular on release. However, the lyrics are where the album constantly loses me because I'm just not feeling the overly spiritual/religious tone on a lot of the songs here. 7/10.
Includes the iconic Doo Wop (That Thing) and cover of Can't Take My Eyes Off of You. Decent 90s hip hop, didn't love all of it but it was mostly enjoyable.
It’s good, but it’s one where I respect it slightly more than I enjoy it
makes me feel sexyyyy but dont know if it needs all 16 songs
Liked this but didn't really love it. Nothing really wrong but in the other hand I couldn't name a standout track. The singles were good, but again not great. Also 90's albums are often too long and this is a prime example - 77 minutes?!?
I had never listened to this before so this was cool! I was listening to this at the cottage which brought a certain vibe to this experience. I know this album is a legend and there is a reason for it.
7/10 Very well made album, love the instrumentation and flow Highlight: To Zion
eh 6/10
It was an okay album to listen to and I think people who like to listen to hip hop will like it. I'm not a big fan but I liked some songs.
She’s a force but too much inconsistency throughout the album for this to rose to the level of a masterpiece
Great beats. Great voice. Very listenable album.
Um clássico indiscutível em importância histórica e poética, mas que sofre com o choque temporal e a falta de dinamismo sonoro. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill começa no topo absoluto. A primeira metade do disco é um soco no estômago de tanta qualidade. As letras são pura poesia rimada e a fusão do rap com melodias relaxantes é impecável. Porém, o álbum sofre com a ressaca da estrutura dos anos 90. O que na época era aclamado como "coerência conceitual", hoje pode ser lida como uma linearidade cansativa. Da metade para o final, a produção insiste na mesmíssima paleta de cores musicais e batidas desaceleradas, gerando uma forte fadiga auditiva. Faixas gigantes acabam parecendo apenas "preenchimento" porque o disco não se renova sonoramente. Lauryn estica a mesma fórmula por 15 músicas. É uma obra-prima em seus picos, mas uma experiência arrastada quando ouvida por completo. Vale muito pelas faixas isoladas na playlist, mas o álbum inteiro cansa.
3.5
Highlights: Everything is Everything, Doo Wop (That Thing), Ex-Factor. In a nutshell: lessons in life and love. The unlikeliest of events became the key to shaking off Lauryn's writers block post Fugees - pregnancy and the birth of her son. Some great lyrics (eg "hypocrites always play innocent" and "You said you'd die for me. Why won't you live for me?"). A novel twist on Light My Fire by The Doors. And you guessed it, the interludes annoyed me and broke the flow of the album. Not sure why Apple voted this as the best album of all time. Maybe top 100 or 200, but not number 1. Overall: 5/10
That album really surprised me; I thought the mix of soul and hip-hop was really good. The beats—especially the ones with guitar, like the track with Santana—were fantastic. Not every song was great, though; I didn't like the one with D'Angelo at all. Still, the album as a whole is really fun.
Good but I didn't love it
This sounds like everything else that sounds like this but so much better.
Classic but also I needa be in a specific mood to listen to this album and I currently am not in that mood but in general this album is ofc a banger
I like Doo Wop. That’s about it for me.
I grew up on this album so hearing the hits gave it a higher rating. The subject matter is also why I give it a 3.9 rating.
🙂
I remember the accolades when this came out but never listened to it since soul and hip hop just didn’t do much for me. So finally can say I listened to it and I don’t get what all the fuss was about. I found Lauryn’s vocal runs to be excessive and the interludes were not needed
Fantastic voice, but too many "modern soul/R'n'B tracks that I am not a fan of, but others will give it 5 stars for that exact reason
This was just alright for me, had to skip some of the classroom banter and I wasn't super enamored with the album as a whole but it's ok.
I thought I would really like this one! It was interesting, had a lot of cool elements.
Voz espectacular, buenos coros y la letra muy pegadiza. Me gustan los ritmos y las guitarras que hacen punteos. Pero no me gusta las conversaciones al final de las canciones, ni me convencen las canciones tan rapeadas o mas tiradas a hip-hop. No me explota la cabeza pero es muy llevadero y divertido de escuchar.