Ebro Darden is happy with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill taking the top spot on Apple Music’s viral list of the 100 best albums in history. In a post on X, Wednesday, he argued that no album has been as “lyrical” and “conscious” while having “reached as far” as the iconic 1998 did.
He wrote: “You may not think Miseducation of Lauryn Hill should have been #1 … But you have never heard a better lyrical AND conscious HipHop & RnB display that reached as far as this album did. NOTHING.” He then retweeted a fan who agreed with him. “I was 8 years old when that album dropped,” they wrote. “I remember very vividly that being the first time music had ever given me an emotional experience. Happy, sad, thoughtful, love. I have no problem with it being # 1.”
Ebro Darden Speaks With Jennifer Lopez On Apple Music Radio
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 16: Jennifer Lopez joins Apple Music Radio host Ebro Darden on “This Is Me…Now” Radio on Apple Music 1 on February 16, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Tomas Herold/Getty Images for Apple Music)
Apple Music has slowly been releasing it’s list of the 100 best albums in recent days. Scott Plagenhoef, Apple Music’s global head of music programming, explained the goals of the project to USA TODAY. He said: “Unlike other lists we wanted it to reflect albums that really had an impact on the music artists are making today and that these be hand-selected by the most passionate people on Earth.” Expectedly, the choices have resulted in plenty of debate on social media. Other inclusions in the top 10 include albums from Kendrick Lamar, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and more.
Ebro Darden Discusses Lauryn Hill’s Placement
You may not think Miseducation of Lauryn Hill should have been #1 …
But you have never heard a better lyrical AND conscious HipHop & RnB display that reached as far as this album did.
Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums list culminates today with the much-anticipated reveal of the top 10 albums of all time and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill crowned No. 1.
Upon receiving the news, Lauryn Hill told Apple Music, “This is my award, but it’s a rich, deep narrative, and involves so many people, and so much sacrifice, and so much time, and so much collective love.”
To celebrate, Apple Music’s Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden sat down with legendary record producer, writer, and performer Nile Rodgers and Grammy-nominated artist and producer Maggie Rogers to reflect on the list during a special roundtable broadcasting globally today on Apple Music. Watch the full roundtable at music.apple.com.
Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums is a modern 21st-century ranking of the greatest records ever made, crafted by Apple Music’s team of experts alongside a select group of artists, songwriters, producers, and industry professionals. The list is an editorial statement, fully independent of any streaming numbers on Apple Music — a love letter to the records that have shaped the world music lovers live and listen in.
Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums – Top 10
10. Lemonade – Beyoncé
9. Nevermind – Nirvana
8. Back to Black – Amy Winehouse
7. good kid, m.A.A.d city (Deluxe Version) – Kendrick Lamar
Lauryn Hill is one of the greatest artists of all time. Overall, her one and only solo album, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, is a certified classic. When publications compose their greatest albums of all time list, this project always ends up in or around the Top 5. Unfortunately, Hill has never followed up on this album. Instead, fans have been left waiting for decades. However, recently, she did come out and say that new music is coming, which is something that has fans incredibly excited.
In recent weeks, the hip-hop world has been hit with the feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Although the beef is seemingly over, fans are still talking about it. In fact, it has subsequently led to a debate about the greatest diss tracks of all time. One song that is frequently brought up is none other than “Lost Ones” by Hill. This is the second track on The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill and while it doesn’t say any names, fans understand that this entire track is directed at Wyclef Jean.
Jean and Hill went through a pretty bad breakup while the two were members of The Fugees. The group itself ended up breaking things off, and Hill was looking to express her feelings about it all on record. This culminated in “Lost Ones,” a scathing and cutting track that showcases Hill’s incredible songwriting, as well as her range as a vocalist. It’s a phenomenal tone-setter for the album, and it remains one of hip-hop’s best diss songs.
Let us know your thoughts on the track “Lost Ones,” in the comments section down below. Where do you think this track ranks in the grand scheme of rap’s best diss tracks? Would you say that this deserves to be in the Top 10? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
Quotable Lyrics:
A groupie call, you fall from temptation Now you wanna bawl over separation Tarnish my image in the conversation Who you gon’ scrimmage, like you the champion? You might win some but you just lost one
Time is of the essence. But fans of Ms. Lauryn Hill feel as if theirs isn’t being respected. Last month, Hill kicked off her The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary Tourto share the Grammy Award-winning album. According to ticketholders, Hill’s reputation for chronic tardiness has again reared its ugly face. In 2021, Hill referenced the discourse in her guest appearance on Nas’ song “Nobody.”
On Saturday, November 4, during her tour’s first night stop in Los Angeles, California, Hill addressed her lateness yet again. In the video captured by concertgoers, joined by her children and mother, Hill laid it all out in front of the Crypto.com Arena.
“They say, ‘Oh, she’s late’ and ‘She’s late tonight,’” Hill told the crowd. “Yo, y’all are lucky I make it to this bloodclot stage every night. I leave my soul on this stage. And I don’t do it because they let me do it. I do it because I stand her in the name of God. And I know it. God is who allows me to do it. He surrounded me with family and community when there was no support. When the album sold so many records and no one showed up and said, ‘Hey, would you like to make another one… We’re survivors. Not just survivors, we’re thrivers.”
Lauryn Hill addresses criticism for constantly showing up late to her concerts:
“Yo, y’all lucky I make it on this stage every night”
The lack of accountability and the religious deflection is crazy….here’s some fun little tea, did you know she has to have like 20 mirrors in her green room and no other woman can be on staff when she plays a venue
It’s important for artists to address their fans’ concerns and strive for punctuality, but it’s also valuable to understand the challenges they face in the entertainment industry.
Lauryn Hill’s response to criticism highlights the challenges of her schedule, but it’s important for artists to respect their fans’ time and expectations.
This isn’t the first time Hill has responded to the criticism. In 2016, Hill took to her official Facebook page to share a lengthy note with followers. Read the note below.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill: a title that, even after a quarter-century, evokes a blend of reverence and nostalgia. Rewind to the late ’90s—amid the flurry of synthesized beats and the rise of bubblegum pop, the music scene received a gift. It arrived as a groundbreaking album that would define a generation, unbeknownst to its creators. Lauryn Hill, already a force as part of The Fugees, embarked on a solo venture showcasing her as more than a talented vocalist. She cemented herself as a lyricist, storyteller, and visionary.
As a sonic battleground of competing genres marked the late ’90s, Hill’s magnum opus was an assertion of Hip Hop and R&B’s evolving narratives. The scene was crowded, yet The Miseducation… was impossible to overlook. Why? Perhaps it was the authenticity with which Lauryn addressed themes still seen as taboo. Or maybe it was the deft way she intertwined her Fugees legacy while establishing her own distinctive footprint. The world wasn’t just listening to another album. It was enrolling in a masterclass helmed by a South Orange, New Jersey, prodigy.
Lauryn Hill’s Lyrical Labyrinth
The Miseducation surfaced as a pivotal musical offering and a dynamic celebration of Black culture. In a time when the music industry often marginalized authentic representations of Black experiences, Lauryn Hill chose to center her work around it. The album is audibly resplendent, blending R&B’s warmth with Hip Hop’s forthrightness, Reggae’s vivacity, and Soul’s profundity.
However, the sonic elegance of the album is only half its story. Behind the melodies was a set of handpicked collaborators who became pivotal to the album’s craft under Hill’s meticulous direction. The influence of producers Che Pope and Vada Nobles is evident, layering the tracks with richness. Yet, Hill’s dual role, both in front of the microphone and behind the production desk, truly defined the album’s sound.
Further, Hill’s penmanship, a standout feature, paints portraits of her experiences in love, introspection, and empowerment. Yet, tales of Black life, romance, struggle, and triumph are interwoven with her narrative. Songs like “Doo Wop (That Thing)” caution against the pitfalls of modern love. At the same time, “Every Ghetto, Every City” reminisces about her New Jersey upbringing, offering listeners a vivid snapshot of Black communities in the ’80s and ’90s.
This album, in its entirety, is Lauryn’s love letter to Black culture. It highlights her ongoing commitment to showcasing and uplifting Black narratives in an industry that often tried to dilute them. Its legacy isn’t just in its chart-topping numbers or critical acclaim. It lies in its unabashed celebration of Black womanhood and its continued relevance to new generations.
Triumphs & Tumultuous Tidbits
Upon its release, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill didn’t just step into the spotlight. It commandeered it. The album swiftly climbed the charts, holding coveted positions and collecting critical praises like rare jewels. Beyond the numbers, though, was an evident shift in the musical terrain. Hill’s opus presented a new blueprint for blending Hip Hop and R&B, setting a standard few could match. Many of today’s luminaries, from Beyoncé to Kendrick Lamar, have tipped their hats to Lauryn’s profound influence on their artistry.
However, the album’s journey wasn’t free of turbulence. As much as it was lauded, it was also embroiled in controversies. Allegations surrounding uncredited collaborators and ensuing copyright disputes clouded the album’s radiant aura. Soon, Hill found herself at the epicenter of media scrutiny. Her every move was dissected and discussed. While she defended her artistic integrity, the controversy posed questions about the nature of collaboration in the creative process.
In a way, this dichotomy—of boundless success and poignant setbacks—mirrors the broader experience of many Black artists navigating an industry rife with both opportunities and obstacles. Lauryn’s journey with The Miseducation displayed the challenges and triumphs of creating authentic art in a world that often demands compromise.
Achieving a laudable debut at the pinnacle of the US Billboard 200, The Miseducation‘s grand entrance was but a prelude to its enduring influence. Those initial 422,000 copies sold in its opening week were emblematic of an artist capturing the zeitgeist of music meeting moment. Over time, its Platinum certifications, eight times over, further enshrined its legacy in the accounts of musical greatness.
Yet, commercial accolades are but one facet of its multi-dimensional legacy. Ms. Hill’s craft shone through each track, with deliberate choices in sampling that forged connections across musical generations. Every note and lyric had a method, a story, and an homage. Her sampling of classics, like integrating elements from Wu-Tang Clan’s “Can It Be All So Simple” into “Ex-Factor” or weaving Carlos Santana’s “Samba Pa Ti” into “To Zion,” were not mere artistic choices, but rather statements of unity in music’s vast continuum.
Today, echoes of The Miseducation are evident. Contemporary artists, from chart-toppers to indie darlings, draw from Lauryn Hill’s inspiration. They sample her, quote her, and, most importantly, they seek to emulate her authenticity. Even a quarter-century removed from its release, the album remains a touchstone, a compass pointing towards artistic sincerity, cultural relevance, and profound influence.
Last year, The Fugees’ highly-awaited 25th-anniversary tour to celebrate the release of their album, The Score, was canceled, leaving fans around the world upset. To make it up to their longtime supporters, the group managed to pull off a surprise performance at the 2023 Roots Picnic.
Now, the group’s Ms. Lauryn Hill is on the road celebrating the same milestone for her Grammy Award-winning debut album, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill. The anniversary tour kicked off on September 8 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. If you plan on attending, here is the show’s full setlist from September 8, according to setlist.fm, which should indicated how future shows will go.
You can also find the remaining tour dates can be found underneath the setlist. Find more information here.
1. “Everything Is Everything”
2. “When It Hurts So Bad”
3. “Final Hour”
4. “Lost Ones”
5. “Ex-Factor”
6. “To Zion”
7. “Nothing Even Matters”
8. “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” (Frankie Valli cover)
9. “I Used to Love Him”
10. “Forgive Them Father”
11. “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”
12. “Doo Wop (That Thing)”
13. “Killing Me Softly With His Song” (Lori Lieberman cover)
14. “Ready or Not” (Fugees song)
15. “Fu-Gee-La” (Fugees song)
16. “Turn Your Lights Down Low” (Bob Marley & The Wailers cover)
09/23 — New York, NY @ Global Citizen Festival
10/01 — Gold Coast, AUS @ Promiseland Festival
10/03 — Melbourne, AUS @ Rod Laver Arena *
10/05 — Sydney, AUS @ Kudos Banks Arena *
10/07 — Auckland, NZ @ Eden Festival
10/17 — Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center #
10/19 — Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays #
10/21 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena #
10/23 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Arena #
10/26 — Toronto, ON – Scotia #
10/28 — Chicago, IL @ United Center #
10/30 — Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena #
11/02 — Denver, CO – Ball Arena #
11/05 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum #
11/07 — Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena #
11/09 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena #
Lauryn Hill will officially be embarking on a tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of her iconic album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Concerts will begin, this fall, with a show in Minneapolis. Fugees as well as Koffee will be joining her for several dates.
In a press release, Hill said: “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is and was a love song to my parents, my family, my people, my musical and cultural forebears, my teachers, my loves, my Creator. I wrote love songs and protest songs—(still love songs) about the subjects and interests that inspired and moved me. I was confident that what inspired me would resonate with an audience that had been led to believe that songs of that kind could only live in the past.”
GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND – JUNE 28: Lauryn Hill performs on The Pyramid Stage during day three of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 28, 2019 in Glastonbury, England. (Photo by Harry Durrant/Getty Images)
She continued: “I loved music, I loved people, I truly felt grateful to God for my life, and genuinely blessed to have a platform where I could share wisdom and perspective through music. I felt a charge to challenge the idea that certain kinds of expression and/or certain kinds of people didn’t belong in certain places. I loved showing what could work or happen provided there was imagination, creativity, and LOVE leading the way.” Hill dropped The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill back in 1998 as what remains her only solo studio album. Check out her schedule for the upcoming tour below.
Lauryn Hill’s Tour Dates
09-08 Minneapolis, MN – Mystic Lake
09-23 New York, NY – Global Citizen Festival
10-01 Gold Coast, Australia – Promiseland Festival
“The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill is and was a love song to my parents, my family, my people, my musical and cultural forebears, my teachers, my loves, my Creator,” Hill shared in a press release. “I wrote love songs and protest songs–(still love songs) about the subjects and interests that inspired and moved me. I was confident that what inspired me would resonate with an audience that had been led to believe that songs of that kind could only live in the past.”
Fugees will open most of the North American shows after being set to reunite for a tour last year, based around The Score turning 25. However, it was eventually canceled, which Variety suspected due to Pras Michel’s legal issues. They still have made appearances together, including at Roots Picnic in June.
In Australia, Hill will be joined by Koffee as an opening act.
Continue scrolling for the complete list of tour dates. Presale and general sales for each of the dates are taking place at different times. For more information, visit here.
09/08 — Minneapolis, MN @ Mystic Lake
09/23 — New York, NY @ Global Citizen Festival
10/01 — Gold Coast, AUS @ Promiseland Festival
10/03 — Melbourne, AUS @ Rod Laver Arena *
10/05 — Sydney, AUS @ Kudos Banks Arena *
10/07 — Auckland, NZ @ Eden Festival
10/17 — Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center #
10/19 — Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays #
10/21 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena #
10/23 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Arena #
10/26 — Toronto, ON – Scotia #
10/28 — Chicago, IL @ United Center #
10/30 — Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena #
11/02 — Denver, CO – Ball Arena #
11/05 — Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum #
11/07 — Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena #
11/09 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena #
Iconic artist Ms. Lauryn Hill has unveiled The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary Tour, a celebration of her groundbreaking 1998 solo debut album. With the album’s release anniversary just around the corner, the tour will revisit the heartfelt music that resonated with countless fans. The 17-date tour will grace global arenas, including Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, Chicago’s United Center, and Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, along with stops in Australia and New Zealand. Notably, The Fugees will also take the stage, co-headlining the tour’s US and Canadian dates, marking their first tour in years.
“The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is and was a love song to my parents, my family, my people, my musical and cultural forebears, my teachers, my loves, my Creator,” said Hill. “I wrote love songs and protest songs— (still love songs) about the subjects and interests that inspired and moved me. I was confident that what inspired me would resonate with an audience that had been led to believe that songs of that kind could only live in the past.” She continues “I loved music, I loved people, I truly felt grateful to God for my life, and genuinely blessed to have a platform where I could share wisdom and perspective through music. I felt a charge to challenge the idea that certain kinds of expression and/or certain kinds of people didn’t belong in certain places. I loved showing what could work or happen provided there was imagination, creativity and LOVE leading the way.”
Citi has been named the official card for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary Tour, offering cardmembers exclusive access to presale tickets starting August 22. Public onsale begins August 25. Lauryn Hill’s appearances at events throughout the year have showcased her continued impact on music and culture. As the 25th anniversary of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” approaches, her enduring influence on the industry and society remains indelible.
UPCOMING LIVE DATES
9/8 – Minneapolis, MN @ Mystic Lake
9/23 – New York, NY @ Global Citizen Festival
10/1 – Gold Coast, AUS @ Promiseland Festival
10/3 – Melbourne, AUS @ Rod Laver Arena (with Koffee)
10/5 – Sydney, AUS @ Kudos Banks Arena (with Koffee)
10/7 – Auckland, NZ @ Eden Festival
10/17 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center (with Fugees)
10/19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays (with Fugees)
10/21 – Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena (with Fugees)
10/23 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Arena (with Fugees)
10/26 – Toronto, ON – Scotia (with Fugees)
10/28 – Chicago, IL @ United Center (with Fugees)
10/30 – Fort Worth, TX @ Dickies Arena (with Fugees)
11/2 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena (with Fugees)
11/5 – Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum (with Fugees)
11/7 Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena (with Fugees)
11/9 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena (with Fugees)
To this day, Lauryn Hill remains one of the most mysterious figures in music. The Grammy-winning New Jersey icon went from the top of the sonic world to the shadows overnight, only releasing one solo studio album throughout her entire career. Of course, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill exists amongst the greatest fusions of hip-hop and soul to date. In addition, she was a key part of legendary hip-hop trio The Fugees throughout her early 20s. Even if Lauryn Hill’s career was frustratingly brief, her mainstay presence as a hot topic speaks volumes to her influence as an artist. If she announced a tour tomorrow, it would sell out immediately.
Lauryn Hill’s first exposure to the entertainment spotlight took place at the mere age of 13. Performing at the high-stakes Apollo Theatre, she was thrown into a world of pressure-filled expectations from a young age. At the time, the Apollo Theatre had been host to iconic acts. The Jackson 5, The Isely Brothers, Billie Holiday, and Prince had all performed at the iconic venue. Precocious and shy, she came to face-to-face with the harsh judgements of the music industry from a young age. The experience would later inform her ambiguity and lack of a fully-fledged career.
Lauryn Hill Experienced Intense Pressure As A Teen
Portrait of American Pop and Rhythm & Blues musician Lauryn Hill as she poses against a white background, New York, New York, 1998. (Photo by Anthony Barboza/Getty Images)
With her voice shaking with nerves on the Apollo Theatre stage, the beginning of her recital of “Who’s Lovin You” was met with testing boos from the audience. These detractors weren’t directly looking to demean her on-stage talent. Instead, they were testing Lauryn Hill to see if she would persist through the harsh pushback to her performance. Hill had already been exposed to more pressure and scrutiny than the majority of people face through their entire lives.
Unfortunately, we live in a culture where early success is persistently romanticized. Teenagers often garner an even greater spotlight than fully grown performers, with record labels looking to profit off of their youth. The result can often be damaging for vulnerable young creators, who aren’t yet mature enough to process the high-octane expectations surrounding the music industry. Lauryn Hill was undoubtably a victim of this stigma. Her voice was thrown into a toxic world of boos and cheers before she had even faced high school. After walking off of the stage of the Apollo Theatre, she cried after the traumatic experience.
Fame & Toxic Relationships Deeply Affected Her
By high school, she had teamed up with Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel to form The Fugees. Initially solely there as a vocalist, her talent as an MC was quickly noticed by the two. The Fugees separated themself from the prevailing gangster rap narrative of the late ’80s to early ’90s, with their sophomore album blowing up off of “Killing Me Softly With His Song.” The song became a career-defining moment for Hill, who stood out as the best singer and rapper throughout The Score. After the albums’ success, fans were clamoring for her to go solo. Even when she didn’t want to, she caved in with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, propelling her to a place of stardom that a Black woman had arguably never seen before in the music industry.
However, trouble was ahead for Lauryn Hill. The pressure became overwhelming and corrosive for her, who was struggling with the fame behind the scenes. How exactly did this struggle form? To this day, fans can only guess. Whether it was mental health issues, the toxic nature of her relationships, or simply a conscious decision to detach, Hill became to disappear from the spotlight by the early 2000s. In part, this may have had to do with her relationships with other men. While she was known to have had a relationship with Fugee member Wyclef Jean, she actually had five children with Damian Marley. The two never married, and the extent of their relationship remains murky to her day. Hill has been intensely private over the past few decades, leaving it a question mark as to whether these experiences affected her presence in music.
Hill Faced Controversy From Fans & Media
Soon after the release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, she was the subject of plenty of criticism surrounding her relationship to men. Known for engaging in intimacy with already married men, many fans accused her of not living up to Christian ethos of much of her lyricism. In addition, her relationship to her newfound fame became toxic. Hill’s struggle to justify her music creation in the context of the capitalistic world we exist in. Consequently, this compromised her desire to create. By the early 2000s, she had begun traveling down a path of individuality and spirituality away from her fans. MTV Unplugged 2.0, a live acoustic set released in 2002, finally gave fans a spotlight into these issues.
She would become associated for her constant gaslighting of her fanbase. Hill faced tax evasion charges, bounced to and from wanting to reconnect with the Fugees members, and consistently showed up late to her performances. In many ways, her aloofness draws a connection to the modern-day behavior of Frank Ocean. To this day, fans question what exactly led to her disappearance from the world of music creation. Did that night at the Apollo Theatre permanently traumatize her and distance her from the world’s opinions? Did she simply lose the passion over time? Was it a conscious decision to disengage from the capitalistic nature of the music industry? In retrospect, Lauryn Hill’s disappearance was likely a combination of all of these struggles.
MADRID, SPAIN – JULY 11: Lauryn Hill performs on stage during day 1 of Madcool Festival on July 11, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Mariano Regidor/Redferns)
Recently, Lauryn Hill has been making slightly more frequent appearances under the public eye. Last weekend, she delivered a surprise reunion performance with Fugees at the Roots Picnic. The trio performed six iconic tracks from their discography. This was ntended to signify a celebration of the 25th anniversary of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. In light of Pras Michel’s recent conviction surrounding a multi-million-dollar financial conspiracy case, it could be the last we hear from the trio for the foreseeable future.
no excuse
