Music Metrics Vault

Ms. Lauryn Hill

Data updated on 2025-07-15 07:47:24 UTC
Lauryn Hill broke through with multi-platinum-selling, Grammy-winning group the Fugees, but with her 1998 solo debut The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer established herself as a creative force on her own. She successfully integrated rap, soul, and reggae into a singular sound. Eclectic, uplifting, and empowering, the album was often cited by younger artists as a touchstone. Following its success, Hill was something of an enigma, her recorded output limited to a live set, scattered compilation appearances, and a handful of collaborations. Disenchantment with the entertainment industry, along with legal issues and erratic performances, did not lessen the impact of her '90s work.

Raised in South Orange, New Jersey, Hill spent her youth listening her parents' multi-genre, multi-generational record collection. She began singing at an early age and snagged minor roles on television (As the World Turns) and in film (Sister Act II: Back in the Habit). Her on-again/off-again membership in the Fugees began at the age of 13, but was often interrupted by both the acting gigs and her enrollment at Columbia University. After developing a following in the tri-state area, the group's first release -- the much-hyped but uneven 1994 album Blunted on Reality -- bombed, and almost caused a breakup. But with the multi-platinum 1996 release The Score, the Fugees became one of the most prominent rap acts on the strength of hit singles "Killing Me Softly," "Ready or Not," and "No Woman, No Cry."

Hill followed it in August 1998 with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, her first solo release. Apart from a cover of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," popularized by Frankie Valli, each song was either written or co-written by Hill. She was also credited with the arrangement and production of the whole album, which was steeped in her old-school background, both musically (the Motown-esque singalong of "Doo Wop [That Thing]") and lyrically (the nostalgic "Every Ghetto, Every City"). As Miseducation began a long reign on the charts through most of the fall and winter of 1998, Hill became a national media icon, as magazines ranging from Time to Esquire to Teen People vied to put her on the cover. By the end of the year, as the album topped best-of lists, she was being credited for her part in assimilating hip-hop into the mainstream. The momentum culminated at the February 1999 Grammy Awards, during which Hill took home five trophies from her 11 nominations, including Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Album -- the most ever for a woman. Shortly after, she launched a highly praised national tour with Atlanta rappers OutKast.

Hill continued shaping her solo career, though it hit some significant snags. She faced a lawsuit from musicians who claimed they were denied full credit for their work on Miseducation -- a matter that was eventually settled out of court. After some film projects fell through, she retreated from the music scene as she raised her family and partially attributed her hiatus to feeling too compromised. The double-disc MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 appeared in May 2002 and documented a raw, deeply personal performance. It debuted at number three but quickly slid off the Billboard 200. During the next several years, her recordings and performances were infrequent and erratic, highlighted by a Fugees reunion for Dave Chappelle's Block Party. In 2013, she spent almost three months in prison for tax evasion but was more active after her release. The following year, the English-language version of the Swedish documentary Concerning Violence was released with Hill as its narrator. She executive produced and recorded six songs for the 2015 release Nina Revisited: A Tribute to Nina Simone, including interpretations of "Feeling Good" and "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair." ~ Brian Raftery

Genres

: neo soul

Total plays

5.7 billion
Updated on 2025-07-15

Country

United States

Monthly listeners

13,525,750

Followers

3,371,066

Top Cities

  1. United Kingdom
    187,952 listeners
  2. United States
    175,419 listeners
  3. Brazil
    244,268 listeners
  4. Australia
    177,156 listeners
  5. United States
    145,264 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Killing Me Softly With His Song
Killing Me Softly With His Song
848,870,682 4:59 1996-02-13
Killing Me Softly with His Song
Killing Me Softly with His Song
848,870,682 4:59 1996-02-13
Doo Wop (That Thing)
Doo Wop (That Thing)
569,584,785 5:20 1997-01-01
Ready or Not
Ready or Not
416,937,254 3:47 1996-02-13
Ex-Factor
Ex-Factor
342,441,636 5:27 1997-01-01
If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (feat. Lauryn Hill)
If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) (feat. Lauryn Hill)
312,027,534 4:43 1996-07-02
If I Ruled The World
If I Ruled The World
312,027,534 4:45 1997-01-08
Fu-Gee-La
Fu-Gee-La
195,493,336 4:20 1996-02-13
Can't Take My Eyes Off of You - (I Love You Baby)
Can't Take My Eyes Off of You - (I Love You Baby)
190,890,440 3:41 1998-08-25
Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
190,890,440 3:41 1997-01-01
Turn Your Lights Down Low
Turn Your Lights Down Low
124,546,290 5:46 1999-01-01
Doo Wop (That Thing) - Edit
Doo Wop (That Thing) - Edit
104,492,998 4:01 1995-01-01
Nothing Even Matters (feat. D'Angelo)
Nothing Even Matters (feat. D'Angelo)
102,700,727 5:51 1998-08-25
To Zion
To Zion
96,240,502 6:09 1998-05-21
Lost Ones
Lost Ones
80,900,711 5:34 1997-01-01
Everything Is Everything
Everything Is Everything
71,859,580 4:53 1997-01-01
Tell Him
Tell Him
71,381,770 4:41 1998-08-25
Zealots
Zealots
46,339,782 4:21 1996-02-13
I Gotta Find Peace of Mind - Live
I Gotta Find Peace of Mind - Live
43,677,863 9:19 2002-05-07
I Used to Love Him (feat. Mary J. Blige)
I Used to Love Him (feat. Mary J. Blige)
42,958,710 5:40 1998-08-25
I Used To Love Him
I Used To Love Him
42,958,710 5:40 1997-01-01
Nappy Heads - Remix
Nappy Heads - Remix
37,734,812 5:22 2012-01-01
When It Hurts so Bad
When It Hurts so Bad
34,317,671 5:42 1998-08-25
Superstar
Superstar
31,901,695 4:57 1998-08-25
Guantanamera (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill, Celia Cruz & Jeni Fujita)
Guantanamera (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill, Celia Cruz & Jeni Fujita)
31,898,741 4:30 1997-06-24
How Many Mics
How Many Mics
31,139,106 4:29 1996-02-13
Forgive Them Father
Forgive Them Father
27,456,050 5:15 1998-08-25
The Sweetest Thing (feat. Lauryn Hill) - From the New Line Cinema film "Love Jones"
The Sweetest Thing (feat. Lauryn Hill) - From the New Line Cinema film "Love Jones"
24,352,840 4:52 1997-01-01
Final Hour
Final Hour
24,224,184 4:16 1998-08-25
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
23,461,960 3:55 1998-08-25
Nobody (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill)
Nobody (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill)
22,344,593 4:42 2021-08-06
Every Ghetto, Every City
Every Ghetto, Every City
21,229,495 5:15 1998-08-25
Intro
Intro
18,001,472 0:47 1998-08-25
Feeling Good
Feeling Good
17,748,296 4:03 2015-06-18
No Woman, No Cry - L.P. Version
No Woman, No Cry - L.P. Version
16,983,987 4:19 2003-03-25
Coming Home (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill)
Coming Home (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill)
14,702,777 3:30 2019-08-28
Mr. Intentional - Live
Mr. Intentional - Live
13,239,923 7:13 2002-05-07
Do You Like the Way (feat. Lauryn Hill & Cee-Lo)
Do You Like the Way (feat. Lauryn Hill & Cee-Lo)
12,751,321 5:54 1999-01-01
Vocab - Refugees Hip Hop Remix
Vocab - Refugees Hip Hop Remix
12,003,780 4:01 2003-03-25
The Mask
The Mask
11,633,360 4:51 1996-02-13
The Beast - includes Chinese restaurant skit
The Beast - includes Chinese restaurant skit
9,914,143 5:37 1996-02-13
I Get Out - Live
I Get Out - Live
9,520,651 5:17 2002-05-07
Save The Day (with Ms. Lauryn Hill) - 2020
Save The Day (with Ms. Lauryn Hill) - 2020
8,969,191 3:51 2020-10-02
Just Like Water - Live
Just Like Water - Live
8,964,061 5:52 2002-05-07
Mystery of Iniquity - Live
Mystery of Iniquity - Live
8,603,227 5:11 2002-05-07
Guarding The Gates - From "Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack"
Guarding The Gates - From "Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack"
8,568,083 6:00 2019-11-15
All That I Can Say
All That I Can Say
8,287,830 5:30 1999-01-01
I Find It Hard to Say (Rebel) - Live
I Find It Hard to Say (Rebel) - Live
8,090,479 6:50 2002-05-07
We Got Love
We Got Love
7,575,747 4:05 2020-03-13
Red Intro
Red Intro
6,609,749 1:52 1996-02-13
So Much Things to Say - Live
So Much Things to Say - Live
6,309,268 5:60 2002-05-07
Adam Lives In Theory - Live
Adam Lives In Theory - Live
6,219,765 7:26 2002-05-07
Music
Music
6,164,800 3:42 2007-01-01
Manifest/Outro
Manifest/Outro
5,894,508 5:60 1996-02-13
Freedom Time - Live
Freedom Time - Live
5,750,846 4:59 2002-05-07
Don't Cry Dry Your Eyes - Clean Edit
Don't Cry Dry Your Eyes - Clean Edit
5,488,271 4:05 2012-01-01
Oh Jerusalem - Live
Oh Jerusalem - Live
5,262,957 8:55 2002-05-07
Just Want You Around - Live
Just Want You Around - Live
5,117,708 4:37 2002-05-07
Sang Fézi (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill)
Sang Fézi (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill)
4,981,133 4:02 1997-06-24
Fu-Gee-La - Sly & Robbie Mix
Fu-Gee-La - Sly & Robbie Mix
4,711,471 5:28 1996-02-13
So High (feat. Lauryn Hill) - Cloud 9 Remix
So High (feat. Lauryn Hill) - Cloud 9 Remix
4,638,852 5:07 2005-12-06
If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)
If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)
3,644,614 1:01 2020-11-20
Lose Myself
Lose Myself
3,586,782 4:35 2007-06-05
I Remember - Live
I Remember - Live
3,504,177 3:47 2002-05-07
The Conquering Lion - Live
The Conquering Lion - Live
3,431,243 3:19 2002-05-07
Intro - Live
Intro - Live
3,226,092 2:29 2002-05-07
Selah
Selah
3,206,092 5:54 2002-01-01
Boof Baf - Clean Edit
Boof Baf - Clean Edit
3,205,385 5:09 2012-01-01
Interlude 1 - Live
Interlude 1 - Live
3,176,431 1:56 2002-05-07
Gunpowder (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill)
Gunpowder (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill)
3,166,850 4:24 1997-06-24
Some Seek Stardom
Some Seek Stardom
3,033,570 3:42 2012-01-01
The Score
The Score
2,934,350 4:08 2003-03-25
Manifest
Manifest
2,914,268 1:41 2020-11-20
Interlude 2 - Live
Interlude 2 - Live
2,687,394 1:22 2002-05-07
Interlude 3 - Live
Interlude 3 - Live
2,540,940 3:19 2002-05-07
Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair
Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair
2,514,539 7:14 2015-06-23
Interlude 4 - Live
Interlude 4 - Live
2,392,617 1:41 2002-05-07
Interlude 5 - Live
Interlude 5 - Live
2,298,246 12:12 2002-05-07
Ex-Factor - Radio Edit
Ex-Factor - Radio Edit
2,131,676 4:38 1999-01-01
Yelé (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill)
Yelé (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill)
1,944,160 5:24 1997-06-24
Interlude 6 - Live
Interlude 6 - Live
1,885,056 1:43 2002-05-07
Outro - Live
Outro - Live
1,760,831 2:57 2002-05-07
The Sweetest Thing (feat. Lauryn Hill) - Mahogany Mix
The Sweetest Thing (feat. Lauryn Hill) - Mahogany Mix
1,724,722 4:22 2003-03-25
Nappy Heads - Remix Radio Edit
Nappy Heads - Remix Radio Edit
1,610,897 4:37 2003-03-25
Everything Is Everything - Radio Edit
Everything Is Everything - Radio Edit
1,572,162 3:57 2001-01-29
Sweetest Thing
Sweetest Thing
1,558,690 3:39 2020-11-20
Ready Or Not
Ready Or Not
1,509,625 2:08 2020-11-20
If You Can Count
If You Can Count
1,479,743 3:25 2024-10-18
I've Got Life (Version)
I've Got Life (Version)
1,452,096 7:28 2015-06-29
The Passion
The Passion
1,391,531 5:46 2012-01-01
Black Woman
Black Woman
1,315,151 3:59 2021-10-29
Fu-Gee-La
Fu-Gee-La
1,271,300 1:36 2020-11-20
All My Time
All My Time
1,129,248 6:44 1998-02-25
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Mousse-T Too Hot-Bad Boy Mix]
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Mousse-T Too Hot-Bad Boy Mix]
1,129,248 6:46 1998-06-27
Year of the Dragon (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill)
Year of the Dragon (feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill)
1,128,737 4:07 1997-06-24
Cowboys - L.P. Version
Cowboys - L.P. Version
1,048,518 4:45 2003-03-25
Consumerism
Consumerism
972,082 4:50 2013-10-04
Killing Me Softly
Killing Me Softly
947,537 5:22 2020-11-20
Wild Is The Wind
Wild Is The Wind
945,782 6:43 2015-07-10
Ne Me Quitte Pas
Ne Me Quitte Pas
916,653 3:45 2015-07-10
Ex-Factor
Ex-Factor
788,598 4:16 2020-11-20
Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)
Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)
771,749 4:19 2013-05-03
Ready or Not - Salaam's Ready for the Show Remix
Ready or Not - Salaam's Ready for the Show Remix
709,665 4:22 2003-03-25
Wanna Be
Wanna Be
621,092 4:03 2012-01-01
Ex-Factor - A Simple Mix
Ex-Factor - A Simple Mix
605,384 4:35 1999-01-01
Retrospect for Life (feat. Lauryn Hill)
Retrospect for Life (feat. Lauryn Hill)
558,781 5:25 2007-11-27
Ex-Factor - A Simple Breakdown
Ex-Factor - A Simple Breakdown
545,311 4:09 1999-01-01
Reminisce Interlude
Reminisce Interlude
541,560 0:30 2020-11-20
Every Ghetto, Every City
Every Ghetto, Every City
493,675 3:07 2020-11-20
To Zion
To Zion
492,550 3:60 2020-11-20
Refugees On The Mic - Remix
Refugees On The Mic - Remix
478,488 4:38 2012-01-01
Little Drummer Boy
Little Drummer Boy
472,079 5:30 1999-01-01
African Mailman (Instrumental)
African Mailman (Instrumental)
471,141 5:12 2015-07-10
Superstar
Superstar
450,859 4:34 2020-11-20
Manifest/Outro
Manifest/Outro
380,161 5:16 1996-02-13
Funny Money Interlude
Funny Money Interlude
373,104 0:36 2020-11-20
Doo Wop (That Thing)
Doo Wop (That Thing)
340,965 4:23 2020-11-20
Lost Ones - Remix
Lost Ones - Remix
330,985 4:16 1999-01-01
Lost Ones
Lost Ones
296,116 6:12 2020-11-20
When It Hurts So Bad
When It Hurts So Bad
232,400 4:51 2020-11-20
DJ & Band Solo
DJ & Band Solo
183,710 10:39 2020-11-20
Everything Is Everything
Everything Is Everything
176,376 6:13 2020-11-20
Introductions Interlude
Introductions Interlude
171,727 3:35 2020-11-20
My Life Changed Forever, Again Interlude
My Life Changed Forever, Again Interlude
163,464 2:02 2020-11-20
Perfect Match
Perfect Match
119,851 3:19 2022-12-23
Arigato Interlude
Arigato Interlude
105,550 0:34 2020-11-20
On Love - Interlude by Ms. Lauryn Hill
On Love - Interlude by Ms. Lauryn Hill
54,444 0:31 2021-03-19
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Mousse-T New Jersey Radio Edit]
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Mousse-T New Jersey Radio Edit]
28,791 3:43 1998-06-27
LaLaLa
LaLaLa
13,320 2:34 2019-05-22
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Mousse-T New Jersey Mix]
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Mousse-T New Jersey Mix]
12,762 4:52 1998-06-27
Watch Out
Watch Out
11,938 3:38 2019-05-22
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Yo Jo R&B Mix]
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Yo Jo R&B Mix]
10,245 4:48 1998-06-27
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Matty's Club Mix]
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Matty's Club Mix]
8,118 8:15 1998-06-27
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Mousse-T Too Hot-Bad Boy Radio Mix]
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Mousse-T Too Hot-Bad Boy Radio Mix]
7,606 3:09 1998-06-27
Interlude 7 - Live
Interlude 7 - Live
3,822 0:21 2002-05-07
Feeling Good - Live
Feeling Good - Live
2,488 4:02 2022-01-28
Happy To Be Here Interlude
Happy To Be Here Interlude
1,908 0:26 2020-11-20
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Armed & Dangerous Mix]
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Armed & Dangerous Mix]
< 1000 6:32 1998-06-27
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [On the Edge Mix]
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [On the Edge Mix]
< 1000 7:16 1998-06-27
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Lazy Daisy Mix]
All My Time (feat. Lauryn Hill) [Lazy Daisy Mix]
< 1000 7:01 1998-06-27

New releases

Live in Tokyo, Japan '99
Live in Tokyo, Japan '99
2020-11-20
[Active Driveway LTD]
Guarding The Gates (From "Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack")
Guarding The Gates (From "Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack")
2019-11-15
[Obverse Creation Music]
Coming Home
Coming Home
2019-08-28
[Getting Out Our Dreams, Inc./Def Jam Recordings]
Coming Home
Coming Home
2019-08-28
[Getting Out Our Dreams, Inc./Def Jam Recordings]
I've Got Life (Version)
I've Got Life (Version)
2015-06-29
[Revive/RCA Records]
Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair
Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair
2015-06-23
[Revive/RCA Records]
Feeling Good
Feeling Good
2015-06-18
[Revive/RCA Records]
Consumerism
Consumerism
2013-10-04
[Obverse Creation Music]
Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)
Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)
2013-08-20
[Obverse Creation Music]
Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)
Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)
2013-08-20
[Obverse Creation Music]
Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)
Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)
2013-05-03
[Obverse Creation Music]
Mr. Intentional
Mr. Intentional
2002-07-15
[Columbia]
MTV Unplugged No. 2.0
MTV Unplugged No. 2.0
2002-05-07
[Columbia]
MTV Unplugged No. 2.0
MTV Unplugged No. 2.0
2002-05-07
[Columbia]
Ex-Factor
Ex-Factor
1999-01-01
[Columbia]
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
1998-08-25
[Ruffhouse/Columbia]
The Score
The Score
1996-02-13
[Columbia]
The Score (Expanded Edition)
The Score (Expanded Edition)
1996-02-13
[Columbia]