“The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” by Lauryn Hill

“The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” was released on August 25, 1998. It was the debut album of singer and rapper Lauryn Hill and she released it after touring with her former group, The Fugees, and becoming involved with fellow band member Rohan Marley. She became pregnant with their child, and this experience inspired the creation of this album. She said years later in an interview about the creation of the album, “Every time I got hurt, every time I was disappointed, every time I learned, I just wrote a song.”

The album was overwhelmingly praised by critics and listeners alike. They liked how Hill gave a woman’s view on life and love. These views can be heard in various lyrics throughout the album such as in the song, “Doo Wop (That Thing).” In the song, she raps, “More concerned with his rims and his Timbs than his women/Him and his men, come in the club like hooligans/Don’t care who they offend, poppin’ yang (Like you got yen!)” Hill also explored her relationship with God on this album in songs such as “Lost Ones” and “Forgive Them Father.” These songs were supposedly direct attacks on fellow Fugees members Wyclef Jean and Pras. To learn more about the history of the Fugees and the inspiration of Hill’s album, read here.

“The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” ultimately went on to win the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1999.