1998 Rewind: Remembering Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

I’ve been very vocal about my love for the year 1998 – I believe it’s one of the last great years in R&B and hip-hop history. Since 2023 marks 25 years since those magical 12 months, 1998 Rewind will look back at some of the best (and most underrated) albums of that time.

Today in 1998, we were blessed with one of the biggest albums of the decade – and in the years that followed, one of the more controversial ones, too. The diamond-selling Miseducation of Lauryn Hill still stands as the sole solo album for Ms. Hill to date. Is it R&B? Is it hip-hop? Is it overrated? Kristi Woodard joins me to break down an unquestionable classic.

Take us back – what were your thoughts on this album when you first heard it back in 98?

Kristi: In 1998, I was an LSU student, majoring in Mass Comm and engrossed in music. I was a college radio show host, an urban radio station intern, and a college rep for a major record label. So that, along with being a fan of The Fugees, had me really anticipating this album, and L Boogie did NOT disappoint. 

I honestly knew it was going to be something special from the first listen. From the time I left the music store, until nearly a year later, it was played daily. Her vocals, the production, the lyrics – all weaving R&B tales that were infused with hip hop – it was everything. 

Edd: This may come as a surprise, but this was one album that I didn’t cop right out of the gate in 1998. To understand why, you have to understand 1998. We didn’t have infinite albums at our fingertips FOR FREE on the Internet release day. Nah, a hard-working playa like myself had to use his well-earned coins from his mall video game store gig wisely. I had just purchased Kelly Price’s debut a couple of weeks earlier and I was required by Virginia law to pick up my hometown girl Nicole Wray’s debut, which dropped the same day as Miseducation.

That meant Ms. Lauryn was the odd woman out. And honestly, I wasn’t losing sleep over it. I was a massive Fugees fan but with Lauryn’s single “Doo Wop”playing ENDLESSLY I was quickly burning out on her music. It wasn’t until “Ex-Factor” was released as a single later in the year that I finally decided to catch up. And man, good things truly came to those who waited. I was blown away by this album on first listen.

The pick for best song was unanimous. Talk about it!

Kristi: “Ex-Factor”

My #1 ranking was “Ex Factor.” It was a hit single for a reason. Even if you didn’t know the back story (inspiration) for the song, I think the haunting lyrics and subject matter really resonate with anyone who’s ever gone through heartbreak. The vocals, the soulful track, the poetic lyrics, and even the music video, all made this song the best on the album for me. 

Edd: “Ex-Factor”

As I said above, “Ex-Factor” instantly hooked me. It was just so well written and powerfully performed. You could hear the aching in L-Boogie’s vocals – “And when I tried to walk away, you HURT yourself to make me stay/this is crazy…” She wasn’t just reading words from a sheet of music, she was living that pain. Twenty-five years later and it’s still captivating. Plus, it taught y’all the word “reciprocity.” Who says hip-hop can’t be educational?

What was the best video from this project?

Krisit: Best visually – “Ex-Factor” (Directed by Malik Sayeed); best overall concept – “Everything Is Everything” (Directed by Sanji)

The thought of us existing on a turntable and being at the mercy of an omnipresent DJ has lived rent-free in my head ever since its premiere. 

Edd: “Ex-Factor”

Agree with Kristi on the message of “Everything is Everything” but once again, I gotta make it an “Ex-Factor” love fest. The video perfectly captures her loneliness, first by wandering around a well-lit, luxurious loft alone, then by creeping through a shadowy club, ignoring the lovebirds around her while she fantasizes about better days.  The subtle touches are so well done.

Which song should have been a single?

Kristi: “Nothing Even Matters”

“Nothing Even Matters” featuring D’Angelo. We were right in between the release of D’Angelo’s Brown Sugar (1996) and Voodoo (2000) albums, and we get Neo Soul’s golden children together for a love song? We deserved that as a single, and a music video.  

Edd: “Nothing Even Matters”

“Nothing Even Matters,” and nothing even comes close. Not only is it one of the best songs on the album, it featured a red-hot D’Angelo, who was months away from his creative peak. In fact, I have to constantly remind myself that we DIDN’T have a video for this record. It seemed inevitable that it would happen, but nope. Add it to the pile with Dru Hill’s “Beauty” and Tweet’s “Smoking Cigarettes” for video disappointments.

What’s the most underrated song on this project?

Kristi: “Tell Him”

“Tell Him.” It’s one of my favorites on the album. Whether you believe it’s a romantic or spiritual song (or both), the track and its simple but hitting percussion, gives that hint of hip hop roots. The track perfectly pairs with Lauryn’s warm vocals and the dope arrangements. It just hits all the right notes and should be appreciated more. 

Edd: “Final Hour”

Kristi keeps stealing all my answers! In an attempt to prove to y’all that I’m not cheating off her paper, I’ll show love to “Final Hour,” the best rap record that gets the least amount of love. I know there’s endless debate about whether this is a rap album or an R&B album (and we’ll continue that debate soon enough!) but Ms. Lauryn’s lyrical acumen should never be questioned after bars like this:

Get diplomatic immunity in every ghetto community
Had opportunity went from Hoodshock to Hood-chic
But it ain’t what you cop, it’s about what you keep
Even if there are leaks, you can’t capsize this ship
Cuz I baptize my lips every time I take a sip

And speaking of lyrics:

There’s some fantastic lyricism on this album. Which lyrics shine brightest?

Kristi: “Ex-Factor”

“It could all be so simple,
But you’d rather make it hard.
Loving you is like a battle
And we both end up with scars.
Tell me who I have have to be,
To gain some reciprocity.
See no one loves you more than me,
And no one ever will”

When that song played for the first time – and to this DAY – I felt every single word of it. There are amazing lyrics throughout the album, but that one – that whole song, and the way she delivers it – still takes me somewhere.

Edd: “Tell Him”

The choices are endless on this album, but while relistening to the LP in preparation of this post, this line from “Tell Him” slapped me upside the head:

Now I may have faith
To make mountains fall
But if I lack love then I am nothin’ at all

Since “Tell Him” is a hidden track I didn’t play it at endlessly as the other songs on the album (my old heads from the tapes and CDs era know how inaccessible those can be sometimes). But those lines are such a powerful testament to the power of love, an all but forgotten lesson in today’s world of music.

Which song features the best vocal performance?

Kristi: “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”

Lauryn’s vocal range is put on display throughout the album, but on “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” I think the minimal strings and piano track allows her vocals to truly shine, and we get a more intimate portrait of her, musically. 

Edd: “To Zion”

To me, nothing is as stirring as Lauryn’s performance of “To Zion.” The passion she unleashes on that hook is incredible – her vocals but clear and powerful. The love she has for that child resonates through every note.

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Would you call this a hip-hop album or a R&B album?

Kristi: I have always called it both. This album embodied many elements of both genres. The dope lyricism, scratching, beatboxing, and storytelling of hip hop, plus the soulful vocals, beautiful instrumentation and lyrical lamentations of R&B. I know some call it neo-soul but this is hip-hop/R&B (or hip-hop fusion, if you will).   

Edd: Ah the eternal question. When I ranked the 50 best rap albums of the 90s, crusty hip-hop heads said she shouldn’t have been included. “It’s an R&B album!” I was told. When I ranked it on the 50 best R&B albums of the 90s, the R&B prudes said she shouldn’t have been included. “She’s rapping on that album!” I was told. And I included it on both lists because the album is BOTH. Yes, the album certainly leans more R&B but the hip-hop influence is ever-present and 25 years later, L-Boogie is STILL one of the greatest MCs – male or female – to ever spit. I know Twitter taught y’all that you have to pick ONE SIDE on every issue and defend it to the death, but real life doesn’t work like that. Two things CAN be true, and this album is the best of both worlds of rap and R&B.

For many reasons, Lauryn was never able to top this album. Does that hurt her legacy?

Kristi: This has been debated for the past 25 years, and every person/fan you ask will probably have different answers. For me, this did not hurt her legacy. She made one glorious album that has stood the test of time, whereas a lot of artists have made one (or several) mediocre one(s) that are easily forgettable. I feel like she, and the music makers involved, gave the best they had to offer, from beginning to end. It was ingested and appreciated as the iconic offering it is.  That, in itself, is something to be proud of, and can’t be taken away from her.   

Edd: Questions about Lauryn’s work ethic and passion have haunted her for decades – in some cases, quite unfairly. I respect an artist who steps away at the top of their game instead of hanging around to drop endless mediocrity. But let’s be real, now more than ever, we live in the Era of Content, and if an artist isn’t constantly bombarding us with new material to blow through 20 minutes, we consider them a failure. Between her decades-long hiatus, well-documented issues with coworkers and, lord help, how she redefines the meaning of CP time every time she has a show, I can’t front and say those factors haven’t impacted her legacy. They have.

But, in my eyes, the fact that she never released an album better than Miseducation should not dim her light. From Illmatic to Thriller, whenever an artist creates a genre-defining classic – a true cultural shift in music culture – trying to top it is an impossible task. The artist’s new goal is not to beat that benchmark, it’s to find a new way to evolve, and bring the entire game along with them. Whether Lauryn decides to explore that evolution or not is another question entirely – there’s still time. Regardless, Miseducation has already cemented her legacy as a musical touchpoint.

And by the way, can we chill with the “she only has one album” nonsense? She has four albums – two of which are five-star affairs. I’ll take two five star albums over your fave’s 35 three-star snoozers any day.

1998 was an incredible year for albums but where would you rank The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill? Is it THE best album of the year?

Kristi: Listennn! We had Black Star’s debut, DMX’s debut, Jay-Z’s Vol. 2, Juvenile’s 400 Degreez, Outkast’s Aquemini, Brandy’s Never Say Never, Maxwell’s Embrya, Monica’s The Boy Is Mine  … plus albums from ATCQ, Gang Starr, RZA, Tyrese and more? INCREDIBLE year! 

The Recording Academy/Grammys deemed “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” worthy of Album of The Year, but for me it ties with “Never Say Never” for best of the year. To be fair, I also wore “400 Degreez” and “The Boy Is Mine” out, so it’s a tough choice. Let’s just say Miseducation is in my Top Five.

Edd: Y’all know how much I love 1998. DMX, Jay Z, Gang Starr  Kelly Price, Tamia, 112, Big Pun, Black Star – I was throwing out those 5 star reviews in 1998 like old lady peppermints at church. If we narrow things down to strictly R&B, yeah, I think it is the best the genre had to offer. But if we open it up to hip-hop, there’s only one album better. I’ll give the slightest of edges to Outkast’s Aquemini. But the fact that Lauryn can soar among one of the most crowded years in hip-hop and R&B history is a testament to how special this album truly is.

Are you team Kristi or Edd? Let us know who you agree with below and share your Miseducation thoughts too.