"Ms. Lauryn Hill"

Lauryn Hill was born in South Orange, New Jersey. Her musical journey began in high school when she performed with her classmate Prakazrel ("Pras") Michel under the name Tranzlator Crew, later joined by Wyclef Jean. She also showcased her acting talent in the Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. With her earnings from acting, she financed her group, which was renamed the Fugees in 1993. Although their debut album, Blunted on Reality (1994), received modest reviews, critics often highlighted Hill's standout performance, suggesting she pursue a solo career. The group's second album, The Score (1996), featuring a remake of Roberta Flack’s "Killing Me Softly with His Song," achieved monumental success, selling over 18 million copies and earning two Grammy Awards. During this period, Hill left her history studies at Columbia University to focus on her music career.

In 1996, Hill founded the Refugee Project to support underprivileged youth, and the following year, she and Rohan Marley, son of Bob Marley, welcomed their first child. In early 1998, Hill began crafting her solo album, recording at the Bob Marley Museum Studio in Jamaica. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was released in August 1998. Headlined by the hit single "Doo Wop (That Thing)," the album went multiplatinum globally. Hill received ten Grammy nominations in 1999, winning five, including Best New Artist and Album of the Year.

Lauryn Hill is one of the founders of neo-soul, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill stood out for its deeply personal lyrics, exploring themes of self-discovery, family, and community. Following her debut, Hill released a two-disc live album from her MTV Unplugged performance in 2002. MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 featured Hill's raw acoustic guitar performance interwoven with emotional reflections on the burdens of fame. 

In May 2024, Apple Music honored Lauryn Hill’s 1998 album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill as one of the greatest albums of all time.

HELLA INSPIRED.