| The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill | 
 enlarge | Artist: Lauryn Hill
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy Used: $2.15
You Save: $11.83 (85%)
New (54) Used (100) Collectible (7) from $2.15
Avg. Customer Rating:  869 reviews
Sales Rank: 390
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 69035
UPC: 746469035206
EAN: 0074646903520
ASIN: B00000ADG2
Release Date: August 25, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Tracks:
| • | Intro | | • | Lost Ones | | • | Ex-Factor | | • | To Zion | | • | Doo Wop (That Thing) | | • | Superstar | | • | Final Hour | | • | When It Hurts So Bad | | • | I Used to Love Him | | • | Forgive Them Father | | • | Every Ghetto, Every City | | • | Nothing Even Matters | | • | Everything Is Everything | | • | The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill | | • | Can't Take My Eyes Off You (hidden track) | | • | Sweetest Thing - Lauryn Hill, DeVorzon, B. |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com's Best of 1998
The first solo album by the Fugees' most distinctive voice quickly wipes away the pretensions of so many current hip-hoppers' discs. It does so by both engaging their widescreen ethos--"To Zion," with its martial drums and gospel choir, is as epic a production as has been heard in 1998's pop music--and speaking the plain truth. Miseducation focuses equally on Lauryn Hill's life (especially the birth of her child) and social concerns about the present and future. Its often quiet surface, if anything, lends intensity. --Rickey Wright
Amazon.com
The first solo album by the Fugees' most distinctive voice quickly wipes away the pretensions of so many current hip-hoppers' discs. It does so by both engaging their widescreen ethos--"To Zion," with its martial drums and gospel choir, is as epic a production as has been heard in 1998's pop music--and speaking the plain truth. Reminiscent in its scope of nothing so much as Aretha's early-'70s Spirit in the Dark and Young, Gifted and Black, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill also easily earns its late-'90s place next to Erykah Badu's Baduizm. Even more personal, if hardly any more political, than cohort Wyclef Jean's Carnival, Miseducation focuses equally on her life (especially the birth of her child) and social concerns about the present and future. Its often quiet surface, if anything, lends intensity. "Everything you drop is so tired," she scolds artistically dead-ended rappers on "Superstar"; if more artists shared her vision, occasional eccentricities and bottom-line talent, she wouldn't have to complain. --Rickey Wright
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 864 more reviews...
 Hype and Substance December 17, 1999
89 out of 95 found this review helpful
I don't like hype, and as a rule I'm suspicious of any album that's too widely praised. Nonetheless, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill proved to be an exception to the unfortunate trend of hyping mediocrity. Her sentiments are refreshing, she's emotional without being sentimental, she's devout without being proselytizing, and perhaps most importantly she writes interesting, ecclectic music with roots in Jazz, Rock, Soul, Gospel, R&B, ad. inf. Quite frankly, I'm completely bemused by the reviews claiming that her beats are predictable or her lyrics are less than insightful. I found the opposite to be true; her mixing and producing were exceptional and her collaborators were well-chosen and well-utilized. I was further confused by two reviews below, one of which claimed that Brandy was superior and another which claimed Celine Dion was. Putting my personal opinions of those performers aside for a moment, I would like to point out that neither Brandy nor Dion write or produce their own songs. They perform the work of other songwriters and musicians and then allow it to be mixed by studio employees. Ms. Hill is not a performer. She's an artist, and I would recommend this album to anyone, regardless of their musical taste.
Lauryn Hill's Miseducation Is Our Education July 20, 2003
72 out of 76 found this review helpful
In the mid-Nineties, The Fugees reigned supreme on the R'n'B scene. With their massive No.1 album "The Score" and a huge multi-million selling UK No.1 in the form of "Killing Me Softly," the talent of Wyclef Jean shone very brightly. Beyond Wyclef's talent, however, there was one other. Another talent that stood head and shoulders above everyone else, a musical and lyrical talent not since the days of artists such Aretha Franklin and Joni Mitchell. It was of course, the raw talent of Lauryn Hill.
Expectations were high for solo material from The Fugees members. The fall of 1998 brought Lauryn Hill's first solo record since her success with The Fugees. It was called "The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill." The album stormed to No.1 and went 7x Platinum in the US, also topping the charts in many other foreign territories. A few were calling it hype, but the critics were gushing for Miss Hill. Read any review of this album by a professional critic and they are bound to call this album something along the lines of "A ground-breaking classic that totally re-writes the Hip Hop rule book." Lauryn Hill deservedly earnt a record 10 Grammy nominations in 1999, and won five (Album Of The Year, Best New Artist, Best R&B album, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song).
The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill is a classic record, which is up there with albums by artists such as Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye as one of the most influential and ground-breaking records in its category. The album is unique in its style - it encompasses many styles and captures many influences from sin, love, depression, street life, fame, wealth, the past, the present and the future. The first song, "Lost Ones," is quick to dispel the stereotypes of Hip Hop culture by taking on a different subject than most other rappers albums. Lauryn sings about the way people change, and how it's not always for the better. The hit single "Ex-Factor" shows a very emotional side of Lauryn. She sings of a lover who she is with, but their relationship is so difficult because of his dependency on her.
"To Zion" speaks a real truth about Lauryn's turbulent past. Martial drums and a beautiful chant towards the end makes this song totally epic. "Doo Wop (That Thing)" is the lead single from the album. Lauryn's rapping is at her best on here. Everything fits together so well - lyrics, beats, arrangement. It's all excellent, and it's extremely thought-provoking. The rather dreary "Superstar" sees Lauryn angrily attack all the rappers who are only concerned with the money, the girls and the bling-bling. It is followed-up by the wonderful "Final Hour." Lauryn's rapping in this song is on top-form, and my favourite part is where she sings, "Now I'm-a get the mozzarella like a Rockerfeller, still be in the church of Lalibela, singing hymns a cappella, whether posed in Maribella, in couture, or collectin' residuals from off The Score." It's amazing. The way she sings it, the tone in her voice, the emotion and the catchiness of it all - it really does touch the depths of your soul.
"When It Hurts So Bad" is an excellent song about confused love, while "I Used To Love Him" is a fantastic duet with Mary J. Blige in which the two sing about a guy they once loved, but don't anymore. Plain and simple. "Forgive Them Father" is a song about the sinners who use people and then talk them down. A thought-provoking song to those who take people for granted. "Every Ghetto, Every City," is a brilliant and funky R&B song in which Lauryn reminisces about her childhood past, and how she remembers everything. "Nothing Even Matters" is a duet with D'Angelo, and a beautiful ballad. You can just sit back and relax to this wonderful song.
"Everything Is Everything" is definitely an album highlight. Striking beats and wonderful vocals are joined with amazing lyrics with references to the bible, Egyptian past, European culture and much more. It's a very interesting topic on life and how you chose to live it. The album's title track, "The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill" has a brilliant piano, and Lauryn's vocals are stunning. This song is a complete revelation and a perfect 'official' closing song. Bonus tracks include a cover of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and "Tell Him." Both fantastic songs, which should've been included on every version of this superb album.
OVERALL GRADE: 10/10
In between many of the songs on "The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill," we get to listen to a high school lesson in which Lauryn should be present at, but isn't. They talk mostly about love and people - how to treat them, and the way people live. Lauryn is obviously not present for the lessons, so she offers us her 'Miseducation' through her songs. Her songs are her 'Miseducation,' and she educates the listener on her experiences. When listening to the songs, you realise that Lauryn didn't even need to be present at the lessons - she's done fine on her own, and she is a total genius. If you're looking for a superb R&B album all through, look no further than Lauryn Hill's masterpiece, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill.
Maybe there is a reason why Lauryn Hill offends you. September 30, 1999
21 out of 32 found this review helpful
1) Those who have made a decision on Hill's lyrical abilities as a result of unfounded rumors should be more objective of her music. 2) Hill is not a racist, check the definition. She doesn't promote racism only reacts to it. 3) She wants to uplift her often unnoticed, young black sisters caught up in a matrix of domination (racism, sexism). It's not a problem when liquor and cigarettes are targeted to blacks. 4) As a REAL artist she creates what SHE feels instead of sugarcoating her lyrics to appeal to the mainstream. 5) She locks her hair it is not a "Medusa style". Those who choose to make those ignorant assumptions have succeeded in demeaning Rastafarianism and all those who have kinky hair. Stop judging physical beauty on European standards. If you can't see that then you are either absorbed in self hatred or prejudice yourself. No wonder she doesn't target to you all. 6) Whether you like the sound of her voice or not (singing, rapping, speaking) should determine whether you buy the album or not. 7) Maybe Hill deviated from a standard classification because she wanted to. Not all music can be classified. 8) If her music is so bad, well make your own. 9) Every style of music that exists was influenced by a previous sound. Read "Blues People" by Leroi Jones and expand your mind before promoting your ignorance. 10) I didn't realize she was recquired to be perfect. 11) Perhaps she rhymes about religion, and race relations alot because the are important to her...not you.This is a five star album because she experiments, mixes, and says what know else dares to say because she does it for herself and noone else. Although I may not feel every song personally I can dig the technicalities. Instead of comparing her to everyone else I judge her on her individual abilities. She has shown artistic growth through the years.
 SURPRISED! January 21, 2000
11 out of 30 found this review helpful
i didn't think the album was worth my money at all. plus, i was shocked to find that she's racist against whites, and in my opinion doesn't deserve any respect. she said that she'd rather that "no white people buy her music." good enough for me. if she's like that, forget her. she lost my respect. she's obviously very disturbed. i used to like her and support her, but when i heard what she said, to the trash with her.
The most overrated "noise" in musical history August 27, 2001
11 out of 41 found this review helpful
I can only assume that some cruel, but well respected music critic, gave this noise a high rating as a joke to see what would happen...and sure enough, a mindless, Stepford nation followed his lead. Surely, he is now sitting back somewhere, laughing hysterically and thinking "GOTCHA !" My assessment of this dreadful noise is this. Imagine your worst enemy making the most unpleasant noise he can make for an hour or more, never going up nor down with the irritating pitch, but going on and on and on with the hideous, evil, suicide-inducing sound until it becomes utterly unbearable. That describes perfectly Ms. Hill's prank/joke of an album. Absolutely the most hideous noise/sound I have ever heard. Raise your hand if anyone can say truly say that they play this CD often and enjoy it ? Do you know anyone who plays it ? Now, raise your hand if you were duped into believing this was music but now realize you were the victim of a cruel joke. AHA !! I thought so :)
|
|
|
