The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is the debut solo album by American recording artist Lauryn Hill, released on August 25, 1998, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records. After touring with former group the Fugees, Hill met Rohan Marley, and became pregnant with his child. The pregnancy, along with several other circumstances, would inspire her to make a solo record which would eventually become The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Recording sessions for the album took place from late 1997 to June 1998, and were held primarily at Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a neo soul album that incorporates styles such as R&B, hip hop, soul, and reggae. Its lyrics touch upon Hill's pregnancy at the time and the turmoil in her former group the Fugees, along with themes of love and God. The album's title was inspired by the film and autobiographical novel The Education of Sonny Carson, and Carter G. Woodson's The Mis-Education of the Negro.[2]
Upon its release, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill received rave reviews from music critics who frequently complimented it for Hill's honest presentation of a female's view on life and love. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 422,624 copies in its first week and eventually being certified eight-times-platinum in the U.S. The album's success propelled Hill to superstardom and helped bring hip hop and neo soul to the forefront of popular music. The Miseducation has been ranked in numerous best-album lists by critics. At the 41st Grammy Awards, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill earned her five Grammy Awards, including the award for Album of the Year.
The album produced three hit singles—"Doo Wop (That Thing)", "Ex-Factor", and "Everything Is Everything". The album's lead single "Doo Wop (That Thing)" peaked at number one in the US, with the latter two singles peaking with in the top forty of the country. The album was later promoted with an international supporting tour by Hill in 1999.
