Lauryn Hill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lauryn Hill
Hill performing in 2019
Born	Lauryn Noelle Hill (1975-05-26) May 26, 1975 (age 50) East Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Other names	Ms. Lauryn Hill L. Boogie
Occupation	Rapper singer songwriter record producer actress
Years active	1988–present
Works	Discography
Partner(s)	Rohan Marley (1996–2009)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Origin	South Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop soul reggae R&B
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Labels	Columbia Island Ruffhouse
Children	6, including Selah and YG

Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She is known as one of the most important people in music history. Lauryn helped break barriers for female rappers. She also helped make hip-hop and neo soul music popular. Lauryn is famous for mixing rap with singing.

She has been called one of the 50 Great Voices by NPR. Rolling Stone magazine also named her one of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. In 2015, Billboard called her the greatest female rapper. Lauryn has won eight Grammy Awards. This is the most for any female rapper.

Lauryn started her career as a teen actress. She appeared in the TV show As the World Turns (1991). She was also in the film King of the Hill (1993). Her role as Rita in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) was highly praised. Lauryn became even more famous as the lead singer of the Fugees. She formed this group in 1990 with Wyclef Jean and Pras.

Their second album, The Score (1996), reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. This made Lauryn the first woman to win a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. The album had the hit song "Killing Me Softly". This song was a best-seller in many places, including the UK. It was so popular that it was later removed from stores. This was to make room for "Ready or Not". Around the same time, she worked with Nas on the song "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)".

Her first solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998), started at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Critics loved it. Its first song, "Doo Wop (That Thing)", was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was even called a Song of the Century. The Miseducation was the first album by a female rapper to get a diamond award. This means it sold over 10 million copies. It also included popular songs like "Ex-Factor" and "Lost Ones".

At the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, she was the first rapper to win Album of the Year. Her album is still one of the best-selling albums ever worldwide. It was also ranked number one on Apple Music's 100 Best Albums list. In 1999, Lauryn made history. She was the first rapper to be on the cover of Time. Later that year, her song with Bob Marley, "Turn Your Lights Down Low", reached the top ten in many countries.

Besides her solo work, Lauryn helped with other projects. She worked on Aretha Franklin's "A Rose Is Still a Rose". She also contributed to Whitney Houston's My Love Is Your Love (1998). She helped with Mary J. Blige's "All That I Can Say". And she worked on "Praise Jah in the Moonlight" for her son YG Marley. Lauryn also helped produce Santana's album Supernatural (1999). This earned her a second Grammy for Album of the Year. In 2002, she released a live album called MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. It had new songs and was certified platinum.

Lauryn Hill appeared less often in public in later years. But she still released music sometimes. This included the protest song "Black Rage (Sketch)". She also worked with artists like John Legend. Her music is still very important. Other artists often use parts of her songs or sing her songs. Because of this, she won the Golden Note Award. This award is from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Lauryn's impact is also recognized by her being added to the National Recording Registry. She is also in the Grammy Hall of Fame. And she is in the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame. She also received the NAACP President's Award for her good work helping others.

Life and Career Journey

Growing Up: 1975–1990

Lauryn Noelle Hill was born on May 26, 1975. Her hometown is East Orange, New Jersey. Her mother, Valerie, was an English teacher. Her father, Mal, worked with computers. She has an older brother named Malaney. Her family moved to South Orange.

Lauryn's family loved music. She said, "there were so many records, so much music constantly being played." Her mother played piano, and her father sang. Lauryn listened to artists like Curtis Mayfield and Stevie Wonder. She also loved Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight. She often fell asleep listening to Marvin Gaye's What's Going On.

In middle school, Lauryn sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a basketball game. People loved it so much that her recording was played at future games. In 1988, Lauryn was on It's Showtime at the Apollo. She sang "Who's Lovin' You". She started a bit shaky but finished with big applause.

Lauryn went to Columbia High School. She was on the track team and cheerleading squad. She also took violin lessons and dance classes. She even started the school's gospel choir. Lauryn was a great student and a leader. She said she was "always driven to do a lot" in whatever she focused on.

Starting Out: 1991–1993

When Lauryn was in high school, Prakazrel "Pras" Michel asked her to join a music group. Lauryn and Pras started a group called Translator Crew. They wanted to rap in different languages. Pras's cousin, Wyclef Jean, soon joined them. The group performed at local shows and high school talent events. Lauryn started as a singer but learned to rap too. She was inspired by male rappers like Ice Cube. Lauryn said, "I remember doing my homework in the bathroom stalls of hip-hop clubs."

Lauryn also took acting lessons in Manhattan. In 1991, she acted with Wyclef Jean in a play called Club XII. An agent noticed her. Later that year, Lauryn was on the TV show As the World Turns. She played Kira Johnson, a troubled teenager. She also starred with Whoopi Goldberg in the 1993 movie Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. She played Rita Louise Watson, a rebellious Catholic school student. In the movie, she sang "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" and "Joyful, Joyful".

The director, Bill Duke, said Lauryn made up a rap in one scene. He called her "amazing." Critic Roger Ebert called her "the girl with the big joyful voice." Rolling Stone said she "performed marvelously." Lauryn also had a small but important role in the 1993 film King of the Hill. She played an elevator operator. Lauryn graduated from Columbia High School in 1993.

Fugees Success and Family: 1994–1996

Pras, Lauryn, and Wyclef renamed their group Fugees. This name came from "refugee." They signed with Columbia/Ruffhouse Records in 1993. The Fugees were known for mixing music styles like reggae, rock, and soul. They first tried this on their album Blunted on Reality in 1994. It didn't sell well at first. But Lauryn's rapping on "Some Seek Stardom" was a highlight. Inside the group, she was often called "L. Boogie." Lauryn's voice and style made her stand out.

The Fugees' second album, The Score (1996), reached No. 1 in the U.S. It stayed in the top ten for over six months. It sold about 7 million copies in the U.S. and over 20 million worldwide. The Score won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. It was also put on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums. The album was praised for being different from other rap music. Lauryn said, "We're trying to do something positive with the music."

Songs from The Score included "Fu-Gee-La" and "Ready or Not". These songs showed Lauryn's singing and rapping skills. They also covered Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry". Her song "Killing Me Softly" became a huge hit. This song was played everywhere. It won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. On the album, Lauryn mixed African-American music and Caribbean music. She also wrote lyrics about social issues. Newsweek called Lauryn "the most powerful new voice in rap."

When she was 21, Lauryn was still living with her parents. She had been studying at Columbia University. But she left after about a year when The Score sold millions. In 1996, she responded to a false rumor about her. She said, "How can I possibly be a racist? My music is universal."

In 1996, Lauryn started the Refugee Project. This group helped young people in cities. It offered summer camps and other programs. Lauryn also raised money for Haitian refugees. She supported clean water projects in Kenya and Uganda. She also held a rap concert to help people register to vote. In 1997, famous people like Sean Combs and Mariah Carey joined the Refugee Project's board.

In 1997, the Fugees decided to work on solo projects. Lauryn met Rohan Marley, Bob Marley's son. They started a relationship. On August 3, 1997, their first child, Zion David, was born. Lauryn and Rohan lived in her childhood home.

Lauryn had a small role in the 1997 film Hav Plenty. In 1998, she had another important role in the film Restaurant. Entertainment Weekly praised her acting.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill: 1997–1999

Lauryn recorded her solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, from late 1997 to June 1998. She recorded it at Tuff Gong Studios in Jamaica. The album's name was inspired by famous books. Artists like D'Angelo, Carlos Santana, and Mary J. Blige helped with the album. A then-unknown John Legend also contributed.

Many songs on the album were about her feelings. "I Used to Love Him" was about her past relationships. Other songs like "To Zion" were about her decision to have her first baby. Lauryn's pregnancy actually helped her overcome a period where she couldn't write songs.

Lauryn worked with a group of musicians called New Ark. She wanted to "write songs that lyrically move me." She wanted the music to sound raw and real. Lauryn also wanted to be seen as a creative artist, like other male artists. She said, "This is a very sexist industry. They'll never throw the 'genius' title to a sister."

The album was released on August 25, 1998. Critics loved it and called it the best album of 1998. They praised how it mixed R&B, pop, hip-hop, and reggae. They also liked its honest look at a woman's life. David Browne called it "an album of often-astonishing power." In 2017, NPR called it the second-best album ever made by a woman.

It sold almost 423,000 copies in its first week. It was No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for four weeks. It sold about 10 million copies in the U.S. and 20 million worldwide. In 1998 and 1999, Lauryn earned $25 million from her music. Lauryn, along with other artists, helped make the neo soul music style popular.

The first song from the album was "Doo Wop (That Thing)". It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song showed Lauryn's strong message of self-empowerment. Other popular songs from the album were "Ex-Factor", "Everything Is Everything", and "To Zion".

In November 1998, Lauryn and Rohan's second child, Selah Louise, was born. Lauryn said being a young mother was "not an easy situation at all."

At the 41st Annual Grammy Awards in 1999, Lauryn made history. She was the first woman to be nominated in ten categories in one year. She also won five awards in one night. This included Album of the Year. She became the first female rapper to win Best New Artist. During her speech, she said, "This is crazy. This is hip-hop!" Lauryn helped hip-hop music become accepted by more people.

In February 1999, Lauryn won four awards at the NAACP Image Awards. In May 1999, she was the youngest woman on Ebony magazine's list of 100+ Most Influential Black Americans. People magazine also put her on their 50 Most Beautiful People list. In June 1999, she received an Essence Award. In early 2000, Lauryn helped produce Santana's album Supernatural. She wrote and rapped on the song "Do You Like the Way." She was also nominated for a Grammy for "All That I Can Say", which she wrote for Mary J. Blige. Her song with Bob Marley, "Turn Your Lights Down Low", also received a Grammy nomination.

Taking a Break and New Music: 2000–2003

Lauryn started writing a movie script about Bob Marley. She also planned to produce a romantic comedy. She was offered acting roles in big movies like A Star Is Born and Dreamgirls. But she turned them down because she was pregnant.

Around 2000, Lauryn took a break from the public eye. The pressure of fame was too much. She didn't like not being able to do simple things without worrying about how she looked. She stopped doing interviews and watching TV. She later told Essence magazine, "I had to step away when I realized that for the sake of the machine, I was being way too compromised." She said she needed to fight to keep her true self.

In July 2001, Lauryn performed new songs for an MTV Unplugged special. A live album of this concert, MTV Unplugged No. 2.0, came out in May 2002. It featured only her singing and playing an acoustic guitar. Critics had mixed feelings about it. Some liked it, calling it "fascinating." Others called it "a public breakdown." The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. It was later certified Platinum.

Her song "Mystery of Iniquity" from the album was nominated for a Grammy. It was also used by Kanye West in his song "All Falls Down". This led to Lauryn being credited as a songwriter on the song.

Around 2001, Lauryn and Rohan's third child, Joshua Omaru, was born. Their fourth child, John Nesta, followed a year later. Lauryn and Rohan were not married. By 2003, Lauryn had moved into her own place in Miami. She slowly worked on a new album.

By 2002, Lauryn had closed her non-profit Refugee Project. She said, "Everything we do should be a result of our gratitude for what God has done for us. It should be passionate."

Performances and New Songs: 2004–2009

Hill performing in 2005

In 2004, Lauryn added a new song, "The Passion," to The Passion of the Christ: Songs album. A remixed song with John Legend, "So High", was nominated for a Grammy Award.

The Fugees performed together again in September 2004. This was at Dave Chappelle's Block Party in Brooklyn. Lauryn sang "Killing Me Softly" almost without music. This event was filmed and released as a movie in 2006. The Fugees also performed at the BET Awards 2005. A new song, "Take It Easy," was released online. It reached No. 40 on the Billboard R&B Chart.

In 2005, she told USA Today, "If I make music now, it will only be to provide information to my own children." She said her songs on 2.0 were about her feelings at the time.

The Fugees went on a European tour in late 2005. But old problems between Lauryn and the group members came back. The reunion ended before they could record a new album. Lauryn reportedly wanted everyone to call her "Ms. Hill." She was also often late for shows.

Lauryn started touring on her own. Sometimes she arrived very late to concerts. She also changed her songs in ways fans didn't always like. In June 2007, Sony Records said Lauryn had been recording new music. Later that year, an album called Ms. Hill was released. It had songs from Miseducation and other unreleased tracks. It featured artists like D'Angelo. Also in June 2007, Lauryn released a new song, "Lose Myself", for the film Surf's Up.

In early 2008, Lauryn and Rohan's fifth child, Sara, was born. Lauryn later said that she and Rohan "have [had] a long and complex history." By August 2008, Lauryn was living with her mother and children in South Orange, New Jersey.

In April 2009, Lauryn was set to tour European festivals. She performed two shows but left the stage during her second performance. She refused to give refunds to fans. Her management later canceled the rest of the tour due to "health reasons."

Continued Music and Activities: 2010–2022

In January 2010, Lauryn performed live again in New Zealand and Australia. Many of her songs from the past six years were on an unofficial album called Khulami Phase. Lauryn performed at the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa, California, in June 2010. This was her first live American show in years. A new song, "Repercussions", was leaked online. It debuted on Billboard charts, her first chart appearance as a lead artist since 1999.

Hill and her backing musicians performing at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, 2011

Lauryn joined the Rock the Bells hip-hop festival in the U.S. in August 2010. She performed The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album in full for the first time. She changed the tempo of the songs. Lauryn continued touring, including a show in Miami Gardens, Florida. In Spring 2011, Lauryn performed at the Coachella Valley Music Festival and New Orleans Jazz Fest. In July 2011, Lauryn had her sixth child, Micah.

In February 2012, Lauryn performed a new song called "Fearless Vampire Killer." In late 2012, Lauryn toured with rapper Nas. Her part of the tour was called Black Rage, named after her song. Lauryn said the song was about "the derivative effects of racial inequity and abuse."

In May 2013, Lauryn released her first official single in over ten years, "Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)". She said she had to release it quickly due to a legal deadline. She later said the song was not aimed at any specific group. It was about anyone hiding behind difficult behavior. Lauryn was expected to release her first album in fifteen years in 2013.

Lauryn continued to tour. In 2014, she narrated Concerning Violence, a documentary about African liberation. She also sometimes arrived late for shows, which drew media attention.

In May 2015, Lauryn canceled a concert in Israel. This was after people on social media asked her to boycott Israel. She said she wanted to perform in Ramallah too, but it was too hard to arrange. Lauryn stated, "It is very important to me that my presence or message not be misconstrued."

Lauryn sang on the soundtrack for What Happened, Miss Simone?, a 2015 documentary about Nina Simone. Lauryn was supposed to record two songs but ended up recording six. She also helped produce the album. Lauryn said Nina Simone's music helped her believe she had a right to have a voice. NPR praised Lauryn's performance on the soundtrack.

In April 2016, Lauryn hosted the Diaspora Calling! festival in Brooklyn. It showed artists from the African diaspora. The next month, Lauryn was very late for a show in Atlanta. She said her driver got lost. Later, she said she was late because she needed to "align her energy with the time."

Hill performing at the Kongsberg Jazzfestival 2019

Lauryn recorded a studio version of her song, "Guarding the Gates," for the movie Queen & Slim. It was released on November 27, 2019. This song is on the album, Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack.

Other Activities

Fashion and Style

Lauryn Hill is known for her hairstyles, like locs, braids, and afros. She is often linked to the return of the natural hair movement. She helped make locs popular in mainstream culture. Author Joan Morgan said Lauryn was an example for young people who liked natural hair. Lauryn is also often named among those who defined modern bantu knots and afros. Ebony magazine said she "helped to usher in a new standard of beauty for Black women."

PopSugar put her on their list of "18 Moments in Hair History That Changed the World." They wrote, "When searching for the originator in the recent natural hair revival, you must look to Lauryn Hill." Stylist mentioned Lauryn on the cover of Time in locs. She was also named one of People's 50 Most Beautiful People in 1999. These were important moments in black hair history.

In an interview, R&B singer SZA said, "The only girl that I could look to for natural hair inspiration growing up was Lauryn Hill." Celebrity hairstylist Yusef Williams said Rihanna "channeled her inner Lauryn Hill" for her role in Ocean's 8. Halle Bailey named Lauryn Hill as one of her beauty icons.

In 1999, Lauryn worked with Levi Strauss & Co. to make custom outfits for her Miseducation Tour. Journalist Thembisa Mshaka wrote that this partnership helped create many brand deals between big companies and black musicians today. A custom outfit made for Lauryn by Levi's was shown at a museum exhibit. Lauryn also worked with Armani in the late 1990s. Armani designed outfits for her tour and helped sponsor it. An Armani design for the tour was shown at the 1999 "Rock Style" Met Gala.

Influence on Fashion

In 2015, Vogue said Lauryn was one of the female hip hop artists from the 1990s whose style influenced 2010s fashion. Emily Barasch of Vogue wrote, "Lauryn Hill's sense of style endures today." She was called a "fashion and music icon" by CR Fashion Book. She was also on Complex's list of the most stylish rappers ever.

She is often said to have helped make the hoop earring popular again. These earrings were first popular among black women in the 1970s. Then, hip hop artists like Lauryn wore them in the 1980s and 1990s. Singer Solange Knowles also said Lauryn influenced her style.

British fashion designer John Galliano chose Lauryn as his inspiration for the 2000 Spring/Summer Dior collection. The collection featured models with dreadlocks and hoop earrings. It also introduced the Dior 'Saddle Bag', which became famous in Sex and the City. In 2017, collections by Alexander Wang and Tory Burch were inspired by Lauryn Hill.

The Men's Spring/Summer 2021 Louis Vuitton collection, designed by Virgil Abloh, was influenced by Lauryn. Abloh called her his "forever muse." Lauryn later performed at Abloh's memorial service. She was also named an influence for the Spring/Summer 2022 Schiaparelli collection. Designers like Esteban Cortazar and Kerby Jean-Raymond have also said she inspires them.

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

In the late 1990s, Lauryn led the Refugee Project. This was a nonprofit organization that helped young people in New Jersey. It offered scholarships, mentoring, and summer camps. The board of directors included Mariah Carey, Spike Lee, and Nas.

In 1999, she worked with the Federal government of the United States on an anti-drug campaign. Her ad was the most popular among young people surveyed. That same year, Lauryn took part in a fundraiser for UNCF. This event raised $13.5 million.

In 2003, Lauryn was scheduled to perform at a Christmas concert at the Vatican.

Lauryn later performed at the 2005 Live 8 concert. This event helped raise awareness about global poverty.

She released the song "Black Rage" in protest of the 2014 killing of Michael Brown. That same year, she performed at an Amnesty International concert in New York. She sang her protest song "Black Rage."

In 2015, she canceled a show in Israel. This was after activists asked her to boycott Israel. She later said she doesn't take sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She believes in "dignity for all sides."

Lauryn released an updated version of her 2002 song "I Find It Hard to Say (Rebel)" in 2016. The original song was about the Killing of Amadou Diallo. The updated song was about Police brutality in the United States. It was released on Tidal and performed at a charity concert.

Variety reported that Lauryn turned down an offer from the National Football League. They wanted her to join Maroon 5 at the Super Bowl LIII halftime show. She declined to support American football player Colin Kaepernick.

Billboard reported that Lauryn gave 10 scholarships for the 2019–2020 school year. These were for students at Alpha Institute in Jamaica. She did this through her MLH Fund.

Lauryn Hill's Impact

Hill performing in 2019

Lauryn Hill is seen as one of the greatest rappers ever. Many call her the greatest female rapper. The New York Times once called her "the most popular woman in hip-hop." Rapper Kool Moe Dee gave Lauryn the highest score on his rap 'Report Cards' list. Beyoncé said Lauryn is "one of the best hip-hop rappers ever." In 1998, Time called her the "Queen of Hip Hop." Billboard also gave her this title. In 2015, Billboard ranked Lauryn as the seventh greatest rapper of all time. She was the only woman on the list. At her peak, Lauryn earned over $25 million from her work.

Music critic Brandon Tensley said "few artists have marked culture as profoundly as Hill did." In 2012, VH1 ranked Lauryn as one of the Greatest Women in Music. In 2014, she was named the most influential woman in hip hop history. Lauryn was also on the NPR list of '50 Great Voices'. In 2019, Lauryn ranked No. 1 on a poll of the greatest singer/rappers. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked her at number 136 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. Journalist Touré said, "She was—she is—the greatest female MC of all time."

Musical Influence

Lauryn Hill is often credited with making it popular to mix rap and singing in one song. This is now called melodic rap. Many modern artists like Beyoncé and Drake use this style. Musa Okwonga wrote that Lauryn could combine the greatness of Nina Simone and Rakim in the same performance. Andy Gee said that today's music is full of artists like Drake and Nicki Minaj who are like Lauryn Hill. XXL said she "set the bar high, not just for woman creators, but for anyone who wanted to rap or sing."

Former RIAA president Hilary Rosen said Lauryn helped blur the lines between hip hop and R&B. Nicki Minaj has mentioned Lauryn's influence many times. She even quoted Lauryn in her high school yearbook. John Legend says Lauryn helped him start his career. She gave him his first big chance as a pianist on "Everything Is Everything". Rapsody and Bebe Rexha have both said Lauryn is their biggest musical inspiration. UK rapper Stormzy also named her his biggest female musical influence.

Musicians Erykah Badu and Jazmine Sullivan have called her their musical hero. Kehlani even has a tattoo of Lauryn on her arm. After performing with Lauryn, The Weeknd called it the "most important experience of my life." Spanish singer Rosalía thanked Lauryn for being influential in her 2018 Grammy speech.

Music Samples

Billboard said Lauryn "is to hip-hop as a gardener is to soil." They added that her songs, especially from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, have been used as samples by many rap artists.

Her song "Doo Wop (That Thing)" was sampled by Drake and Kanye West. It was also used by Lizzo in her song "Break up Twice." In 2018, Lauryn became one of the most sampled artists. Her song "Ex-Factor" was sampled by Cardi B and Drake. A$AP Rocky and Frank Ocean used "I Gotta Find Peace of Mind" in their song "Purity". J. Cole's songs "Cole Summer" and "Can I Holla At Ya" also use samples from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Lauryn's singing from her work with the Fugees has been sampled by many artists. This includes Dj Khaled & Nas, Busta Rhymes, The Weeknd & Kendrick Lamar, Meek Mill, Jay-Z, and Mariah Carey. Many artists have also sampled songs from her live album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. These include Frank Ocean and Method Man. Most notably, Kanye West used her song "Mystery of Iniquity" in "All Falls Down".

Film and Stage Influence

The Broadway musical Hamilton was greatly influenced by Lauryn Hill. Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda named her one of his favorite rappers. He referenced Lauryn's song "Lost Ones" in "We Know". He also used her rap from "Ready or Not" in "Helpless". The Simpsons episode "The Miseducation of Lisa Simpson" was named after Lauryn's album. The BET series Tales had an episode called "Ex-Factor," based on her song. Film director Gina Prince-Bythewood said Lauryn and "Ex-Factor" inspired her movie Love & Basketball (2000). Actress Alexa Demie said Lauryn's song "To Zion" inspired her role in the TV show Euphoria.

Achievements and Awards

Lauryn Hill has won many awards. She has eight Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. This is the most for any female rapper. She also has six MTV Video Music Awards and four NAACP Image Awards. She holds four Guinness World Records and three American Music Awards. In 2021, she was nominated for the Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame. She was inducted in 2022.

Lauryn won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album with The Fugees for The Score. She was the first woman to win this award. The Score also reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Her first solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, also hit number one. This made her the first solo female hip hop artist to reach number one on that chart. The album sold over 422,000 copies in its first week. This broke the record for highest first-week sales by a female artist, previously held by Madonna. Both The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and its first song "Doo Wop (That Thing)" debuted at number one in the U.S. This was a first for an artist's debut album and single. The album also topped the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for the year.

At the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, Lauryn received ten Grammy nominations. She won five awards that night, including Album of the Year. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was the first Hip hop album to win this award. She also set a record for most nominations for a female artist in one night. She broke the record for most wins by a female artist in one night. And she was the first female rapper to win the Best New Artist award. She also became the first black solo artist to win MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards.

In 1999, after her first solo album's success, Lauryn was on the cover of Time magazine. She was the only black musician to be on the cover during that decade. With The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, she helped start the neo soul movement. It was one of the first albums in this style to become very popular. The album has also been added to the Library of Congress. NPR ranked it 2nd on its list of "The 150 Greatest Albums Made by Women." Rolling Stone listed it as the 10th-Greatest Album of All Time in 2020.

In 2021, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was certified Diamond. This means it sold over 10 million copies. Lauryn became the first female hip hop artist to get a Diamond certification in the United States. That same year, Rolling Stone put her song "Doo Wop (That Thing)" and the Fugees' "Killing Me Softly" on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs. The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture included "Doo Wop (That Thing)" in their hip-hop box set. In 2024, The Recording Academy chose it for the Grammy Hall of Fame. It was also named the number one album on Apple Music's 100 Best Albums list in 2024.

Lauryn has also had success as a songwriter and producer for other artists. She has written songs for Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, and CeCe Winans. She has produced songs for Whitney Houston and Santana. In 2015, she received the Golden Note Award from American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Lauryn has also won ASCAP songwriting awards for her work on songs by Drake, Aretha Franklin, Cardi B, Mary J. Blige, and Kanye West.

Discography

• The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

Film and TV Roles

Tours

• Smokin' Grooves Tour (with Fugees, Cypress Hill, Ziggy Marley, A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes and Spearhead) (1996)
• Refugee Camp Tour (with Fugees) (1997)
• The Miseducation Tour (1999)
• Smokin' Grooves Tour (with The Roots and Outkast) (2002)
• Reunion Tour (with Fugees) (2005)
• Moving Target: Extended Intimate Playdate Series Tour (2011)
• Life Is Good / Black Rage Tour (with Nas) (2012)
• Homecoming Tour (2013–2014)
• Small Axe Tour (2015)
• MLH Caravan: A Diaspora Calling! Tour (2016–2017)
• PowerNomics Tour (with Nas) (2017)
• The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 20th Anniversary World Tour (2018–2019)
• Ms. Lauryn Hill Live in Concert (2020)
• The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary Tour: Ms Lauryn Hill & The Return of The Fugees (with Fugees) (2023)

Images for kids

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  Hill performing in 2019

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  Hill performing in 2005

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  Hill and her backing musicians performing at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, 2011

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  Hill performing at the Kongsberg Jazzfestival 2019

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  Hill performing in 2019

See also

In Spanish: Lauryn Hill para niños

• List of artists who reached number one in the United States