If you asked your smart speaker to play “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” right now, it’d be hard to tell that this iconic album dropped a quarter of a century ago – that’s unless I told you that I had it on a CD.
Lauryn Hill in Sister Act 2
Photo: BUENA VISTA/EVERETT COLLECTION
When I first heard the album, it didn’t connect that this was the same voice I fell in love with on one of my all-time favorite films, “Sister Act 2,” or who sang and rapped on The Fugees’, “Killing Me Softly.”
The album cover resembled a vintage wooden school desk complete with a spot for a pencil, much like the ones I learned from during childhood, and seamlessly tied back in with the lessons she blessed us with that are still relevant in 2023.
From beginning to end, Lauryn takes you on a journey through love, hip-hop education, motherhood, and self-discovery with lyrics that have become the soundtrack of many of our lives for decades.
It’s the kind of album that grounds you, checks you, and inspires you to step up your game. Not that you asked, but my personal favorites are “Doo Wop (That Thing),” “Everything is Everything,” and “Ex-Factor.”
And it wasn’t just her lyrics or the beats that encapsulated an entire generation, the visuals she released to accompany the songs were just as memorable as the melodies, especially at a time when music videos were a must.
There aren’t many artists today that can match her vibe and it’s no surprise that her recent announcement of the “Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” 25th Anniversary Tour has people talking and getting nostalgic all over again. And yes, Denver is one of the stops on the tour.
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