The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill serves as the only solo project produced out of the phenomenon in which we know to be Miss. Lauryn Hill. That project alone earned her 5 Grammy Awards and a position out of the only 25 albums to be inducted into the Library of Congress for the year 2014.
According to the press release put out by the Library of Congress, one of the main requirements of inductions is for records to be atleast 10 years old & be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant”. They also released an official statement regarding the selection of this particular album:
Lauryn Hill’s debut solo record, following the breakup of the Fugees, is a work of honesty in which Hill explores her feelings on topics that included the deep wonder of pregnancy, the pitfalls of modern relationships and the experience of the sacred. The album effortlessly fuses soul, rhythm and blues, rap and reggae. Hill’s vocal range, smooth clear highs and vibrato are stunning. The rapping is rhythmically compelling while always retaining, and frequently exploiting, the natural cadences of conversational speech. Standout guest performances include Carlos Santana’s soulful acoustic guitar solo on ‘Zion,’ and duets with Mary J. Blige and D’Angelo on ‘I Used to Love Him’ and ‘Nothing Even Matters,’ respectively.
Congratulations to one of Hip-Hop’s most impacting women on her win & receiving such an honorable & distinctive way of representing the culture! Check out the other inductees below:
1. Vernacular Wax Cylinder Recordings at University of California, Santa Barbara Library (c.1890-1910)
2. The Benjamin Ives Gilman Collection, recorded at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition at Chicago (1893)
3. “The Boys of the Lough”/ “The Humours of Ennistymon” (single)—Michael Coleman (1922)
4. “Black Snake Moan” / “Match Box Blues” (single)—Blind Lemon Jefferson (1927)
5. “Sorry, Wrong Number” (episode of Suspense radio series, May 25, 1943)
6. “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive” (single)—Johnny Mercer (1944)
7. Radio Coverage of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Funeral—Arthur Godfrey, et al (April 14, 1945)
8. Kiss Me, Kate (original cast album) (1949)
9. John Brown’s Body (album)—Tyrone Power, Judith Anderson, and Raymond Massey; directed by Charles Laughton (1953)
10. “My Funny Valentine” (single)—The Gerry Mulligan Quartet featuring Chet Baker (1953)
11. “Sixteen Tons” (single)—Tennessee Ernie Ford (1955)
12. “Mary Don’t You Weep” (single)—The Swan Silvertones (1959)
13. Joan Baez (album)—Joan Baez (1960)
14. “Stand by Me” (single)—Ben E. King (1961)
15. New Orleans’ Sweet Emma Barrett and Her Preservation Hall Jazz Band (album)—Sweet Emma and Her Preservation Hall Jazz Band (1964)
16. “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’’ (single)—The Righteous Brothers (1964)
17. The Doors (album)—The Doors (1967)
18. Stand! (album)—Sly and the Family Stone (1969)
19. Lincoln Mayorga and Distinguished Colleagues (album)—Lincoln Mayorga (1968)
20. A Wild and Crazy Guy (album)—Steve Martin (1978)
21. Sesame Street: All-Time Platinum Favorites (album)—Various (1995)
22. OK Computer (album)—Radiohead (1997)
23. Old Regular Baptists: Lined-Out Hymnody From Southeastern Kentucky (album)—Indian Bottom Association (1997)
24. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (album)—Lauryn Hill (1998)
25. Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman (album)—Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop, conductor; Joan Tower, composer (1999)
© 2015, Niyah Nel. All rights reserved.
