Lauryn Hill captivated the music scene with her solo debut album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1998. The album was inspired by her relationship with Rohan Marley, son of Bob Marley, and resulting pregnancy. It broke records for first week sales by a female artist as it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. In 1999 at the 41st Grammy Awards Miseducation would earn 10 nominations, winning five, showcasing Hill as the first woman to receive that many nominations and awards in one night.
Featuring such singles "Doo Wop", "Ex-Factor" and "Everything Is Everything" it has been praised by critics since it's release and ranked as one of the greatest albums of the 1990s and all time. To this day it remains Hill's only studio album.
Fans were treated to a live project from MTV's Unplugged series in 2002 but they have always called for another studio release.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone for it's "500 Greatest Albums" podcast Amazon Music, Lauryn Hill finally revealed why she never released or even recorded an album after her solo debut.
"The wild thing is no one from my label has ever called me and asked how can we help you make another album, EVER..EVER. Did i say ever? Ever!" she said.
It's a bit hard to believe the answer is that simple with as complex an artist as Hill, but it is the answer that will have to satisfy fans for now.
Hill also took the chance to reflect on the legacy of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill:
"I've always been pretty critical of myself artistically, so of course there are things I hear that could have been done differently but the LOVE in the album, the passion, it's intention is to me, undeniable," she said. "I challenged the norm and introduced a new standard. I believe the Miseducation did that and I believe I still do this-defy convention when the convention is questionable."
