Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American hip-hop singer, initially establishing her reputation as the most visible and vocal member of The Fugees. She was born in South Orange, New Jersey and began singing and acting at a very young age. Her acting roles included the TV show As the Word Turns[?] and the film Sister Act II: Back in the Habit[?], the latter of which showcased her vocal abilities. Though the Fugees had originally formed in 1988, Hill's membership was disrupted by her acting and her education at Columbia University. The Fugees' first album, Blunted on Reality[?], was much-hyped but fell far short of expectations. This was followed by The Score[?], a multi-platinum selling album that established all three Fugees (Hill, Pras Michel[?] and Wyclef Jean[?]) as international successes.

In 1998, Hill released The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, a critical smash hit that ended up on numerous best-of lists for the year, decade and all time. in 1999's Grammy Awards, Hill was nominated eleven times and won Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song, Best R&B Album[?], setting a new record for a female performer. Soon after, Hill was sued by two musician who claimed to have been cheated out of full credit and compensation for their assistance on the album.

Though a Fugees reunion was discussed by all of the members of the group, it has not yet happened, reportedly due to conflicts between the three Fugees, including much-rumored feud between Hill and Wyclef Jean[?]. Hill released an MTV Unplugged album in 2002 to mixed reviews.