The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill holds a special place in the hearts of many hip-hop and R&B fans. Lauryn Hill’s solo debut touched the souls of listeners, garnered critical acclaim and featured several top 40 hits.
The history-making LP won five Grammys, including the coveted Album of the Year award and helped solidify Ms. Lauryn Hill’s slot as one of rap’s G.O.A.T.s. It’s also one of the main reasons her admirers continue to wait for the former Fugee member to grace the stage or release new music. Singles from Miseducation, such as “Everything Is Everything”, “Ex-Factor” and the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “Doo Wop (That Thing)”, first hit the airwaves more than twenty years ago, and yet these timeless records can resonate with listeners in this era.
Welcome to the RIAA Diamond Club @MsLaurynHill! #TheMiseducationofLaurynHill is now a 💎 (10X) certified album! @ColumbiaRecords #BlackHistoryMonth #RIAATopCertified pic.twitter.com/mWWByv74kp
— RIAA (@RIAA) February 17, 2021
Last month, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill received a diamond certification, meaning that the equivalent of 10 million copies of the project have been sold. With the classic album’s latest achievement, Lauryn Hill became the first female hip-hop artist to reach such a rare feat. Take a look at the other hip-hop and R&B albums that have been certified diamond.
All Eyez on Me
2Pac
Released: February 13, 1996
Singles: “California Love” featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman; “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted” featuring Snoop Dogg; “How Do U Want It” featuring K-Ci & JoJo
Life After Death
The Notorious B.I.G.
Released: March 25, 1997
Singles: “Hypnotize”; “Mo Money Mo Problems” featuring Mase, Puff Daddy and Kelly Price; “Sky’s the Limit” featuring 112
The Marshall Mathers LP
Eminem
Released: May 23, 2000
Singles: “The Real Slim Shady”; “The Way I Am”; “Stan”
Country Grammar
Nelly
Released: June 27, 2000
Singles: “Country Grammar (Hot Shit)”; “E.I.”; “Ride wit Me” featuring St. Lunatics
CrazySexyCool
TLC
Released: November 15, 1994
Singles: “Creep”; “Red Light Special”; “Waterfalls”
The Eminem Show
Eminem
Released: May 26, 2002
Singles: “Without Me”; “Cleanin’ Out My Closet”; “Superman”
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Outkast
Released: September 23, 2003
Singles: “Hey Ya!”; “The Way You Move” featuring Sleepy Brown; “Roses”
Confessions
Usher
Released: March 23, 2004
Singles: “Yeah!” featuring Ludacris and Lil Jon; “Burn”; “Confessions Part II”
Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Released: August 25, 1998
Singles: “Everything Is Everything”; “Ex-Factor”; “Doo Wop (That Thing)”
Photo via Turntable Lab