The Story of No. 1: Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Extended Preview)

On this deep dive into Lauryn Hill’s masterpiece The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Apple Music’s Nadeska Alexis unpacks the story and legacy of the album voted No. 1 on Apple Music’s definitive list of the 100 Best albums of all time. In this excerpt, Nadeska learns the emotional story behind “To Zion," Lauryn Hill’s ode to her newborn son. Nadeska finds out why, when Lauryn was told to “use her head," she chose to “use her heart” instead. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill dropped on August 25, 1998, and changed everything. It’s a deeply personal collection of songs that document a time of major change in a young artist’s life. The album not only expanded the sound of hip hop, it massively extended its reach as well: Miseducation has been credited for helping to push hip hop firmly into the mainstream all over the globe. But, as we hear in this podcast, it’s an album that might never have been released. In this series, Apple Music subscribers can hear the remarkable story behind this groundbreaking and culture-shifting album, find out the truth behind the blistering opening track “Lost Ones,” discover what happened behind the scenes at Bob Marley’s studio in Jamaica, and learn how the album helped launch the career of another music superstar. Contributors include: Jayson Jackson, Lauryn Hill’s former manager Dr Joan Morgan, hip hop journalist and author of She Begat This: 20 Years of the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Commissioner Gordon Williams, the album’s engineer and production supervisor Music stars including H.E.R., Rapsody, Dua Lipa and John Legend