From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Lauryn Hill made an impact.
Lauryn Hill is a highly influential American rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, and actress. Celebrated for her impact on music, she broke barriers for female rappers, contributing to the mainstream success of hip-hop and neo soul by blending rap with melodic vocals. Recognized by NPR and Rolling Stone for her vocal talent, Billboard named her the greatest female rapper. Hill's accolades include eight Grammy Awards, the most for any female rapper.
1988: Apollo Theater Performance
In 1988, Lauryn Hill appeared as a contestant on "It's Showtime at the Apollo," singing "Who's Lovin' You".
1990: Formation of the Fugees
In 1990, Lauryn Hill formed the Fugees with Wyclef Jean and Pras, marking the beginning of her journey in the music industry.
1991: Off-Broadway Debut
In 1991, Lauryn Hill began her acting career in Club XII, MC Lyte's Off-Broadway hip-hop rendering of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.
1991: Acting Debut
In 1991, Lauryn Hill began her acting career with an appearance in "As the World Turns".
1993: King of the Hill and High School Graduation
In 1993, Lauryn Hill appeared in Steven Soderbergh's "King of the Hill" and also graduated from Columbia High School.
1993: Sister Act 2 Co-starring Role
In 1993, Lauryn Hill co-starred alongside Whoopi Goldberg in "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit", playing Rita Louise Watson.
1993: Sister Act 2 and King of the Hill
In 1993, Lauryn Hill gained prominence for her performance in "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit" and also appeared in Steven Soderbergh's "King of the Hill".
1993: Role in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
In 1993, Lauryn Hill portrayed Rita Watson in the film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, a role that inspired Janelle Monáe to pursue an acting career.
1993: Signing with Columbia/Ruffhouse Records
In 1993, The Fugees signed a contract with Columbia/Ruffhouse Records.
1994: Release of Blunted on Reality
In 1994, The Fugees released their debut album, "Blunted on Reality".
1996: Founding the Refugee Project
In 1996, Lauryn Hill founded the Refugee Project, a non-profit outreach organization for at-risk urban youth.
1996: The Score's Success
In 1996, The Fugees' album "The Score" topped the Billboard 200, making Lauryn Hill the first woman to win a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.
1996: The Score's Success and Grammy Win
In 1996, The Fugees' second album, "The Score", peaked at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and later won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.
1997: Fugees Hiatus
In 1997, Lauryn Hill began a hiatus from The Fugees that would last until their September 2004 reunion at Dave Chappelle's Block Party.
1997: Cameo in Hav Plenty
In 1997, Lauryn Hill had a cameo appearance in the film Hav Plenty.
1997: Release of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"
In 1997, Lauryn Hill's rendition of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" for the film Conspiracy Theory appeared on Billboard charts.
1997: Refugee Project Benefit Event
In 1997, a benefit event for the Refugee Project introduced a board of trustees including Sean Combs, Mariah Carey, and others.
1997: Recording of The Miseducation Begins
Lauryn Hill recorded her solo record The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill from late 1997 through June 1998 at Tuff Gong Studios in Jamaica.
June 1998: Recording of The Miseducation Concludes
The recording of Lauryn Hill's solo record The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill concluded in June 1998 at Tuff Gong Studios in Jamaica.
August 25, 1998: Release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
On August 25, 1998, Lauryn Hill's album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" was released, receiving rave reviews from contemporary music critics.
November 1998: New Ark Lawsuit Filed
In November 1998, New Ark filed a lawsuit against Lauryn Hill, her management, and record label, claiming they were not properly credited for their work on Miseducation.
1998: Success of 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'
During 1998 and 1999, Hill earned millions from record sales and touring.
1998: Role in Restaurant
In 1998, Lauryn Hill played a role in the film Restaurant, receiving praise for her performance.
1998: Release of "Doo Wop (That Thing)"
In 1998, Lauryn Hill released "Doo Wop (That Thing)", which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1998: Release of 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'
In 1998, Lauryn Hill released her debut solo album, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill", which opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and received widespread critical acclaim.
1998: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Release
Lauryn Hill had not recorded a comprehensive set of studio recordings since The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill released in 1998, prior to contributing to the soundtrack for "What Happened, Miss Simone?" in 2015.
February 1999: NAACP Image Awards
In February 1999, Lauryn Hill received four awards at the 30th Annual NAACP Image Awards.
May 1999: Recognition as Influential Black American
In May 1999, Lauryn Hill was named the youngest woman ever to Ebony magazine's 100+ Most Influential Black Americans list and made People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People list.
June 1999: Essence Award and Public Criticism
In June 1999, Lauryn Hill received an Essence Award, but her acceptance speech drew criticism from the public, who thought she was not a good role model as a young, unwed mother of two.
1999: Grammy Awards and MTV VMA wins
At the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, Lauryn Hill received ten Grammy Award nominations and won five that night in 1999, including Album of the Year, with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill being the first Hip hop album to win the award. Furthermore, she also became the first black solo act to win MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards.
1999: Success of 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'
During 1998 and 1999, Hill earned millions from record sales and touring.
1999: Time Cover Appearance
In 1999, Lauryn Hill became the first rapper to appear on the cover of Time magazine.
1999: Grammy Nominations and Wins
In 1999, Lauryn Hill became the first woman to be nominated in ten categories in a single year at the Grammy Awards. She also became the first woman to win five times in one night, taking home awards for Album of the Year, Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and Best New Artist.
1999: Co-production of Supernatural
In 1999, Lauryn Hill co-produced Santana's album Supernatural, for which she won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
1999: Collaboration for Anti-Drug Campaign
In 1999, Lauryn Hill collaborated with the Federal government of the United States for an anti-drug campaign, raising awareness among youth. The ad was very popular.
1999: Partnership with Levi Strauss & Co.
In 1999, Lauryn Hill partnered with Levi Strauss & Co. to create custom outfits for her Miseducation Tour, establishing a new course for brand partnerships with black musicians.
1999: Time Magazine Cover
In 1999, Lauryn Hill was featured on the cover of Time magazine. She was the only Black musician to achieve this in that decade, marking a significant career milestone.
1999: Billboard Chart Appearance
Lauryn Hill last appeared on the Billboard charts as a lead artist in 1999 prior to the release of Repercussions in 2010.
July 11, 2000: Congressional Hearing on Anti-Drug Campaign
On July 11, 2000, a hearing was held at Congress to evaluate the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. It was announced that Lauryn Hill's ad was the most popular, with nearly 95 percent of polled youth stating that they were affected by it.
2000: Depositions in New Ark Lawsuit
During the latter part of 2000, depositions took place regarding the lawsuit filed by New Ark against Lauryn Hill.
2000: Grammy Award for Santana's Supernatural
In early 2000, Lauryn Hill shared the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for Santana's 1999 album Supernatural, whereon she wrote, produced, and rapped on the track "Do You Like the Way". She was also nominated for Best R&B Song for "All That I Can Say".
February 2001: Settlement of New Ark Lawsuit
In February 2001, Lauryn Hill settled the lawsuit with New Ark out of court for a reported $5 million.
July 2001: MTV Unplugged Special Taping
In July 2001, while pregnant with her third child, Lauryn Hill unveiled her new material for a taping of an MTV Unplugged special.
May 2002: Release of MTV Unplugged No. 2.0
In May 2002, Lauryn Hill's live album of the MTV Unplugged concert, titled MTV Unplugged No. 2.0, was released to mixed critical reception.
2002: Shutdown of Refugee Project
In 2002, Lauryn Hill shut down her non-profit Refugee Project, expressing dissatisfaction with obligatory charitable acts.
2002: MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 Release
In 2002, Lauryn Hill's Grammy-nominated live album MTV Unplugged No. 2.0, debuted in the Billboard 200 top five and achieved platinum status.
2003: Controversial Performance at Vatican Christmas Benefit Concert
In 2003, during a Christmas benefit concert at the Vatican, Lauryn Hill spoke out against sexual abuse of children by priests. Her comments sparked controversy and were edited out of the broadcast, though she has been applauded for speaking out since then. The Pope was not in attendance.
September 2004: Fugees Reunion Performance at Dave Chappelle's Block Party
In September 2004, The Fugees performed for the first time since 1997 at Dave Chappelle's Block Party in Brooklyn, featuring Lauryn Hill's rendition of "Killing Me Softly".
2004: Contribution to The Passion of the Christ: Songs
In 2004, Lauryn Hill contributed a new song, "The Passion", to The Passion of the Christ: Songs. A remix version of "So High" received a Grammy nomination.
June 2005: Fugees Performance at BET Awards
In June 2005, The Fugees opened the BET Awards show with a 12-minute set.
2005: Live 8 Benefit Concert Performance
In 2005, Lauryn Hill performed during the Live 8 benefit concert, contributing to the global effort to raise awareness about poverty.
2005: Statements on Future Music
In 2005, Lauryn Hill told USA Today that any future music she makes would primarily be for her children.
2005: Fugees European Tour and Breakup
In late 2005, The Fugees embarked on a European tour, but old tensions resurfaced, leading to a breakup before an album could be recorded. Lauryn Hill's behavior was blamed as a contributing factor.
March 3, 2006: Release of Dave Chappelle's Block Party Film
On March 3, 2006, the film recording the concert at Dave Chappelle's Block Party was released to universal acclaim, featuring The Fugees' performance.
June 2007: New Album Goal and Soundtrack Release
In June 2007, Sony Records announced that Lauryn Hill had re-entered the studio to make a new album and released a new song, "Lose Myself", on the Surf's Up soundtrack.
2008: Columbia Records and Public Appearances
In mid-2008, Columbia Records believed Lauryn Hill to be on hiatus. She made a public appearance at a Martha Stewart book signing in New Jersey.
April 2009: European Summer Festival Tour Announcement
In April 2009, it was reported that Lauryn Hill would engage in a 10-day tour of European summer festivals during mid-July of that year.
January 2010: Return to Live Stage
In January 2010, Lauryn Hill returned to the live stage, performing in New Zealand and Australia as part of the Raggamuffin Music Festival.
April 2010: Unofficial Compilation Album Release
In April 2010, an unofficial compilation album titled "Khulami Phase", featuring songs performed and recorded by Lauryn Hill over the previous six years, was released.
June 2010: First Live American Performance in Years
In June 2010, Lauryn Hill made an appearance at the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa, California, which was her first live American performance in several years.
July 2010: "Repercussions" Chart Debut
In late July 2010, an unreleased song by Lauryn Hill called "Repercussions" was leaked online and debuted at No. 94 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, marking her first Billboard chart appearance as a lead artist since 1999.
August 2010: Rock the Bells Performance
In August 2010, Lauryn Hill joined the Rock the Bells hip-hop festival series in the U.S., performing "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" in its entirety for the first time.
February 2012: Performance of "Fearless Vampire Killer"
In February 2012, Lauryn Hill performed a new song titled "Fearless Vampire Killer" during a sold-out performance at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C.
May 4, 2013: Release of "Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)"
On May 4, 2013, Lauryn Hill released her first official single in over a decade, "Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)", which she said was required due to an impending legal deadline.
2014: Release of "Black Rage" and Amnesty International Concert
In 2014, Lauryn Hill released "Black Rage" on SoundCloud in protest of the killing of Michael Brown. Also in 2014, she performed at the Amnesty International 'Bringing Human Rights Home' benefit concert in New York, supporting Pussy Riot, giving a rendition of "Black Rage".
2015: Named Greatest Female Rapper by Billboard
In 2015, Billboard named Lauryn Hill the greatest female rapper, recognizing her impact and contributions to the music industry.
2015: Cancellation of Israel Show
In 2015, Lauryn Hill canceled a show in Israel following a social media campaign urging her to boycott the country over its occupation of Palestinian land. She clarified that she does not take sides in the conflict and believes in dignity for all sides.
2015: Contribution to Nina Simone Documentary Soundtrack
In 2015, Lauryn Hill contributed her voice to the soundtrack for "What Happened, Miss Simone?", a documentary about Nina Simone, recording six songs and serving as a producer on the compilation.
2015: Golden Note Award from ASCAP
In 2015, Lauryn Hill received the Golden Note Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), recognizing her successful music career and contributions as a songwriter and producer.
April 2016: Inaugural Diaspora Calling! Festival
In April 2016, Lauryn Hill hosted and headlined the inaugural Diaspora Calling! festival at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, showcasing musicians and artists from the African diaspora.
2016: Release of "Rebel" updated track
In 2016, Lauryn Hill released an updated version of her 2002 track "I Find It Hard to Say (Rebel)" from her MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 album entitled "Rebel" exclusively on Tidal. The updated song was released due to the influx of Police brutality in the United States at the time, and was performed at the Tidal X 1015 charity concert hosted by Jay-Z.
2018: Most Sampled Artists of the Year
In 2018, Lauryn Hill became one of the most sampled artists of the year, with her single "Ex-Factor" sampled on Cardi B's "Be Careful" and Drake's "Nice for What", showcasing her influence on contemporary music.
2018: Lizzo cites Lauryn Hill as inspiration.
In 2018, Lizzo stated in an interview that she was influenced by The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, "rapping, singing, being political", further adding that she was always afraid of being a singer, but then when she heard Lauryn Hill, she was like, maybe I can do both.
2018: A Star Is Born Remake Release
In 2018, the remake of A Star Is Born was released; Lauryn Hill had previously turned down a role in this movie.
November 27, 2019: Release of "Guarding the Gates" for Queen & Slim
On November 27, 2019, Lauryn Hill's studio version of her song, "Guarding the Gates", was released on the soundtrack for the movie Queen & Slim.
2019: MLH Fund Scholarships
According to Billboard, in 2019, Lauryn Hill, through her MLH Fund, provided 10 scholarships for the 2019–2020 academic year to students at Alpha Institute in Kingston, Jamaica.
2021: Diamond Certification and Rolling Stone Recognition
In 2021, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill achieved Diamond certification by the RIAA, making Hill the first female hip hop artist to receive this honor in the U.S. Also in 2021, Rolling Stone included "Doo Wop (That Thing)" and the Fugees' "Killing Me Softly" in their revised list of the 500 Greatest Songs.
April 14, 2024: Coachella Performance with YG Marley and Wyclef Jean
On April 14, 2024, Lauryn Hill made a surprise return to the stage at Coachella during her son YG Marley's performance, reuniting with Wyclef Jean to perform Fugees hits.
August 2024: Fugees Reunion Tour Cancellation
In August 2024, The Fugees quietly canceled their reunion tour, citing "clickbait headlines" and low-ticket sales, leading to media scrutiny and disappointment.
2024: Singing on Warriors Concept Album
In 2024, Lauryn Hill sang on the concept album Warriors by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis.
2024: Fugees Reunion During Coachella Set
On April 15, 2024, Lauryn Hill was joined by Wyclef Jean for a mini Fugees reunion during her Coachella set, which included an appearance by her son, YG Marley.