The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is the landmark debut solo album by #LaurynHill, released on August 19, 1998, through Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records. Universally acclaimed upon release, it quickly became one of the defining albums of the late 1990s, hailed for its fusion of hip-hop, R&B, soul, and reggae, and for Hill’s deeply personal lyricism. Commercially, the album was a phenomenon. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 422,000 copies in its first week, the largest debut for a female artist at the time. At the 41st Annual Grammy Awards (1999), Hill made history, winning Album of the Year and Best R&B Album, while setting a then-record for the most nominations and wins in a single night by a woman. Its influence only deepened with time. The album has been enshrined by cultural institutions such as the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, and the Grammy Hall of Fame. Certified diamond by the RIAA for over 10 million units sold in the U.S. and surpassing 20 mill...