Lauryn Hill's 'Miseducation' Earns Diamond Award
Lauryn Hill is making history.
Over two decades since The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was released, the landmark album has been certified 10x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), becoming the first female hip-hop album to earn a Diamond award.
“Welcome to the RIAA Diamond Club @MsLaurynHill! #TheMiseducationofLaurynHill is now a 💎 (10X) certified album!” the RIAA tweeted on Tuesday (Feb. 16).
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
Lauryn Hill becomes the first female rapper to earn an @RIAA Diamond award (album; @MsLaurynHill).
— chart data (@chartdata) February 17, 2021
Released on August 25, 1998, Hill’s solo debut opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spawned standouts like “Ex-Factor,” “To Zion,” and “Doo Wop (That Thing),” with collaborators including John Legend, D’Angelo, and Mary J. Blige. Hill wrote, produced, and arranged the critically-acclaimed project, which won five Grammys.
The Miseducation is regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time. In 2015, it was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, while Rolling Stone ranked it No. 10 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Hill revealed why she never recorded a follow-up to The Miseducation, sharing that no one from her label reached out to help facilitate the process.
“The wild thing is no one from my label has ever called me and asked how can we help you make another album, EVER…EVER. Did I say ever? Ever!” she said.