More than 20 years after its release,Ā The MiseducationĀ of Lauryn HillĀ has reached diamond status.
TheĀ Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) shared the news on Tuesday night,Ā confirmingĀ Lauryn HillāsĀ debut album had sold more than 10,000,000 units since its 1998 release. It marksĀ an increasingly rare milestone as on-demanding streaming has caused pure album sales to plummet. Hill has no joined an exclusive list of artists who have earned diamond-certified records, including Michael Jacksonās Thriller, Adeleās 21, Britney Spearsā ...Baby One More Time, EminemāsĀ The Marshall Mathers LP, andĀ 2Pacās All Eyez On Me.
The MiseducationĀ of Lauryn HillĀ was both a critical and commercial success, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with more than 422,000 sales in its first week. It also earned Hill 10 Grammy nominations and five wins, includingĀ Album of the Year, Best R&B Album, and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for āDoo Wop (That Thing).ā The project spannedĀ 16 tracks, two of which were hidden, and featured guest appearances by Mary J. Blige, DāAngelo, and Carlos Santana.
Though many believed the effortĀ marked the beginning of a prolific solo career, HillĀ never released a follow-up album. The 45-year-old artist spoke about thisĀ decision in a recent interview onĀ Rolling Stoneās 500 Greatest Albums podcast, explaining how the game had changed due to all her success.
āThe 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!ā Hill said. āWithĀ The Miseducation, there was no precedent. I was, for the most part, free to explore, experiment, and express. AfterĀ The Miseducation, there were scores of tentacled obstructionists, politics, repressing agendas, unrealistic expectations, and saboteurs EVERYWHERE. People had included me in their own narratives ofĀ theirĀ successes as it pertained to my album, and if this contradicted my experience, I was considered an enemy.ā
She continued: āI think my intention was simply to make something that made my foremothers and forefathers in music and social and political struggle know that someone received what theyād sacrificed to give us, and to let my peers know that we could walk in that truth, proudly and confidently. At that time, I felt like it was a duty or responsibility to do so. ā¦ I challenged the norm and introduced a new standard. I believe The Miseducation did that and I believe I still do thisādefy convention when the convention is questionable.ā