Throwback Thursday: Lauryn Hill – “Ex-Factor”
The Miseduction of Lauryn Hill turns 25 years old tomorrow, so in honor of the classic, let’s revisit what has turned out to be its most iconic single, “Ex-Factor.”
Yes, “Doo Wop (That Thing)” was the album’s biggest hit by far, but in the two-and-a-half decades since its release, “Ex-Factor” has become the foremost track from Miseducation.
Written and produced — at least officially — by Lauryn Hill, the song is said to be about her relationship with ex-boyfriend and ex-bandmate, Wyclef Jean. It samples Wu-Tang Clan’s “Can It Be All So Simple,” which samples Gladys Knight & the Pips’ cover of Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were.”
It’s hard to listen to “Ex-Factor” without feeling like you’re going through a troubled relationship yourself. The lyrics are laced with pain and Ms. Hill’s vocal delivery is packed with emotion. If there was a Mount Rushmore of breakup songs, one spot would have to be reserved for “Ex-Factor.”
Though it only peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, it has had an outsized impact over the years, sampled by everyone from Drake to Cardi B, and covered by everyone from Kelly Clarkson to Beyoncé. As we approach the 25th anniversary of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, we can safely crown “Ex-Factor” as Lauryn Hill’s signature hit.
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