Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, and record producer. She is recognized by music critics as one of the most influential musical artists of her time. Hill is credited with breaking barriers for female rappers, contributing to the mainstream success of both hip-hop and neo soul, and blending rap with melodic vocals. She has been named one of the 50 Great Voices by NPR, and one of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone. In 2015, Billboard ranked her the greatest female rapper. Among her accolades are eight Grammy Awards—the most for any female rapper.

Hill began her career as a teen actress, appearing in As the World Turns (1991) and Steven Soderbergh's King of the Hill (1993). Her portrayal of Rita Watson in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) earned widespread praise. Hill gained wider recognition as the frontwoman of the Fugees, which she formed with Wyclef Jean and Pras. Their second album, The Score (1996), topped the Billboard 200 and featured the hit single "Killing Me Softly", which became the best-selling single of 1996 in multiple regions, including the UK. Due to its popularity, the song was temporarily pulled from stores to prioritize the release of "Ready or Not". The album eventually won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, making Hill the first woman to receive the award. She simultaneously appeared on Nas's single "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)". Hill then collaborated with Whitney Houston, and wrote Aretha Franklin's "A Rose Is Still a Rose", a top 40 hit that became Franklin's final signature song.