Lauryn Hill’s 1998 debut album,The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,has been named Apple Music’s best album of all time, but it seems some fans do not agree with the choice.
The streaming service rounded out their 100 Best Albums list on Wednesday, announcing their picks for the top 10 albums of all time and Hill, 48, claimed the number one spot.
Beating the likes of Michael Jackson’s 1982 pop culture-defining album, Thriller, The Beatles’ ageless 1969 record, Abbey Road and Nirvana’s 1991 breakthrough album, Nevermind, Hill’s only solo venture proved its merit.
Taking to X, fans congratulated the star, with @thoughtpillow writing, ‘The album changed the rap culture’. While @ukpanthertalks commented, ‘Well deserved epic project!’
@Rollupmywrist added, ‘this deserves to be number one. She’s so talented’.
But not everyone agreed. As Hill and her fans celebrated her accomplishment, many music lovers expressed their disappointment with the list’s contents, taking to social media to share their thoughts.
Commenting on Apple Music’s Instagram post about the list, fans were quick to point out that music greats such as Britney Spears, Queen and Bruno Mars did not make the top 10, let alone the top 100.
‘A hot 100 without Britney? Seriously?’ @angiemaurino wrote. ‘No Queen is actually an abomination’ @_wakeem added.
‘No Wayne, Bruno or Weeknd is crazy’, @iam.m.mccullum weighed in.
Elsewhere, one fan claimed Hill should not have won over Jackson’s Thriller, stating it was just one of the ‘things wrong with this list’.
@tamra.elle continued: ‘Starting with Lauryn being placed before Thriller AND Songs in the Key of Life. Blasphemy. Lauryn definitely deserved to be in the top 10 but before Thiller? A top 100 albums with Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, and Billie Eilish but not one mention of TLC CrazySexyCool? No Whitney? No Mariah Carey? Not one Britney Spears? Insanity. Obviously subjective but that wasn’t well thought out.’
Despite the backlash, Hill spoke to Apple Music upon hearing the news, admitting: ‘This is my award, but it’s a rich, deep narrative, and involves so many people, and so much sacrifice, and so much time, and so much collective love.’
We surprised @MsLaurynHill at an intimate dinner in New York to tell her that The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was No. 1 on our #100BestAlbums list. ð What does this album mean to you? pic.twitter.com/BslciRVEm0
— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) May 22, 2024
Hill and her album are no strangers to notable accomplishments. In addition to debuting at number one on Billboard 200, the record saw Hill become the first rap artist to win Album of the Year at the 1999 Grammy Awards.
Within the first week of its release, the album—which follows Hill’s emotions about a relationship breakup and coming through the other side stronger—sold close to 432,000 copies and broke the record for first-week sales by a female artist.
‘Lauryn Hill’s debut — and only — solo studio album was a seismic event in 1998: a stunningly raw, profound look into the spiritual landscape not just of one of the era’s biggest stars, but of the era itself.’ Apple Music said in a statement.
What album do you think is the best of all time?Comment Now
Zane Lowe, 50, the host of Apple Music’s flagship show, added: ‘This album doesn’t just resonate with the people who were around when it came out and who hold it dear. It has not dated, not even a fraction. In fact, it feels more fresh and more relevant the more you listen to it… There are a lot of young artists hearing it, and it’s becoming part of their artistic DNA.It’s inspiring and influencing them… It’s timeless.’
Apple Music’s announcement marks the end of the music giant’s 10-day countdown, which started last week. With the completion of the 100-album list, Hill isn’t the only one with reason to celebrate.
Beyonce, 42, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, 74, Prince and Radiohead all had impressive achievements, being the only five artists to hold more than one spot on the list. USA Today reported that Bad Bunny, 30, is the only Latino artistthat madea list, with his 2022 album Un Verano Sin Ti sitting at number 76.
To find the number one album of all time, Apple Music collated a group of external votersof includedartists, songwriters, producers and some media.
Apple Music 100 Best Albums top 10
1:The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) – Lauryn Hill
2:Thriller (1982) – Michael Jackson
3:Abbey Road (1969) – The Beatles
4:Purple Rain (1984) – Prince
5:Blonde (2016) – Frank Ocean
6:Songs in the Key of Life (1976) – Stevie Wonder
7:good kid, m.A.A.d city (Deluxe Version) (2012) – Kendrick Lamar
8:Back to Black (2006) – Amy Winehouse
9:Nevermind (1991) – Nirvana
10:Lemonade (2016) – Beyoncé
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