Lauryn Hill
Credits
Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer. She is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, as well as one of the most influential musicians of her generation. Hill is credited for breaking barriers for women rappers, popularizing melodic rap, redefining hip hop, and helping neo soul reach mainstream popularity. In addition to being named one of the 50 Great Voices by NPR, Hill has been listed as one of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone. In 2015, she was ranked as the greatest woman rapper by Billboard. Her accolades include eight Grammy Awards, the most for a female rapper to this day.
Hill began her career as a teen actress. She landed a role in the soap opera As the World Turns (1991), and starred in the off-Broadway play Club XII alongside MC Lyte. Her performance as Rita in the film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), received acclaim. Hill would garner global prominence as the frontwoman of The Fugees. The success of their second album The Score (1996), led her to become the first woman to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. The Score included the hits "Killing Me Softly" and "Ready or Not". She was later featured on "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" by Nas. In 1997, The Fugees split. Afterwards, she joined Aretha Franklin on "A Rose Is Still a Rose".