Songs That Sampled Ex Factor By Lauryn Hill:
All in all, ‘Ex Factor’ is an incredible song that captures the raw emotions of heartbreak and the complexity of love. The song has stood the test of time and continues to be a soulful favorite for many. Beyond the pain and confusion, the song also speaks to the complexity of love. Despite the hurt and trauma of the failing relationship, Lauryn Hill still holds onto hope. She speaks of how their love was ‘an evergreen’, how it stays with her despite the heartbreak.
Then, after flipping (future collaborator) Anderson .Paak’s ‘P.Y.P.’ into a funk fusion, the producer effortlessly attaches ‘Jerusalem,’ connecting the songs at their joints. They are so obviously different songs when listened to separately, and yet Knxwledge is able to see them as two halves of a whole, bridging a tiny gap between acoustic soul and funky R&B. Critics largely hated Lauryn Hill’s 2002 live album, taped during her performance for ‘MTV Unplugged,’ but rappers have mined it for inspiration constantly.
First, Cardi B released ‘Be Careful,’ interpolating a lasting lyric in the song’s bridge (‘Care for me/Said you’d be there for me’). The day after Cardi’s Invasion of Privacy dropped, Drake released ‘Nice For What,’ his second attempt at nailing a Lauryn sample and now the No. 1 song in the country. The song is centered around the pain and confusion felt after a failed relationship. Additionally, the song speaks to the complexity of love and the multifaceted nature of relationships. It speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak and the complexity of love.
The song is not about a specific person but rather a general reflection on failed relationships. This month, L-Boogie has returned to the music spotlight in a major way, thanks to some of today’s hottest artists. Cardi B sampled the legendary rapper/singer’s classic song “Ex Factor” for her own scorned anthem “Be Careful.” Drake doubled down with a sample of the same song on his new hit single “Nice For What,” placing Ms. Hill’s riffs in the forefront.
“Ex-Factor”, although not as successful as Hill’s previous single “Doo Wop (That Thing)”, still entered several international charts. It spent 22 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 21 on the chart dated April 10, 1999. The song peaked atop the US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.[12] It also charted on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, spending 31 weeks and peaking at number seven on March 13, 1999. It reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and spent 16 weeks on the chart, remaining Hill’s biggest hit in the United Kingdom to date. Wyclef Jean, Hill’s partner in the Fugees, has praised ‘Ex-Factor’ as one of his favorite songs from his former collaborator.
As an artist, she represents a purity almost to the point of abstinence.’ Hill does personify a certain rap virtue, and sampling her can mean channelling that, but that purity can be and has been distorted to express other things. The laziest Hill samplers merely use her as a signifier, recycling her words and her melodies as substitutes for their own ideas. But the more clever ones have used Hill to enhance their own perspectives. In the midst of a Lauryn Hill resurgence in spirit, XXL took a look back at some of the hardest songs to sample the music icon, listed in reverse chronological order. The second single off Ms. Hill’s classic album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
The song has been claimed to be aimed at former Fugees bandmate, Wyclef Jean. Jean was married to another woman while carrying on an affair with Hill, hence the tempestuous nature of the relationship described in the song. It’s relatable and provides the inevitable solution to bad love ‘ if ‘it ain’t workin’,’ it’s time to let it go. Providing even more atonement is lush, gorgeous production work, fueled by a sample of ‘Can It All Be So Simple.’ Still fresh, years later.
The song constructs a winding carousel out of Hill’s pleas, functioning as a curio all on its own; it coolly, unexpectedly, mashes up her heartfelt hip-hop soul with joyful New Orleans bounce, conjuring up an intoxicating dance-rap hybrid. The juxtaposition of Hill’s spiraling refrain about struggling to cut ties with a noncommittal lover with Drake rapping things like ‘You gotta be nice for what to these niggas? Lauryn Hill states that the song was inspired by the many failed relationships of those closest to her. She witnessed many individuals struggle with the pain of a failed relationship and wanted to capture that raw emotion in a song.
And on the instrumental, she samples a track by another 1990s hip-hop act, the Wu-Tang Clan, entitled ‘Can It Be All So Simple’ (1994). Old Time Music is proud to have such a passionate and talented team of writers who share their love for music with our readers. The album was released in 1998 and was critically acclaimed, winning several Grammy Awards. As the song progresses, Hill conveys her resilience and determination to move on. I know what we’ve got to do, you let go I’ll let go too.’ These lyrics reflect the artist’s realization that she deserves better and the understanding that letting go is necessary for her own well-being.
Not only is her solo debut scripture-worthy, her group work with the Fugees was also tremendously influential. From Talib Kweli to Nicki Minaj, Ms. Hill’s peers and musical successors have paid homage in one way, shape or form. It reminds me of a time in my life when I was deeply entangled in a toxic relationship. The lyrics spoke to me on a profound level, and I found comfort in knowing that I was not alone in my pain. Through Hill’s powerful vocals and the raw emotions expressed in the song, I was able to find the courage to let go and move on from a situation that was no longer serving me. One of the most powerful aspects of ‘Ex-Factor (A Simple Mix)’ is its relatability.
That is to say that the singer is speaking as if she is actively in a relationship with the addressee, that being her significant other. And basically, what she is doing throughout is lamenting the state of their romance. More to the point, Lauryn presents herself as the victim of emotional abuse and neglect.
And even though this relationship is tearing her apart, she is so much in love that she cannot turn her abusive, on-and-off partner away. Furthermore, Lauryn Hill’s talent as a songwriter and vocalist shines through in ‘Ex-Factor (A Simple Mix)’. sell Her delivery is both soulful and passionate, capturing the essence of the emotions she is conveying. The song’s use of a sample from Wu-Tang Clan’s ‘Can It Be All So Simple’ adds an additional layer of depth and nostalgia to the track.
And for good measure, King Combs looped up the Fugees on “Bad Boy Back,” from his new mixtape, 90’s Baby. Ex-Factor (A Simple Mix) by Lauryn Hill is a soulful track that packs a punch with its honest and raw lyrics. Released in 1998, the song features a sample of ‘Can It Be All So Simple’ by Wu-Tang Clan and is a part of Hill’s critically acclaimed album, ‘The Miseducation super fast reply of Lauryn Hill’. In this article, we will delve into the deeper meaning behind this powerful song and explore its impact on both the artist and the listeners. The most iconic line from the song is undoubtedly, ‘Loving you is like a battle / And we both end up with scars.’ This line perfectly captures the pain of heartbreak and the complexity of love.
Many listeners have found solace in the song’s lyrics and have connected their own experiences of heartbreak and hardship to Hill’s poignant words. The song’s honesty and vulnerability resonate with anyone who has been through a difficult relationship and has struggled to let go. Upon its release, “Ex-Factor” received widespread critical more hints acclaim.[3] The song peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Internationally, it peaked within the top five in Iceland and the United Kingdom. These charming outtakes from the Born Sinner promo run, respectively released on the two Truly Yours EPs that preceded J.