Zephrying in the sky since 1999, musique icon Lauryn Hill “Ex Factor” reaches thee highest Billboard Hot 100 splash!
“Readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.
So, as our retrospective features ‘From the Vault’ and ‘TGJ Replay’ allow us the chance to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday of one artist, our newest feature Chart Rewind – a variation of our current Retro Rewind assay – accedes salutes to an entire era of music history.
This week Lauryn Hill‘s ‘Ex’ marks the spot. Join us inside:
1998’s ‘Ex Factor‘ – which samples Gladys Knight & the Pips‘ cover of Barbra Streisand‘s ‘The Way We Were’ – was selected as the second single from Hill’s critically and commercially acclaimed album, ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.’ Written and produced by the then-23-year-old, the song may have not garnered the commercial response its predecessor – the chart-topping ‘Doo Wop (That Thing)’ – received, but it was certainly on par critically.
Praised for its relatable lyrics on love-gone-wrong and conveyance of pain in it soul-soaked vocals, the tune even courted controversy as fans believed its content was directed to former lover/Fugees band mate Wyclef Jean. Released in December 1998, ‘Factor’ flew to its Hot 100 peak (#21) this week the next year.
Going on to become favorite in the Hip Hop diva’s prized discography, look below to see who joined her in the top 25 on the Hot 100 this week in 1999…” – thatgrapejuice.net
