Ex-Factor

"Ex-Factor" is a song by American recording artist Lauryn Hill for her debut solo studio album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). Written and produced by Hill herself, it incorporates elements of R&B, neo soul and hip hop soul. The song features a sample of "Can It Be All So Simple" by Wu-Tang Clan.[2] It has been claimed to be about Hill's former Fugees groupmate Wyclef Jean.[3] The song was released as the second single from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill on December 14, 1998, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records.

Not to be confused with The X Factor.

"Ex-Factor"
A woman crouching down with the white short-skirted dress, bracelets, and necklaces.
UK CD2 and cassette cover[lower-alpha 1]
Single by Lauryn Hill
from the album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
B-side
ReleasedDecember 14, 1998
Studio
  • RPM, Chung King (New York City)
  • Marley Music (Kingston)
Genre
Length
  • 5:27 (album version)
  • 4:38 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)Lauryn Hill
Producer(s)Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill singles chronology
"Doo Wop (That Thing)"
(1998)		 "Ex-Factor"
(1998)		 "Everything Is Everything"
(1999)

Upon its release, "Ex-Factor" received widespread critical acclaim.[4] 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. It won the Best R&B/Soul Single - Female award at the 2000 Soul Train Music Awards.[5] Spin named it the third best single of 1999.[6] In 2020, The Ringer ranked it as the 18th greatest breakup song of all time.[7] Since its release, the song has been sampled and covered by numerous artists.

Music and lyrics

"Ex-Factor" was written and produced by Lauryn Hill and it features replayed elements of "Can It Be All So Simple" by Wu-Tang Clan,[8] which itself samples Gladys Knight & the Pips' cover of Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were".[9]

"Ex-Factor" is a soul number which serves as a painful dissection of a failing relationship.[10][11] The accompaniment is driven by two-chord progressions all throughout its melodic variations.[10] Its refrain contains soaring harmonies.[12]

Commercial performance

"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.[13] 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.

Legacy

Since its release, "Ex-Factor" has been sampled by numerous artists in their songs, including rapper Lil B's "Money Over Suckas" (2012), singer Kehlani's "Till the Morning" (2014), singer Omarion's "Show Me" (2014) featuring Jeremih, rapper Drake's "Nice for What" (2018), and rapper Cardi B's "Be Careful" (2018).[9] Additionally, it has been covered by Beyoncé,[14] Kelly Clarkson,[15] John Legend,[16] and H.E.R.[17]

Track listings and formats

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill liner notes.[8]

Charts

Certifications
Certifications and sales for "Ex-Factor"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[44]
since 2004 		Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Release dates and formats for "Ex-Factor"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States December 14, 1998 Urban contemporary radio
[45]
Japan December 23, 1998 Maxi CD Sony Music Japan
[46]
United States January 19, 1999 7-inch vinyl
  • Ruffhouse
  • Columbia
[47]
Germany January 25, 1999 Maxi CD Sony Music
[28]
United Kingdom February 15, 1999
Columbia
[48]
France March 1, 1999 12-inch vinyl Small
[49]
April 20, 1999 CD
[50]

Notes
  1. UK CD1 and international editions cover uses a close-up of the same image.[1]

References
  1. Hill, Lauryn (1999). Ex-Factor (CD single). Columbia Records. 666945 2.
  2. Tardio, Andres (April 3, 2018). "5 Takeaways From Cardi B's New Single 'Be Careful'". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  3. Rush, George; Molly, Joanna; Ogunnake, Lola (July 26, 2000). "Wyclef Says 'Ex' Marks His Spot". Daily News. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  4. "Billboard". Billboard. December 5, 1998.
  5. "TLC Wins 2 At Soul Train Awards". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  6. "Spin Magazine End Of Year Lists". www.rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  7. Staff, The Ringer (February 14, 2020). "The 50 Greatest Breakup Songs of All Time". The Ringer. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  8. (1998) Album notes for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill [liner notes]. Ruffhouse Records (Columbia Records).
  9. Peters, Mitchell (April 7, 2018). "The 'Ex-Factor': How Drake, Cardi B & More Sampled Lauryn Hill's 'Miseducation' Single". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  10. Bush, John. "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill – Lauryn Hill". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 4, 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
  11. Mulvey, John (September 23, 1998). "Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill". NME. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  12. Lieberman, Neil. "Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on February 19, 2003. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  13. "Lauryn Hill". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  14. "Beyonce Covers Lauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor" Live In New Orleans". Okayplayer. July 29, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  15. "Watch Kelly Clarkson Mash-Up Post Malone, Lauryn Hill and Cardi B". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  16. "When Adam Lambert paid tribute to George Michael with a flawless cover of 'Faith'". Smooth. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  17. H.E.R. - Ex Factor (Lauryn Hill Cover) - Lollapalooza Chicago 2019, retrieved April 14, 2021
  18. Ex-Factor (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Lauryn Hill. Ruffhouse Records, Columbia Records. 1998. 38 79077.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. Ex-Factor (UK CD1 liner notes). Lauryn Hill. Ruffhouse Records, Columbia Records. 1999. 666945 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. Ex-Factor (UK CD2 liner notes). Lauryn Hill. Ruffhouse Records, Columbia Records. 1999. 666945 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. Ex-Factor (UK cassette single sleeve). Lauryn Hill. Ruffhouse Records, Columbia Records. 1999. 666945 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. Ex-Factor (European CD1 liner notes). Lauryn Hill. Ruffhouse Records, Columbia Records. 1999. COL 666797 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  23. Ex-Factor (European CD2 liner notes). Lauryn Hill. Ruffhouse Records, Columbia Records. 1999. COL 666797 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. Ex-Factor (Japanese CD single liner notes). Lauryn Hill. Ruffhouse Records, Columbia Records. 1999. SRCS 8805.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. "Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  26. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 10. March 6, 1999. p. 10. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  27. "Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  28. "Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  29. "Íslenski Listinn (26.2–5.3. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). February 26, 1999. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  30. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ex-Factor". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  31. "week 16 (17 april 1999)" (in Dutch). top40.nl.
  32. "Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  33. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  34. "Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor". Singles Top 100. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  35. "Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  36. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  37. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  38. "Lauryn Hill Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  39. "Lauryn Hill Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  40. "Lauryn Hill Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  41. "Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1999" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  42. "1999 The Year in Music: Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. December 25, 1999. p. YE-50. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  43. "1999 The Year in Music: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks". Billboard. December 25, 1999. p. YE-57. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  44. "British single certifications – Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  45. "ADDvance Notice" (PDF). Radio & Records. December 11, 1998. p. 69. Retrieved October 30, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  46. "エックス-ファクター" [X-Factor] (in Japanese). Japan: Oricon. December 23, 1998. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  47. "Ex-Factor – Lauryn Hill". Ruffhouse Records, Columbia Records. January 19, 1999. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  48. "New Releases – For Week Starting 15 February, 1999: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. February 15, 1999. p. 27. Retrieved October 30, 2022 – via World Radio History.
  49. "X-factor – Lauryn Hill – Maxi vinyle" (in French). France: Fnac. March 1, 1999. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  50. "X-factor – Lauryn Hill – CD single" (in French). France: Fnac. April 20, 1999. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
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