Lauryn Hill just has one of those truly unforgettable voices that seems to penetrate the very depths of listeners' souls. Hill began singing as a youth growing up in New Jersey. After appearing and singing in a few films, she'd join up with the Fugees, the act that would eventually put her on the map. After gaining a local following through years of performing, the Fugees hit it big with their album The Score and their immensely popular single "Killing Me Softly," on which Hill's pipes were heavily featured. The group did take some flak for their affinity for covering songs, but tracks like "Killing Me Softly" still scored them major success.

Hill dropped her solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, in 1998. The album epitomized the term smash hit, as the record climbed to the number one spot on every chart on which it appeared. Hill did the bulk of the writing and arrangement for the album, which was a very personal work that put on display many of the beliefs and persuasions of the singer. Hill was heralded for the ground-breaking effort, and deservedly so. The album and its songs remained atop the charts for a substantial reign and put Hill on the map as a solo artist with serious pull in the music industry.

She released the live effort MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 in 2002, which again showcased a message-driven theme very close to Hill's heart. Never one to buy into the idea of fame and fortune, Hill is yet to release any further solo work since this record, a testament to the fact that she makes music on her own terms. Her reluctance to rush a second studio album in the wake of Miseducation's astounding success showed her as an artist with values and conviction.