Ex-Factor

"Ex-Factor" is a song by American singer Lauryn Hill for her debut solo studio album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). Written and produced by Hill herself, it is a soul song. The song features a sample of "Can It Be All So Simple" by Wu-Tang Clan, hence its songwriters are also credited. It has been claimed to be about Hill's former Fugees groupmate Wyclef Jean. The song was released as the second single from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill on December 14, 1998, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records. Upon its release, "Ex-Factor" received widespread critical acclaim, with SPIN naming it the third best single of 1999. A commercial success, the song became a Top 40 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and reaching the top five on the UK singles chart. It won the Best R&B/Soul Single - Female award at the 2000 Soul Train Music Awards. Various publications have named it one of the best R&B songs of the 1990s, while both Time and The Ringer have ranked it among the greatest breakup songs of all time. In June 2026, CBS News included the song in its list of the 250 essential American songs of the past 250 years. Since its release, "Ex-Factor" has been cited as an inspiration for the writing of films like Love & Basketball (2000) and Sinners (2025).…

"Ex-Factor" is a song by American singer Lauryn Hill for her debut solo studio album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). Written and produced by Hill herself, it is a soul song. The song features a sample of "Can It Be All So Simple" by Wu-Tang Clan, hence its songwriters are also credited. It has been claimed to be about Hill's former Fugees groupmate Wyclef Jean. The song was released as the second single from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill on December 14, 1998, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records. Upon its release, "Ex-Factor" received widespread critical acclaim, with SPIN naming it the third best single of 1999. A commercial success, the song became a Top 40 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and reaching the top five on the UK singles chart. It won the Best R&B/Soul Single - Female award at the 2000 Soul Train Music Awards. Various publications have named it one of the best R&B songs of the 1990s, while both Time and The Ringer have ranked it among the greatest breakup songs of all time. In June 2026, CBS News included the song in its list of the 250 essential American songs of the past 250 years. Since its release, "Ex-Factor" has been cited as an inspiration for the writing of films like Love & Basketball (2000) and Sinners (2025). It has also been sampled numerous times, most notably on Drake's "Nice For What" and Cardi B's "Be Careful", additionally artists such as Beyoncé and Kelly Clarkson have covered the song during live performances. ==Music and lyrics== "Ex-Factor" was written and produced by Lauryn Hill. It features replayed elements of "Can It Be All So Simple" by Wu-Tang Clan, which itself samples Gladys Knight & the Pips' cover of Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were", written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Marvin Hamlisch. Consequently, Wu-Tang Clan, the Bergmans, and Hamlisch are also credited as songwriters of "Ex-Factor". "Ex-Factor" is a soul number which serves as a painful dissection of a failing relationship. The accompaniment is driven by two-chord progressions all throughout its melodic variations. Its refrain contains soaring harmonies. ==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. 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. ==Cultural impact== ==Track listings and formats== US 7-inch single A. "Ex-Factor" (radio edit) – 4:38 B. "When It Hurts So Bad" (album version) – 5:42 UK CD1 "Ex-Factor" (album version) – 5:27 "Ex-Factor" (Part II remix) – 4:38 "Ex-Factor" (A Simple Mix) – 4:37 UK CD2 "Ex-Factor" (radio edit) – 4:38 "Ex-Factor" (A Simple Breakdown) – 4:10 "Lost Ones" (remix) – 4:17 UK cassette single "Ex-Factor" "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" European CD1 "Ex-Factor" (radio edit) – 4:38 "Ex-Factor" (A Simple Mix) – 4:37 European CD2 "Ex-Factor" (radio edit) – 4:38 "Ex-Factor" (A Simple Breakdown) – 4:10 "Lost Ones" – 4:17 "Ex-Factor" (A Simple Mix) – 4:37 Japanese CD single "Ex-Factor" "Ex-Factor" (remix) "Lost Ones" (remix) ==Credits and personnel== Credits are adapted from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill liner notes. Leads and background vocals: Lauryn Hill Additional background: Chuck Young Bass: Paul Fakhourie Piano: Tejumold Newton Wurlitzer, organ and rhodes: James Poyser Percussion: Rudy Byrd Guitar: Johari Newton Drum programming by Vada Nobles Recorded by Commissioner Gordon Mixed by Commissioner Gordon Assistant recording engineer: Chip Verspyck Assistant mix engineer: Greg Thompson Recorded at RPM Studios, (NYC), Marley Music, Inc. (Kingston, Jamaica) and Chung King Studios (NYC) Mixed at Hit Factory Studios and Chung King Studios (NYC) ==Charts== ===Weekly charts=== ===Year-end charts=== ==Certifications== ==Release history== ==References== ==External links==

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